1999 Volvo S-Class suspension problems

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT FELT A THUMP FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP OR DECELERATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DEGRADED. THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYED DIFFICULTY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS 00V238000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT), 02V096000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN), AND 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,100.”

“AXLE FAILED AFTER DOING A U TURN AT 5MPH. CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS KEEP BREAKING AND NEED TO BE EPOXIED OFTEN BY MECHANIC. COOLANT LEAK PROBLEMS AS WELL AS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ABS AND ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TROLLIS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT THE CENTRAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE HEATING SYSTEM, THROTTLE SYSTEMS, ENGINE COOLING FAN AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE STEERING MADE A NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN O2 SENSOR. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE INNER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. 01/14/09. *JB”

“DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM (DIPPED BEAM) HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE OUT OF TOWN WITH MY WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE LOCATION USING THE HIGH BEAMS. A CHECK OF HEADLAMP BULBS AND FUSES SHOWED THAT EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND I WAS LEFT SCRATCHING MY HEAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE STILL NOT WORKING THREE WEEKS LATER, AND I FINALLY KNOW WHY. VOLVO OWNERS EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS WEBSITES AND ON MORE THAN ONE I FOUND PEOPLE SUGGESTING THAT THE CEM (MAIN COMPUTER) USED "SHUNTS" FOR VARIOUS COMPONENTS ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY WERE PRONED TO SHORTING OUT DUE TO RANDOM OVERHEATING ISSUES. I CHECKED THE AREA UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASH AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE IS A SHUNT INSERTED INTO THE CEM WITH HEAVY CHARRING AROUND THE TERMINALS. THE 1999 VOLVO S80 WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF MY PARTICULAR MODEL, AND THE FIRST YEAR THIS TYPE OF WIRING ARCHITECTURE WAS USED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE SHORTING OF A CRUCIAL CIRCUIT SUCH AS HEADLAMPS NOT ONLY POSES A GRAVE DANGER WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, BUT COULD ALSO CAUSE A FIRE. I FEEL THE FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OF THE CEM AND THE VEHICLES WIRING ARCHITECTURE COULD ALSO…”

“I'VE REPLACED THE STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS TWICE; ORIGINAL OWNER REPLACED THEM ONCE.... SWAY BAR REPLACED LAST YEAR AND WHOLE FRONT END HAS BEEN RE-BUILT.... NOW I HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS.. REPLACED U-JOINT AND RACK.... *NM”

“THIS CAR HAS SEVERAL RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ON ANY CAR BEFORE. 1) ELECTRONIC THROTTLE HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AS WELL AS OXYGEN SENSORS. 2) SUSPENSION PARTS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BALL JOINTS, STRUTS, STRUT MOUNTS, FRAME BUSHINGS. THE CAR STILL SQUEAKS. *JB”