1998 Volvo S70

OVER MAXIMUM "30" SECOND PERIOD, VEHICLE BUCKED, THEN INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND BEGAN BLINKING, THEN THROTTLE STUCK IN "FULL" POSITION, THEN BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEEL WELLS, THEN FLAMES VISIBLE FROM FROM GRILL OVER HOOD OF CAR, THEN VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKES AT WHICH TIME FLAMES WERE TWO-THREE FEET HIGH FROM GRILL AND WHEEL WELL(S) AREA OF CAR - EXITED IMMEDIATELY - CAR TOTAL LOSS ..... HAVE SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE OF "ANOTHER" '98 S70 FIRE WITH VERY SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE EVENTS AND RESULT - VOLVO CONTACTED AND CLAIMS EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL NEST UNDER HOOD (ASSISTANCE DENIED) - CINNCINATI INSURANCE (MY CARRIER) HIRED & CONDUCTED PROFESSIONAL/INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATION WITH RESULTS PENDING ...... HAVE FULL SET OF PHOTOS - GENERAL COMMENT: IF THERE WERE AN ELDERLY PERSON, DIABLED PERSON OR CHILD STRAPPED IN CHILDSEAT RIDING IN VEHICLE, UNABLE TO REACT/MOVE SO QUICKLY, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!!!!!

I AM AWARE OF 2 OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME VEHICLE (YR. MAKE AND MODEL). ALL HAVE THE SAME PART THAT HAS GONE BAD IN THE LAST MONTH. THE 2 DEALERS I'VE CONTACTED SAY THAT THERE IS A LONG WAITING LIST FOR THIS PART! YOU'RE JUST SUPPOSED TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL THEY CAN GET IT (NOT KNOWING IF YOU HAVE ABS OR NOT I SUPPOSED)! ALSO ANOTHER DECEPTIVE/DANGEROUS PART OF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT THE DASH BOARD WARNING LIGHTS ARE INCONSISTANT. ON SOME TRIPS IT COMES ON AND ON OTHERS IT DOESN'T. IT NEVER STAYS ON. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW IF YOU SHOULD PUMP THE BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCY OR NOT!*AK

WITH APPROXIMATELY 57,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES STOPPING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND WHEN TURNING LEFT AT SPEEDS APPROXIMATING 15-20 MILES AN HOUR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED BECAUSE THEY ARE ALUMINUM AND WARP IF THEY GET WET WHEN THEY ARE HOT. DUH! THIS IS FLORIDA, HOW CAN THEY NOT GET HOT & WET? THE REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT APPROX 30,000 MILES.DEEL IS CURRENTLY REPLACING THE RACK & PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY WHICH APPARENTLY CAUSED THE SEVERE VIBRATIONS WHEN TURNING LEFT & BRAKING. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AT DEEL VOLVO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURERS GUIDELINES.*AK

I PURCHASED THE CAR JAN.26 2001. TWO DAYS LATER I HAD IT IN FOR REPEATED OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY LEAKS. ALSO THE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, THE FOGLIGHT WAS OUT, THE CAR HAD MISMATCHED TIRES, THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY AND WAS TIED ON WITH A WIRE. A MONTH LATER THE O2 SENSOR WENT OUT IN THE CAR AND WAS ALSO MAKING A WINDING NOISE. DEALER CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THE HUB WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHIHG. APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH WENT OUT. THE AIR GUIDE WAS ALSO REPLACED ON THE CAR. OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK. I TOOK IT TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AN DTHEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THREE OIL LEAKS IN A MATTER OF TWO HOURS. THEY RECCOMENDED THE TURBO UNIT BE REPLACED THAT IT WAS BAD. ON VACATION THIS SUMMER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONCE MORE CAM ON AND DEALER STATED A FUEL GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. AUGUST THIS YEAR THE FAN BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG. SEPT. 24 2001, I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND IT WOUL DNOT TURN OVER. THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD GONE OUT. MEANWHILE THE LEATHER HAS DETACHED FROM THE INTEREIOR OF THE DOOR AS WELL.