2000 Volvo V40

UPON RETURNING TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE THIRD TIME FOR A COMPLAINT ABOUT A SUSPICIOUS SOUNDING THUMP OR CLUNK IN THE PASSENGER-SIDE REAR OF OUR 2000 VOLVO V40, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS HAD BROKEN. THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF REPAIR HAS 50,080 MILES ON IT; WHEN THE NOISE WAS FIRST REPORTED TO THE DEALER ON 12/09/04 THE CAR HAD 37,448 MILES. BOTH SPRINGS BROKE IDENTICALLY AT THE FIRST COIL WHERE THEY SIT IN THE BASE PLATE OF THE STRUT ASSEMBLY. BOTH FRACTURES ARE A SPIRAL CUT THROUGH THE COILS WIRE, LIKE A FATIGUE OR STRESS FRACTURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COILS AT MY EXPENSE WHICH INCLUDED THE EXTRA COST OF REPLACING BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND STRUT ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY HAD REMOVING THE BOLTS DUE TO CORROSION ($1103). AFTER MY COMPLAINT, THEY OFFERED TO COVER THE COST OF THE SPRINGS ONLY ($200) WHICH ALLOWED THEM TO KEEP THE SPRINGS. I PERSUADED THE SERVICE ADVISOR TO ALLOW ME TO HAVE ONE PIECE OF THE SPRING FOR EVIDENCE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS EXACT FAILURE IN THEIR VEHICLES SUSPENSION. I BELIEVE VOLVO HAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW IN THE TEMPERED STEEL COIL SPRINGS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN A CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WATER CAN ENTER THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE VACUUM PUMP, CAUSING THE PUMP TO FAIL. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 03V474000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST VACUUM. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

2000 VOLVO V40 FRONT WHEELS BECOME LOOSE. (1) CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL ON BRAKING SYSTEM. (2) DEPARTING DEALERSHIP, RUMBLE FROM FRONT WAS NOTED. TWO MILES FROM DEALERSHIP, EXTREME VIBRATION CAUSED ME TO STOP. THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL HAD NEARLY COME OFF. (3) CAR WAS RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS INFORMED THE LUGS: NUTS MUST HAVE BECOME LOOSE. I POINTED OUT THAT TECHNICIAN HAD TAKEN THE WHEEL OFF AND MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN TO TIGHTEN IT. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. A WEEK AFTER MY COMPLAINT THE DEALER AGREE TO INSPECT THE CAR FOR PROBLEMS. SERVICE MANAGER SAID NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AGAIN AFTER 75 MILES OF TRAVEL. I RETIGHENED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. ALSO, LOOSE WERE THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AND THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE LUGS: NUTS ON THE V40 SERIES? THERE ARE ONLY 4 PER WHEEL. I REGULARLY MUST CHECK ALL LUGS: NUTS. IS THE DEALERSHIP USING INCORRECT METHODS/TOOLS TO ENSURE PROPER TORQUE ON WHEELS? THEY DENY ANY WRONG DOING. *AK

BRAKE SYSTEM IN CAR WORKS POORLY WHEN CAR IS COLD OR LEFT FOR A FEW HOURS. SIGNIFICANTLY MORE BRAKE PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE CAR WHEN CAR IS COLD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN "FIXED" THREE TIMES BUT HAS RETURNED AGAIN. EVIDENTLY THIS IS RELATED TO FAILURE OF A VACUUM PUMP USED TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BRAKE VACUUM FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD.*AK