Nov 14, 2022Electrical system
On October 12, 2022 while driving home from the Schar Cancer Center in Fairfax, my 2012 Volvo XC60 experienced an end of life event. My check engine light came on when I entered my neighborhood. The car began sputtering and the gas pedal was delayed and at times, unresponsive. I was able to make it to my house and made an appointment to service my Volvo. My Volvo was towed to GT Peace Automotive on November 6. The three-week delay was due to their backlog of work. They are a trusted repair service and have provided service to all my vehicles over the past four years. The attached document indicates their assessment. Highlights include that the Volvo was a fire hazard in its current condition, the ignition coils were melted, and the circuits are shorted. GT Peace provided an estimate of $3,500 for repairs as a starting point to fully replace the engine harness. Their evaluation concluded that, based on other findings, the cost would easily go north of $3,500, possibly to $5,500. Based on this assessment and the CARFAX History Based Value of my vehicle (private party value of $10,170), it was in my best interest to donate the vehicle. I gave it to the Auto Tech program at Centreville High School on November 9, 2022.
NHTSA ODI 11493444
Oct 19, 2020Electrical system
2012 VOLVO XC60. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SOFTWARE PATCH. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE XM RADIO DRAINED THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY. THE COSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE THE SOFTWARED UPDATE PERFORMED FOR FREE. THE DEALER DECLINED. *JS
NHTSA ODI 11364950
Mar 18, 2019Electrical systemVisibility & wipers
WATER DRIPS FROM TOP OF WINDSHIELD INTO CAR AS FAST AS IT COMES DOWN. DRAINS INTO LIGHTS FIXTURES AS WELL AS GEARS AND WHEEL. FOGGED UP GLASS ON HIGHWAY CAUSING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. IN WINTER CAUSED GEARS TO FREEZE IN PARK. WATER POOLED IN BOTTOM OF CAR AND IN LIGHT FIXTURES. WATER IN SUNROOF CONTROL - CAUSED MALFUNCTION. WHEN GOING FROM STOP TO START WATER RAINS DOWN IN EYESIGHT CAUSE ANOTHER MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. DEALER SAID WINDSHIELD WAS LOOSE. SERVICE SAID THEY HAD NOT SEEN THIS PROBLEM. SALES SAID THIS MODEL HAS THIS PROBLEM ALL THE TIME. INTERESTING CONFLICT... VOLVO FORUMS HAVE THIS ISSUE WELL DOCUMENTED.
NHTSA ODI 11189823
Aug 4, 2012SteeringElectrical system
SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING, AMONGST OTHERS, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CROSSROADS. VERY DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOPPING OF THE CAR, ENGINE STOPPED, ALL ALARMS ON, STEERING NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO USE WITHOUT POWER. HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE CENTER. VOLVO CLAIMS THIS IS NOTHING MORE THAN A COMMON PLACE ALTERNATOR FAILURE (THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH AUXILIARY BELT TENSIONER). POWER STEERING FAILED ALTHOUGH BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. FOUND ON THE INTERNET THIS OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES TO OTHER XC60 DRIVERS. AS ALTERNATOR FAILURES WITHOUT ANY WARNING ARE SO "COMMON PLACE" AND AS THEY CAN HAVE SUCH VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SAFETY, WHY ISN'T THERE ANY BATTERY-BASED POWER STEERING SURVIVABILITY AS ON MOST OTHER VEHICLES?
NHTSA ODI 10469821