ALTHOUGH THE CAR WAS A NEW CAR, WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF PURCHASE, THE AIR-CONDITIONER DID NOT WORK. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT A PEBBLE HIT THE CONDENSER, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE CHARGED $950.00 FOR THE REPAIR. I GOT A MANAGER AND THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP INVOLVED, AND THEY FINALLY AGREED NOT TO CHARGE ME. INASMUCH AS I AM ON THE TOLL ROAD EVERY DAY, AND I AM NOT DRIVING ON A GRAVEL ROAD, I THINK THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE THERE APPARENTLY IS NOT PROTECTION FOR THE CONDENSER. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS CAR WAS TO BE DRIVEN ON A GRAVEL ROAD? IN FORTY YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT VOLVO SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND DEVELOP SOME SORT OF PROTECTION FOR THE CONDENSER, AS THIS IS A TREMENDOUS LIABILITY.
2011
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN, BRAKING THE VEHICLE TO A SUDDEN STOP AND LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A SUDDEN COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT NARROWLY AVOIDING A COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START OR BE MOVED AND HAD TO BE PLACED ON A FLATBED BY THE USE OF A DOLLY SYSTEM. IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY CONTROL WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST CAUSING A VERY SERIOUS AND MOST LIKELY FATAL ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCEDURE AS I FEEL THIS CAR IS UNSAFE, IN THAT NO WARNING WAS PROVIDED IF A MALFUNCTION WERE TO AND DID OCCUR, WHY DID THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, STOPPING THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. NO CONTROL WAS POSSIBLE DUE TO THIS SITUATION. AS STATED PREVIOUSLY IF THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT THE TIME THIS WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR