Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
Electrical System
Filed Dec 9, 1998OH
THIS CAR HAS A HX OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT(AT NIGHT) AS HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OPERATED AT A DIFFERENT SEQUENCE THAN THE RIGHT ONE. WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT THESE LIGHT FAILURES ARE SOMEWHAT COMMON WITH THIS MODEL..OUR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE OBVIOUS. TH E MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROPOSED ANY SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS. THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THERE IS APPARENTLY A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Nov 24, 1998TX
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, AND EVERYTIME THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE NOISE WAS STILL COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,AND THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED THE BRAKES, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe1 injured
Filed Nov 4, 1998PA
EXHAUST PIPE IS EXTENDED TO FAR OUT FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER'S CHILD TO BE BURNED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 1, 1998OH
CHECK YOU EMAIL FROM. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 27, 1998PA
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY. ECU INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. DEALER INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT GAS CAP HAD BEEN REMOVED WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. TO DATE, SOURCE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. PRESENTLY, CAR IS WITH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR SERVICE.
Suspension › Rear › Springs
Filed Jul 2, 1998VT
SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. OWNER TOLD BY SERVICE AND VOLVO THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS AT THE FACTORY. ALL ATTEMPT TO SOLVE PROBLEM HAS FAILED.
Seats
Filed Jun 25, 1998TN
THE HEIGHT OF THE FRONT SEATS CREATE A DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT AND OBSTRUCT VIEW DUE TO DESIGN.
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Jun 3, 1998GA
TURN SIGNNAL BULB SIGNAL SOCKET WAS SCORCHED BLACK ON INSIDE, MELTING THE PLASTIC.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 3, 1998TN
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS SPONTANEOUS INCREASE IN RPM WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON GAS. BRAKES LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN.*AK
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Dec 23, 1997TN
GAS PEDAL LOST RESPONSIVENESS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AT THE SAME TIME, BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK
Steering
Filed Nov 10, 1997NY
THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A RUBBING NOISE AND IS MORE PROMINENT WHEN TURNING, BUT THE OWNER AND THE MECHANIC FELT IT COULD TURN INTO A MUCH BIGGER STEERING PROBLEM. LIGHT CAME ON INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN FOR NO REASON. *AK
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 1997OH
VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. 522084 DUP OF 524915. POSTED ON 30-SEP-98. *AK
Air Bags
Filed Sep 13, 1997OH
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING VEHICLE COLLISION.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Aug 18, 1997TN
A PIECE OF THE VACUUM BRAKE SYSTEM CAME LOOSE, CAUSING ENGINE TO INCREASE ITS RPMS SPONTANEOUSLY AND LOCKE DUP THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 17, 1997NJ
DUE TO THE DESIGN, DASHBOARD CAUSES EXCESSIVE GLARE ON WINDSHIELD WHICH STRAINS DRIVER'S EYES.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.