Volvo V50 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

IGNITION KEY/ENGINE IMMOBILIZER EXPERIENCED A INTERMITTENT FAILURES ("KEY ERROR" ON DASHBOARD DISPLAY), AND INABILITY TO START ENGINE. A REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION KEY DETECTOR IN STEERING COLUMN WAS REQUIRED - PARTS COST: $750, LABOR EXTRA, AT VOLVO DEALER (VOLVO MANHATTAN, NY, NY). CAR PURCHASED IN JULY 2010, FAILURE IN JUNE 2016 (BEYOND WARRANTIES). THE IGNITION KEY SYSTEM SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPAIRED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY FOR A VOLVO LUXURY LEVEL CAR.

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER LOW MILEAGE AND JUST PAST WARRANTY. FAILURE OF BEARINGS LEAD TO ABS BRAKE SYSTEM BEING INOPERATIVE UNTIL REPAIR CONCLUDED. AS PART OF REPAIR, VOLVO ENGINEERED RETAINING RINGS WERE FITTED. THIS INDICATES AN ADMISSION BY VOLVO OF THE INADEQUACY OF THE ORIGINAL PART DESIGN. *TR

I HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, THEN THE PUMP ONLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE BOOSTER PUMP! I WENT RIGHT THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ALL OF THE TIME WITH THESE CARS.

FAILURE TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF A POTENTIALLY DEADLY, KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART THAT RESULTS IN MASSIVE CORROSION OF ELECTRONICS AND CEM CAUSING ENGINE TO QUIT WORKING. ELECTRONICS BEGAN TO QUIT WORKING WHILE TRAVELING. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A DEALERSHIP SERVICE GARAGE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THEY WERE UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE, AND COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY CALLED VOLVO WHO TOLD THEM THE V50 HAD A KNOWN DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP THAT CAUSED OTHER PARTS TO CORRODE. VOLVO SECRETLY CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT WATER PUMP IN NEW CARS AFTER DISCOVERING THIS DEFECT : BUT DID NOT NOTIFY OWNERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS PUMP LEAKS WASHER FLUID, DRIPPING ONTO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS AND CEM MAINFRAME COMPUTER WHICH CONTROLS THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE INABILITY TO START OR SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, SECURITY ALARM TO ACTIVATE INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO PROVOCATION, DISABLED KEY FOB ENTRY, AND OTHER INTERMITTENT ISSUES RELATED TO ELECTRONICS. THESE PARTS WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED AND FRIED. IF THIS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND HAD STOPPED THE ENGINE, THE SAME RESULTS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED AS THE GM CHEVROLET IGNITION PROBLEM. WITH NO ENGINE, THE CONTROLS TO POWER BRAKES, POWER STEERING AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WOULD BE INACTIVE. VOLVO COVERED ONLY THE COST OF THE PARTS, BUT LEFT US WITH A $3000 BILL FOR THE LABOR PORTION. THEY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE OF THE CARS AGE AND MILEAGE AND A "LOYALTY" FACTOR, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE LABOR COSTS. THEY SAID THEY WOULD ONLY COVER LABOR IF THERE WAS A RECALL, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T DONE. WE OWN 2 VOLVO'S AND OUR DAUGHTER PURCHASED A VOLVO ON OUR RECOMMENDATION JUST BEFORE THIS FAILURE. WE ASKED THAT THEY ALSO PICK THE LABOR COSTS REGARDLESS AND THEY REFUSED. THIS COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIAL DEADLY RESULT SIMILAR TO THE GM IGNITION PROBLEM & COVER-UP. *TR

I TOOK MY NEWLY PURCHASED, USED V50 WAGON TO MY VOLVO DEALER. THE SERVICE TECH DEMONSTRATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAS BECOME UNSEALED FROM FRAME. IT WAS/IS LOOSE, AND CAN BE PARTIALLY PUSHED OUT. THEY HAD FOUND WET CARPET IN MY CAR. IT IS STILL LEAKING (THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT). THIS WAS NOT COVERED BY VOLVO, NOR WAS IT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED WHEN I GOT THE LOAN. TURNS OUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT VOLVO SHOULD FIX AT NO COST TO ME.

ON 2010 VOLVO,V-50 , WE JUST BOUGHT MY WIFE DOES NOT HAVE ANY TROUBLE SWITCHING HER RIGHT FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND BACK AGAIN,BUT IT SEEMS NO MATTER WHICH SHOES I'M WEARING ,I WEAR SIZE 12 D,MY FOOT HAS A TENDENCY TO CATCH BETWEEN THE PEDALS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE VOLVO STORE OF WINTER PARK,TODAY APRIL 21,BOTH SALES AND SERVICE MANAGERS,THEY SAID THAT THEY CANT CHANGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PEDALS BECAUSE OF SAFETY. THEY SUGGESTED DRIVING WITH SOCKS INSTEAD OF SHOES OR USING RIGHT FOOT FOR ACCELERATOR,AND LEFT FOOT FOR BRAKE. I HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN MANY SAFE DRIVING COURSES INCLUDING THE LAST 55 ALIVE BY AARP,TO AVOID THIS DANGEROUS PRACTICE I WAS WONDERING WHAT NHTSA 'S POSITION WAS ON THIS. WE TRADED IN A 2000 VOLVO S 70 GLTSE THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS CONDITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2005 VOLVO V50 HAS INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES. THE ENGINE CRANKS AND FUEL PUMP CAN BE HEARD WHEN KEY IS TURNED IN IGNITION BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER/START. AFTER 10-15 (SOMETIMES MORE) ATTEMPTS AT STARTING THE VEHICLE, FUEL PRESSURE APPEARS TO BUILD SLOWLY WITH EACH ATTEMPT AND THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES START. IF THE VEHICLE DOES START IT IS OPERABLE WITHOUT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS AND CAN BE DRIVEN NORMALLY. THE CAR WILL RE-START WITHOUT ISSUE IF THE ENGINE HAS RUN WITHIN A FEW HOURS OF THE ATTEMPT. AFTER 24-36 HOURS OF BEING OFF THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY STARTING AGAIN. I BELIEVE THE PEM (PUMP ELECTRONICS MODULE) IS FAULTY IN MY VEHICLE - VOLVO ISSUED RECALL 190 TO ADDRESS THIS BUT NOW REFUSES TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE OR PROVIDE ME WITH DOCUMENTATION SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN.

VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RAPIDLY LOST SPEED AND POWER STEERING. RESTARTING WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND RESULTED IN SEVERAL FAILED STARTS AND STALLS. TRYING TO NAVIGATE TO SAFETY RESULTED IN MORE STALLING. SYMPTOMS INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP. CHECKED WITH VOLVO AND THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL FOR THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRONIC MODULE, BUT THAT VOLVO LIMITED THE RECALL TO ONLY CERTAIN STATES WHILE STATING THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO SALTY WET CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE PRESENT MOST EVERY WHERE ON THE EAST COAST. VOLVO EXCLUDED SEVERAL EAST COAST STATES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE RECURRED PERIODICALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF THE BOTTOM WOULD DETACH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE RIGHT FRONT ENGINE MOUNT. *TR

CAR HAS HAD POOR STEERING AND NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END - REPAIRS MADE TO LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT FRONT - NOISE CONTINUES RIGHT FRONT - REPAIRED AGAIN AND NOW IN VOLVO OF SANTA MONICA FOR 3RD REPAIR TO RIGHT FRONT; ALL REPAIRS INVOLVE SUSPENSION ISSUES AND PART SUCH AS JOINTS AND WHEEL AXEL. NOISES ARE WHEN CAR IS BEING DRIVEN ESPECIALLY TURNING RIGHT.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 880 'URGENT ELECTRICAL SERVICE ! WITH BATTERY EMBLEM LIGHT IN RED' CAME ON IN THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER SIDE DASH GAGES; THIS BLOCKED OUT THE MILEAGE LEFT FOR GAS... CAR TOWED TO DEALER AND TO DATE THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED BY SELLING DEALER- THIS APPEARED AGAIN AFTER NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE REPLACED ON 7/1/2013! PRIOR INCIDENT WITH WATER LEAKING IN THE CAR PASSENGER SIDE FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX ON TO THE PASSENGER FLOOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HARDER AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC MODULE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V033000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE CAR HESITATED ON ACCELERATION WHEN I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BRIEFLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND A DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR IS THE CAUSE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS ON VOLVO RELATED WEBSITES. THE PART IN QUESTION IS BOSCH #8699449 THAT WAS RECALLED FOR SIMILAR FAILURES ON VOLVO 60 SERIES VEHICLES. AFTER REPLACING THE PART WITH A NEW BOSH PART #31272732 THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR. THIS OLD PART SHOULD BE RECALLED ON ALL VOLVOS AS IT CREATES A REAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PROBLEM OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR