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Volvo XC90 Maintenance and Repair
Has anyone encountered a musty / moldy odor right after starting the vehicle? It typically lasts about 5- 10 seconds, then disappears. This has been an on going problem with my new 2004 XC 90. It has been to the dealer several times, and they can't find a problem. I have noticed that it occurs more often during humid or wet days.
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tidester, host
wwest "Mazda Tribute/ Ford Escape problems" Aug 8, 2002 1:55pm
Steve, Host
I have taken it to the dealership and had them check it. They have performed a software upgrade on it but it didn't solve the problem.
my xc90 came with Pirelli scorpion zero tires and under normal driving conditions I have less than 3/32" of wear left on the wear bars of all four tires at 1200 miles. Is any one else experiencing this problem with their Pirelli's or other tires.
I have also experienced the excessive tire wear at about 12k miles. I was told that the rating on that particular tire is 20k. My dealer is trying to help out by contacting Pirelli and get some sort of resolution
Let me know if you need additional info.
That would lead me to believe there is an exhaust leak somewhere. I would persist with the service rep and take them with you on a drive if necessary.
Others have used a `swivel' attachment to connect the fob to the keyring with good results in that the fob stays together and the ring no longer comes off.
As Volvo understands this, I would suggest that you go into the dealer and raise HAY about this and ask for a replacement.
I've seen some women with at least 8 or more keys on their fobs. They keep their keys in crammed purses and when they reach in to get them, they tug at them by the fob or by whatever key they can grab. I can see this causing the small ring to come out on the Volvo key fob.
I found this out the hard way in a GM car several years back and have found it is much more prevalent in domestic cars than my Volvos (which I think are aided by their design with one very deep groove in the middle of the key which MIGHT hold things in place a little better even with excess weight from too many keys.
Worse still is that industry is doing all they can to make our keychains heavier. I have miniature scan cards for grocery stores, movie rental, etc. in addition to things like an ExxonMobil Speedpass on my rings. Credit card companies like Discover are now coming up with miniature credit cards that go on key rings. Add keys for office, desk, mailbox, home, etc. and you have a real problem real quick.
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
Steve, Host
Now, I always checked that all doors are closed before i take off... and I never had the same problem...
I picked up my new 2.5T on Dec 31, washed it a few days later, and a few days after that we went into a super deep freeze in New England. I developed a similar noise which I called grinding. I took it to the dealer the next day, and because of this deep freeze the dealer had been informed the previous day by Volvo of the problem. They ended up finding ice in the subframe bushings that had frozen since my car wash a few days earlier. The solution was to "remove all 4 subframe mounting bolts and plates, clean out the ice, and lube the plates and washers." Hope this helps.
Can anyone explain how CR or JDP derive their info for these ratings? Do they mail forms to verified owners asking for their opinions? Do they solicit info via email? How do they gather their data?
JD Powers vs Consumer Reports:
Steve, Host
Also, sure would like to add am arm res that's usable.
Solutions anyone?
Also, sure would like to add an arm rest that's usable.
Solutions anyone?
We've had a lot of problems with this XC90, an '03 with 25K miles on it.
Any thoughts about the above issue? Thanks!
If you had this problem with snow tires I would be VERY surprised and would suspect a problem of sorts. There are MANY online reports of XC90's snow prowess and it does very well from the owner reviews (mine has been out in the sand in the desert but not the snow so I can't compare directly.)
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
IMHO, these vehicles are poorly constructed and my XC-90 has over 8 significant defects in 6 months. Have been discussing with an attorney about filing a Class Action based on their misleading advertising claims.
Trunk won't open (unable to repair thus far)
Dead Battery at 15 K Miles
Suspension "clunks" front and rear; New shocks and struts required
Power steering pump defective
ABS Unit defective
"Whooping" sound at cruising speed from Drivetrain (Possibly the turbo gate).
Radio switches off by itself.
Weatherstripping fell off in engine compartment.
My '76 AMC Pacer was better built! Really disappointing for a $45K car! I think we may trade it in for a Honda Pilot, Acura MDX or Lexus GX.
Dealer doesn't seem to care. Does anyone know who to call at Volvo headquarters to lodge complaints?
You must have the sorriest dealership I've ever seen! Where are you located?
My dealership in Louisville has been excellent to deal with, though I have heard horror stories from others.
As far as the dealer goes, my dealer has been friendly and has fixed the problems to date though they seem really nonplused about the whole affair.
I normally dont write, but felt compelled to when I read this text. I had an XC 90 T6, 2004 and LOVED IT! Well, loved it when it worked. I had my car for three months and in the three months I owned it, it was in the shop 9 times for various things, including transmission, breaks, knocking noise when accelerating or breaking, tail lights popped off, wood steering wheel chipped, rotors, steering column (the list continues) in any case, the dealership was wonderful, not plused seeing me every week, but non the less were polite and always helpful. Volvo accepted my car back after having all of the problems I had. After contacting cooperate, and emailing customer service and keeping a log of every problem I had (and how long it was in the shop) I went and met with the owner of the dealership, he agreed to help me. I am not a lawyer, just had straight facts and I now know the lemon law like the back of my hand. I was an informed consumer and knew my rights. If you feel your car is a lemon dont let them push you around and tell you they will fix it. Each state has its own lemon laws, find our what yours are and make some phone calls. I now own an RX 330 (Lexus) and LOVE it!!! Good luck to you!
I remember your post on the RX330 board but did not know you were a former XC90 owner. I found your post here very helpful as I was at one time considering a Volvo as well (I still think it is beautiful.) I think your experiences would be welcome at the RX330 board. I mentioned your post there on the RX330 Problems board. Hope you don't mind. Would love to hear more of your interesting posts. Thanks.
My break also start have noisy like squeeze sound when I hitting the break. Does anyone have the same problems?
MY VW has same problem for the break like XC90. I am so disappointed.
you can bet that if I take it to the dealer they will never find this. Has anyone else had this experience?
Two new problems have emerged:
1) Crunching sound at low speeds from rear - shocks had to be replaced (14K miles?). Never hauled or towed.
2) Clicking sound eminating from driver's seatbelt pillar - tensioner/belt need to be replaced.
What a reliable car! Since delivery in June:
1) Plastic adherant to paint upon delivery - req. repainting of door.
2) Clunking noise in tranny - required adhesive.
3) Crunching noise from front end - required replacement of strut plate.
4) Suspension squeak in cold weather - unresolved.
5) Intermittent reset of seat settings.
6) Brake squeal in cold weather - unresolved.
7) Rear shocks - replaced.
8) Driver seatbelt - requires replacement.
9) Driver/Passenger windows drop spontaneously an 1/4" resulting in windnoise - unresolved.
10) Headlight wipers kept blowing out - required a dealer installed breaker.
Have I forgotten anything - 10 defects in 10 months? What's next?
Over the last week Volvo has released over a "dozen" service bulletins related to the XC-90 including 1) Installation of a new fuse/breaker for the headlight washers, 2) some sort of strap device for the tailgate, 3) A new key system so the ring doesn't fall off. There are others as well and if one is having problems he/she should ask their dealer.
The dealer replaced the rear shocks (as in another service bulletin), put in for a new driver's side seat belt assembly, and updated the software.
One of the software fixes which is immediately apparent is that at the conclusion of raising the power windows, there is a brief "power burst" which occurs bilaterally and seems to cinch the windows in tightly - hopefully alleviating the dreaded window drop.
One car, one sincerely unsatisfied customer - and what, a dozen or so postings...
A dozen or so postings ... out of almost 2.5 MILLION on the Town Hall boards? Let's keep it in perspective! :-)
tidester, host
I have, I believe, a decent perspective.
Yes, 2.5 millions - but, skewed anyway.
My point was - one unhappy reader has posted a dozen negative messages about one car.
I will withdraw my point if you show me a dozen or so positive messages from the same person about the same car (excluding myself).
I have jumped into the discussion mainly because I have seen a strong negative disbalance on the Volvo related boards, and I am trying to tip the balance toward the center.
Yes, you are right. There are a dozen or so negative posts.
Let's move on.
tidester, host
My apologies for rather harsh response.
Thanks, and have a nice day.
Is it likely that you would have all that problems? No, of course not.
Is it guaranteed that you do not have any problems at all. No, too.
There is no such thing as a trouble free car "in general". Some of the brands are statistically more trouble prone, other less, but there are problems with any existing brand on a market.
Statistically, all the cars became more reliable lately, and the average bar is raised very high. It is very unlikely, that the car with the average reliability will manifest any major problems, and Volvo XC90 has an average reliability, even by the most conservative estimates.
Strictly as a personal opinion, I would not even worry about the reliability for the 3 years lease, and will base my decisions on other factors - price/lease terms, style, versatility (we are talking SUV), safety, etc.
And remember, that the Volvo XC90 is totally different in the area of the "driving feel" from the Envoy.
P.S.: Mind your own interests, when reading the boards. There is unproportional number of the negative messages here. I have mentioned recently that armd posted many-many messages on the different boards about one car
I'm sure you'll enjoy the XC90.
Guy
Thanks. We test drove the vehicle today and were very impressed. I listened for all the noises that were reported and heard none. It was rock solid, quiet and smooth. I am now probably going to sign a lease.
Tell us when you get a car. I am counting days to my trip to Gothenburg...
1) I have not posted "many-many messages on the different boards" - perhaps less than a dozen on the XC-90 and Problems and solutions boards re: my XC-90.
2) The information I've provided is accurate and objective and affects a T5-AWD '04 vehicle purchased in June '03.
3) I have no vendetta with Volvo and have over 30 years experience with vehicles including U.S., European, and Asian brands.
4) These boards are not representative samplings - thus responses tend to reflect significant positive or negative experiences. My experience may/may not be representative. J.D. Power surveys are perhaps a better gauge of true customer experience.
5) Greater than 10 significant problems in less than 10 months of ownership is out of the ordinary by any measure. Before one writes this off as a "lemon", they'd better have the data to back this assertion up. I have inquired about each and every problem I have experienced with this vehicle ( to Volvo and the dealership) and in the majority of the cases these are "known" issues or have "TSB's" associated with them. Therefore, it is less likely that the problems are "freak" issues. Docroger2 and others have posted similar experiences with their XC-90's so perhaps you want to bash them as well?
6) IMHO an informed consumer is a wise consumer, and trying to censor information is counterproductive and un-American.
'nuff said :-))