Volvo

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Learning of Other Complaints:
You can get summaries of auto complaints & service bulletins from
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by the
Internet or by mail. To access complaint summaries for particular
makes, models & years, visit NHTSA’s Internet website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. Or for $20-40, you can get a computer printout of complaints or service bulletins from NHTSA’s Technical Information Services,
which can be contacted through NHTSA’s Auto Safety Hotline at
800-424-9393 or 888-327-4236. Specify make, model & year as the
more specific the request, the less expensive the printout.

Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs):
Volvo publishes TSBs to help dealers diagnose & repair problems on
vehicles. Some dealers will let you view TSBs. Some state Lemon or
Secret Warranty Laws require manufacturers or dealers to make TSBs
available on your vehicle. You can access TSB summaries via NHTSA’s
Website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. NHTSA’s Technical Information Services,
which can be contacted through NHTSA’s Auto Safety Hotline at
800-424-9393 or 888-327-4236, can also send a particular TSB once you
identify it from NHTSA’s Website or its computer printout. ALLDATA
provides free access to TSB summaries & sells copies of TSBs listed
on its Website. You can also buy them from HELM, Inc. Call 800-782-4356
for ordering information. For your use, we have listed some of the more
comprehensive TSBs on your vehicle. Check the above sources for other
TSBs.

Recalls & Investigations:
Call NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424-9393 or
888-327-4236 (in Washington DC 202-366-0123) or visit NHTSA’s website
at www.nhtsa.dot.gov-recalls and www.nhtsa.dot.gov-investigations respectively.

Small Claims Court: Go to small claims for advice on using small claims court to recover repair & other expenses. The Lemon Book
(Moyer-Bell 1990) by Ralph Nader has an entire chapter on small claims
court strategy, a state-by-state index & a chapter on your legal
rights to help you better argue your case in court. You can order the
book for $17.50 from CAS Publications.

Lemon Lawsuits: If you have to sue Volvo over a lemon, go to CAS-Lawyers for a list of attorneys specializing in lemon law.

Complain to Volvo: Write Vic Doolan, CEO, Volvo Cars of North America, 7 Volvo Drive, Rockleigh NJ 07647 or call Volvo at 800-458-1552.

Using Better Business Bureau Autoline Arbitration:
Volvo uses BBB Autoline in some states to arbitrate original owners’
requests for repair reimbursement, an order that Volvo “buy-back” your
car, or both. The BBB program is not legally binding on consumer, so
you may reject bad decision & go to court. The program is limited
to states where arbitration is required under state lemon law. Call
800-955-5100 and ask specifically to go through the BBB Auto Line
arbitration program. The Lemon Book has a chapter to guide you through BBB Arbitration and can help get “buy-backs” & reimbursements. The Lemon Book is available from CAS for $17.50 from CAS Publications.

Secret Warranty Disclosure Laws:
Four states (CA, CT, VA & WI) have laws requiring automakers to
disclose any secret warranties on their cars. Contact your state
attorney general for information or to support such laws. Little Secrets of the Auto Industry (Moyer-Bell 1994) by CAS is devoted to secret warranties, how to find them & use them. Little Secrets is available for $17.50 from CAS Publications.

Supporting Volvo Recall Efforts:
Help us force the government to protect consumers by writing your
Senators and Representative in Congress, urging them to contact NHTSA
& the Federal Trade Commission on your defects in your Volvo
vehicle. Your local library has names of your representatives; write
them c/o US Senate (or House), Washington DC 20510 (or 20515). Find
and/or e-mail them at www.house.gov/writerep/ and www.senate.gov.

Support CAS’ Efforts: File a complaint with CAS which will be used to pressure Volvo to take responsibility for defects in its vehicles. Become a CAS member by making a tax-deductible contribution to help us in our fight on your behalf against Volvo and the other auto giants.