Seatbelts and electrical issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Many drivers aren’t interested in owning wagons anymore, but the 2020 Volvo V60 is one model that holds a place in hearts around the country. Volvo claims that this wagon is “designed for life,” but owners feel that it misses the mark. This model suffers from a faulty electrical system and dangerous seat belts.
As a premium vehicle, the electrical system should run without a hitch, but this Volvo simply fails on every level.
Here is one NHTSA complaint. “The contact owns a 2020 Volvo V60. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 70 mph, the vehicle started independently braking with the city safety warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle resumed normal operation after the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer for assistance. [Dealer] was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled to have the vehicle inspected. The diagnosis was still pending. The failure mileage was approximately 500.”
It turns out that both the electrical system and brakes are causing massive problems. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V144000 states that over 100,000 vehicles have a software/hardware incompatibility that causes the Automatic Emergency Braking system to malfunction. This system fails to detect obstacles or engage as intended, which could cause an accident. So, what “life” is this designed for exactly? Braking is an essential operation that all drivers need to be able to do, but this isn’t “designed” for that.
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| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | |
| Electrical System | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Seat Belts |
With the previous defect revealed, it is more important than ever that customers have access to functioning seat belts, but that seems to be a problem too.
One more NHTSA review states, “The new Volvo supposed to come with a safety belt warning for both driver and passenger, but in one scenario it’s not. In the event that the driver is seated and its belt is fastened once the passenger sits in the front passenger seat, the airbag alerts the driver that the passenger armed the bag but does not alert that driver that the belt is not fastened.
In other words, I came to pick my daughter up from school listening to the radio, she was on the phone, set in and we drove off. Only when we got home we realized she didn’t have the belt on…no warning icons no chimes, very dangerous situation. In the event both driver and passenger sits in the car while car is put on alert will sound and warning light will be illuminated for at least a minute if passenger is unbuckled.”
This review reveals exactly how much care Volvo put into building this wagon. Another example of the poor engineering is found in Service Bulletin #TJ35161.2.0-2019. This communication states that the rear bumper and D-pillar can turn yellow. While this might seem like a major defect, it’s important to look at the bright side. The yellow can serve as a caution flag, alerting others to the danger that faces them if they get near the V60.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Volvo pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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