Faults:

Master power window switch

Headlight switch

Engine light unexplained malfunction.

General Comments:

Nice car to drive

Becoming concerned about electrical.

I found a new recall for the headlight switch 04V504000 recall date Oct 21, 2004- wish me luck!

Faults:

Air conditioning constantly stops working. It is caused by electrical problems.

The transmission runs very rough.

On the panel, the engine light, ABS light, the light bulb out light and the service light are constantly illuminated.

The coverings on all 4 doors have bubbled up and separated from the doors.

The lock on rear door will not release remotely.

The trunk lock will not release remotely.

The leather on the drivers seat has deteriorated badly.

The cup holder was flimsy and broke off long ago.

The antenna won't retract.

General Comments:

The car is nice looking and extremely comfortable. Seven years later the style is still very attractive.

The car drives beautifully and handles very well.

Volvo has suffered from terrible electrical problems for decades and it is inconceivable to me how the people who build these cars can't correct these same problems year after year. I bought this car to keep for at least 200,000 miles and at 73,000 miles, I am finally giving up. It isn't worth putting money into any more. Because the engine light is constantly illuminated, I'll never know if there is a critical engine problem. A friend with my same model and year had her engine actually blow up at 70,000 miles because the engine light was always on and she didn't know the plastic radiator had failed until it was too late. Should a near luxury car have a plastic radiator?

Faults:

Frequent changing of light bulbs

Various minor electrical problems.

Minor leak in a/c at 115,000 km.

Small leak in exhaust manifold at 170,000km.

General Comments:

Have had car since new and has been generally reliable. One exception is light bulbs. There is always at least one out, and every service visit involves bulb replacement. Sockets were replaced by a recall in 1999, but problem persists. Last visit, a new bulb burned out before arriving home. Very annoying, and ironically enough, very unsafe.

Brakes are great, but pads require replacement each 50k.

Other than that, its built like a tank, and generally drives like one too. 5 cylinder (non-turbo) engine is too small for size of car. Seats are very comfortable and the car is solidly built. Car is nearing eight years old and body, paint and leather interior are still in great shape.

After eight years this is a car I feel comfortable investing in until it hits 300km. Wouldn't describe as fun to drive, but if your looking for pure practicality and utility, it's a good choice. As with any car, regular maintenance and repairs pay off.

Faults:

Both front door's vinyl inserts de-laminated.

The cup holder broke after 6 years of use.

The parking brake shoes tend to seize if they aren't released after getting wet.

The "soft-touch" coating on some of the switches scratches easily.

General Comments:

This is my first Volvo.

In general, I am very impressed with the quality of the vehicle both inside and out.

The seats are unsurpassed. The control placement is mostly logical and the switchgear is solid. The sound system is very good as well.

The motor is powerful and the handling in satisfying, although it isn't a sport sedan.

However, the maintenance demands seem high for a modern car. I do most of the work myself, so costs are manageable.

I wouldn't recommend the car to someone unwilling to commit to strictly following the maintenance schedule.