23rd Jul 2006, 13:07

My wife and I purchased a "certified, pre-owned" 1998 Volvo V70 GLT Wagon in December 2002 with 34,000 miles on it. We paid $21,000.00, which seemed fair.

It is now July 2006. This car has had repeated MAJOR systems issues, including, but not limited to:

1. All brakes, pads and calipers have had to be replaced.

2. Calipers and Rotor replacement a SECOND time.

2. Major work on front wheel and axle.

3. Electrical failures.

4. ABS failure.

We’ve also had NUMEROUS "smaller" repairs and replacements (but NOT small in cost to repair/replace), all without having had any accidents.

All repairs and maintenance were performed by Volvo dealerships to avoid gray market goods and/or unqualified mechanics working on the car, so you can’t say the issues are due to any of those factors.

The total cost to us, NOT including regular maintenance visits has been approximately $6,000.00!!!

This is absurd! Especially on a vehicle with such low mileage. We now have 66,000 miles on the car total, so you see we've driven it very little over the last nearly four years.

"Certified/Pre-owned" Volvo's apparently don't amount to much in the reliability department and, in our opinion, this phrase means nothing when it comes to a Volvo.

We will NEVER purchase another Volvo again, new or used. This experience has soured us forever.

There had been someone here that previously commented about “boring” Japanese cars. If this is someone’s idea of “excitement”, give me the “boring” reliability and dependability of a Japanese car any day.

My wife previously owned a used 1994 Geo Prizm (US/Japanese partnership) in 1995. It had about 33,000 miles on it when purchased. It had over 98,000 miles on it when it was totaled in a car accident in 2001. Up until that time there were NO major OR minor system failures requiring repairs or replacement. If it weren’t for the accident, we’d still have it today.

We replaced it with a new 2001 Chevy Prizm LS, which likewise has had NO major OR minor issues since we drove it off the lot. It now has over 76,000 miles on it. I don’t find that kind of sustained reliability and craftsmanship in dependable design “boring”. I call that QUALITY. Unfortunately, the Prizm is no longer being made for whatever reason, but the used ones are now in high demand, which speaks for itself.

When we unload the Volvo “Beast”, as we’ve come to call it, we’ll be looking at Japanese vehicles. At least then we won’t get soaked on poor design and unreliable parts.

10th Oct 2006, 11:26

I bought a 1998 Volvo V70 GLT new. It cost about $35,000. In addition to the numerous things going wrong which have already been mentioned by others and which I also experienced, my car had to have the rack and pinion replaced, as well as the struts and tie rods, for about $1500. This was when the car had 35,000 miles on it. The inside door panel cover, which is a vinyl film, I believe, has come loose on all four doors - repair costs from $130 to $250 per door (I am living with it). After much investigation I learned that the problem was a "non-polluting" glue that the company tried out, which eventually failed on almost all of these cars. The company has refused to pay for it, though it effects nearly all their models of that year. Also, the engine mounts had to be replaced at about 50,000 miles. Count me among those who will never buy another Volvo.

26th Jan 2007, 07:26

I purchased a used 1998 V70 GLT a year ago with excellent results. It had 83,000 miles when purchased and now, 25,000 miles later, I love it. I replaced the tailgate struts myself, ($25 each) a job that took 30 minutes. Otherwise, change the oil, fill it up with gas and go like mad.

Typically Swedish understated quality that is designed to last. The Swedes have a term, "lagom" which to my understanding means "just enough" or "just the right amount," suggesting that more would be too much and less not enough. You know when you have just the right amount of wine in you... just the right glow? This car creates that glow.

5th Feb 2007, 12:44

Clearly, some people luck out with a car that has relatively few problems, and some people do not mind fixing their cars. But given the number of people who complain about shoddy manufacturing of Volvos and poor company response, it seems that buying a Volvo is not a good bet. Isn't buying any car a gamble? So if the "word on the street" is that a particular car is probably going to have problems, while a different car (for example, a Japanese car) is probably quite free of problems, wouldn't you choose to bet on the car with the better reputation? That is, unless you just want a particular car no matter what the problems are. Having owned two Volvos, I say, never again!

6th Feb 2007, 02:46

All car makers will make the odd problem car. I own two Volvo's; a S70 and V40. The V40 is up to 107,000 miles and the S70 is up to 125,000 miles and I wouldn't change them for ANY other make. Ours have been completely faultless. I know Japanese cars SHOULD be more reliable and they probably are - but I rate the not beaten comfort and safety over all else. No Japanese car would look after my back as well while travelling or the ones I love if I/we have an accident. Believe me putting more airbags on a car doesn't make it any safer if the structure/metal isn't stronger in the first place - see Japanese cars. A company that spends as much as Volvo does (and invented seat belts, first put side airbags on mass produced cars, created Anti Whiplash system (WHIPS), SIPS Side protection - more than just bags, etc, etc) is a proper company. I treat my cars with respect and they treat me with respect back. I would continue buying Volvo's for the foreseeable future.

11th Apr 2007, 15:49

I have owned a 1998 Volvo V70 GLT for 205,000 miles now.

Seems like a lot of people are complaining about rotors and brakes. These are consumable items. as for the guy who replaced them twice in 35,000 miles (the shop saw you coming.) switches, lamps, latches, etc... they all go out. I have had over 12 cars in the last 5 years and they all had some little problems. They all will.

You say expensive! and then list 100.00 dollars! if you purchase a luxury car (used or not) get used to the price of repairs. These parts come from Sweden and have import tax.

If you want to own a car with repairs totaling under 100. then buy a KIA.

:P yeah, yeah, you all hate me now. I don't care. Truth hurts.

23rd Apr 2007, 09:31

To ˝11th Apr 2007, 15:49˝ author:

I agree. All of my Vvolvos have been completely faultless (five of them). Actually, bulb, brakes and other similar stuff are regular maintenance, do not fault the car for that. Oh, those cup holders broke too. I don't mind that (even if Americans think, the car is bad, if the cup holder broke, or if the car doesn't have one).

I will not buy anything else than Volvo. Ever. Safety, Reliability and comfort.