My S80 is now 2 years and 55 000 miles old. When comparing the cars I was worried about the reliability of this new Volvo: it was a completely new vehicle with totally new technical approach (at least new to Volvo). I must admit that I already had a beta tester´s suit on me (or at least in my mind) when I received my new car on February 1999.

Here is my list of failures:

- automatic climate control unit replaced 3 times (OK for over a year now)

- both the front and the rear brake disks replaced (30-40 000 miles, original brake pads only 50 % worn-out!)

- automatic transmission control unit replaced and software updated (10-30 000 miles)

- steering re-lubricated (odd noise when turning the steering wheel, 40 000 miles)

- central locking system repaired twice (driver´s door, 20-40 000 miles)

- front suspension pivot-joints replaced

This list is, believe me or not, as long as I would expect from a completely new car from a small company like Volvo.

Everything has been repaired without any delays and nobody has ever asked me after my money (warranty is only 12 months). They seem to be aware of all the problems but they never tell me the real origin of them. And why should I be interested in that? If everything is fixed with a minimum pain in the ass, why should I be worried? All I have done is that I´ve made it clear I´m not going to pay _anything_ for repairing the climate control unit in the future. I can be a beta tester but I´m not going to be it for free.

In my country (Finland) the S80 is especially cheap compared to the continental European cars and, excluding some quality problems, I´m completely satisfied with my S80. My wife´s car, a Lancia k (= kappa) from Italy, is far more reliable, but doesn´t afford the same quality of a quiet long-distance work-horse I have been after. When pushing it hard, the situation is completely different, naturally. Volvo is not a Porsche.

I think that all we need is a little bit more tolerance for these new models. If we want to be pioneers, we have to accept some degree of imperfection and simultaneously be happy with the extra satisfaction that a completely new concept delivers.

Hannu Mikola

I agree with your basic premise that one should expect some birthing problems with a new car from a small manufacturer. What I don't expect in this price range is that basic operational systems that are fundamental to the operation of the car are released to market in a condition where they cannot be counted on to get you where you're going. I have a 1999 S80 T6 with 43,000 miles on it. I live in California so most of these are freeway miles, straight and fast. To date my car has suffered the following failures:

1.) Automatic transmission

2.) Throttle body

3.) Both front struts

4.) Both ball joints

5.) Rear brake rotors

6.) Rear window (defroster)

7.) Power mirror

8.) Power door lock motor

9.) Keyless entry remote

10.) Radio

11.) Antenna amplifier

12.) Antenna cable

13.) Dome lamp assembly

14.) B-pillar seat belt molding

15.) Drive by wire ECM

16.) Front suspension bushings

There are a multitude of other less serious compromised operational issues relating to design and build which are not warranty defects but certainly satisfaction issues.

Of the failure items suffered by my car, I would only classify the drive by wire ECM as new technology. The rest of the issues are fundamental brick and mortar execution problems that simply should not afflict a car of this price class. Completely and totally unacceptable.

There is always a limit and I´m sure you have reached it with your ´brick´.

Regards,

Hannu

Frank,

You've hit the nail on the head. I agree with you 100%! I didn't by my 1999 S80 2.9 with the hope of becoming a product development engineer for Volvo! The worst part is that Volvo hasn't been able to correct the problem with the subframe bushings in the nearly 2 years I've owned the car! The addition of o-rings didn't rid my car of the noise the defective bushing design is causing. Volvo should get their act together if they want to play in the big leagues.

Sincerely,

Disappointed S80 Owner