Hi - Last year my husband bought a new 2014 XC90. So far the car has been great but there are some quirks and I am trying to find out if these are on-going issues. The car has been back to the dealer three times and they always say "they can't replicate the problem". So here goes the litany of issues -
1. Back-up camera sometimes does not come up at all when the car is in reverse and the image does not appear to be clear. Dealer said it was a software issue and that they updated the software but my husband swears it is still not working properly.
2. Loud whining noise - When the car is first started the engine runs at a high rpm and with a loud whine, after a few seconds the idle drops back and the whine becomes less noticeable. Dealer said this is "just how the car is" and there is no fix for it because the whine is inherent with all XC-90's.
3. Windshield wipers - When the wipers complete their sweep my husband thinks they are too loud. Again, dealer said there is nothing wrong with the wipers.
4. Loss of coolant - The low coolant light came on several times. The car was taken back to the dealer and they topped off the coolant and said it was low due to evaporation. My husband says the cooling system is a "closed system" and there should be no evaporation, so where is the coolant going?
5. Possible wheel bearing issue - Unusual noise coming from left front and when making a turn you can hear what I would call a clunking noise, especially at a slow speed.

I hope someone can shed some light on the issues above because knowing my husband he is going to harp on this until Volvo's fly, which in turn is driving me up the wall. All that said I still love my 02 Volvo XC70! Thanks in advance for any advice!

Backup camera: Make sure the lense in the rear of the car is clean, it gets dirty fast and distorts the image. A software fix? In the display module or the TCU? Document when and where the camera doesn't work and how often and then bring that back to the dealer.

Most Volvos start with an RPM at around 1500 and then quickly settle down to normal idle speed. I was told this is part of the computer check list and is normal. Noise is not and may be from any spinning part driven by the timing belt or the system belt. This is a hard one to track down as the hood needs to be up and a stethoscope applied to determine where the noise is coming from. Your husband can use a long stick, just watch out for the turning belts.

Do the wipers 'clunk' on their downward stroke? Are they OEM wiper blades or off the shelf generic?

ANY coolant loss is too much. Yes, it is a closed and pressurized system. This is quite disturbing and the dealer must find the 'leak'. Antifreeze doesn't evaporate. The leak must be found before you find yourself with a cooked engine at the side of the road.

Wheel bearings don't go 'clunk', drive shafts do. This should be an easy one for a dealer to diagnose. You should check the axle boots for cracks.

This vehicle is still under warranty, so keep all of the paper work and bring up the same problems every time you bring the car in for service. If the problem started before the warranty expires and was not resolved, you can insist that the problem be repaired free of charge.

Don't forget to talk to the Service supervisor and not just to the service rep at the counter. If you like the salesman that sold you the car, tell him your problems also - give him a written list.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Thanks for the reply Klaus. Yes, the wipers are OEM. As far as the coolant, the dealer told my husband yesterday when he picked the car up that they found a bad "sensor" and replaced it with a new one.

That is only plausible if the sensor leaked fluid - dealer first said that they topped it off? You will have to monitor the level weekly for a while. Use a Sharpie to mark the current level and check the level only when the engine is cold and on level ground.

It's possible that you need new wiper blades??

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Keeping it running is better than buying new

Hubby here. Thanks for the input. They replaced the wiper blades. This is actually the second time this was done. Wipers aren't a big deal, just annoying. Learned to use the intermittent feature most of the time. I never thought about the axle being the problem. Could be. Almost feels like a cupped tire but they are all smooth. It seems to be mostly when slowing down from 40 mph. Most noticeable from 30 mph all the way down til you stop. Feels and sounds like there is a rough spot that's why I thought it might be a bad bearing. Sometimes a clunk can be heard when turning the wheel. The whine can heard all the time but most noticeable in the morning on fast idle. If I shine a flashlight in the reservoir the fluid looks like it is contaminated. Can't tell if the fluid is full of tiny air bubbles or fine metal dust. Any help is appreciated.

At the bottom of the windshield, there are 4 white dots - 2 for each blade. Those are alignment dots to help the factory to properly place the wiper arms. If yours are too low, perhaps removal and reinstallation of the wiper arms would help.

There are test kits for antifreeze, like paper strips. Get one and dip it into the overflow bottle and see if it comes back positive for combustion gasses. If it does, get to the dealer and ask for a new car.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

I will check the wiper alignment and get the test strips. Since it was back at the dealer twice for the same concerns one would think both would have been done. My biggest fear is that the coolant loss is internal. They claim there are no external leaks but it has to be going somewhere. The first time the ticket said "very slightly low due to evaporation". Huh?? It was down enough to set off the low coolant light. The light wouldn't stay on long so I kept regular checks on the level and over the course of a couple weeks the light would stay on longer and the level continued to drop. The coolant level sensor was replaced this last time but the only explanation is that the sensor failed. I suspect replacement was done because the service writer wrote the ticket to sound like the light had come on again and the level was up. I just wanted them to double check for leaks and mentioned the light coming on from the previous visit.

Have you checked the oil to see if it is getting creamy colored?
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Current rides: 2005 Volvo S80 2.5T, 2003 Volvo V70 2.4NA, 1973 Volvo 1800ES (getting ever closer to road worthiness)

Yes. Oil color is as it should be.