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Volvolemon
Action Group Australia (VAGA)
Latest News From Australia
July 8, 2006
Failing Transmissions.
Volvo dealers are not allowed to
repair Volvo Auto Transmissions. They source factory
replacement ones instead, but at great cost to the
consumer, eg around $7000 for a V70 model.
An alternative is to have your
transmission repaired. The following repairer is very
familiar with the Volvo product. If you have
transmission problems you may wish to contact Col Voss
below. If you live elsewhere other than NSW, Col and
his team may be able to recommend a suitable contact
in your area.
Col Voss Automatic Transmissions
Pty Ltd
Unit 2/128 Old Pittwater Rd Brookvale Sydney NSW 2100
Tel: (02) 9907 4486 or visit their
site here:
www.colvoss.com.au
July 2, 2006
It has taken several
weeks and 3 attempts to get a response from them. What I
originally did, was forward the response I had received
from Volvo Global Customer Relations (posted earlier in
this thread), requesting further clarification ;"
" I can confirm that software is now available for approximately 30% of the cars affected. We hope to roll out the rest of the software in the coming weeks. We will not look to charge customers for this upgrade. In our experience, the software has fixed the majority of running faults reported prior to installation. In addition, when our dealers carry out the update, we have also asked them to clean out the throttle body and the crankcase ventilation system. Poor servicing can cause carbon deposits in these areas. "
June 1, 2006
NRMA AUSTRALIA EXPOSES
VOLVO ETM ISSUE
The National Roads and Motoring
Association (NRMA) in NSW Australia, have printed an
article in their May/June 2006 edition of their "Open
Road" Magazine, on page 44.
The article reads as follows:
"
Member issues
NRMA has been informed of a
number of alleged failures of an Electronic Throttle
Module in C70, S70, V70, S60 and S80 models of Volvo
cars built from 1999 to 2001.
NRMA asks members to
contact its Technical Advice Line on
1300 655 443 if
their Volvo car of any of the above models and build
dates has suffered any or all of the following
symptoms: stalling; surging/hesitation; and/or rough
idling (restarting the engine reportedly sometimes
fixes the problem temporarily), and they have not had
the problem satisfactorily resolved by a Volvo dealer
or other service centre."
VAGA members in other States may
wish to lobby their Motoring body to follow NRMA's
suit.
March 2006: ETM
failure register launched by VAGA (see this site for
details)
March 2006: VAGA
investigating class action against Volvo Cars Australia.
Watch this site for further developments.
Volvolemon Action Group
Australia (VAGA)
ETM Failure Register -
Australian Volvo Owners
Dear fellow Australian Volvo Owners,
VAGA encourages you to report ETM
failures in two ways.
1. Lodge a defect notice.
The Federal Department of Transport and Regional
Services (DOTARS) should be notified. The more notices
they receive the better it is for them to develop a case
against Volvo. They have a site where you can register
defects such as an ETM failure. You can do this by
visiting this site here:
You can also contact DOTARS here:
lawrence.glynn@dotars.gov.au
or tel Lawrence Glynn or Ross Pettersson on: 02 6274
7111 in Canberra.
2. Register an ETM Failure
with VAGA. VAGA is your action and support
group. To help us help you, we would like to hear from
you. If you agree we ask that you complete the attached
form and email it to
ni-ilic@grapevine.net.au Thanks Nick
ETM Failure Register -
Australian Volvo Owners
Email to:
ni-ilic@grapevine.net.au
Your name:
Email:
State of Residence:
Model Volvo:
Date of Manufacture:
Date of Repair:
Cost of Repair:
Mileage When Repaired:
Please Provide Details (such
as how the ETM failed):
AIMS of VAGA
1. Volvolemon - Action Group Australia
is to be concerned only with the failure of the Electronic
Throttle Module (ETM) issue affecting Volvo S60, S80, S70,
V70 and C70 model Volvos manufactured between 1999 and
2001 (maybe some 02 models) fitted with the Magnetti
Marrelli contacting type ETM; and Volvo's failure to
support Volvo owners in Australia.
2. To convince Volvo Cars Australia to
adopt the same extended warranty program for ETM's as
promulgated by Volvo North America in November 2005, for
the 300,000 plus Volvo owners in North America. The
extended warranty program to be the same for Australians
and to comprise: free ETM cleaning, free ETM replacement,
reimbursement to Volvo owners who have replaced their ETM,
access to Volvo's revised software which they said would
be available March 2006 for Volvo owners who have had the
ETM replaced with the newer version.
3. To ensure Volvo Cars Australia
inform all Volvo Australia owners of imminent Volvo ETM
failures as recognised by Volvo North America and their
provision of subsequent advice to Volvo owners.
4. To ensure Volvo finds a long term
solution to the ETM problem by replacing the current ETM
with a non-contacting type of design.
5. To inform fellow Australian Volvo
owners of the ETM failure and inherent risks in the
absence of Volvo Cars Australia duly informing its
customers accordingly.
6. To enlist the assistance of Motoring
Organisations, Motoring Journalists in helping to expose
the ETM issue as a means of forewarning existing and would
be owners of the above vehicles.
7. To recommend that Volvo owners who
have experienced ETM failure issues lodge a defect notice
with the Australian Department of Transport and Regional
Services (DOTARS) at there notification site here:
http://dynamic.dotars.gov.au/recalls/NotifyUs.asp
6. Provide key contact information for
Volvo Owners who wish to pursue their ETM failure issue:
KEY CONTACTS:
Australian Volvo owners may wish to
lodge formal complaints or concerns with the following.
Volvo Cars Australia on 1800 786 586;
the key contacts are:
State based government run consumer
affairs/ fair trading support services - check you local
directory.
Consider contacting your State motoring
organisation, and favourite motoring editor/journalist to
advise them of the ETM failure issue. Ask them to visit
the following site for comprehensive information:
www.vexedvolvo.org
7. Affected Volvo owners are advised to
seek legal advice or at least advise their legal
representative of the ETM failure issue just in case -
(and its hoped not), that a serious life threatening
incident occurs. It may be worthwhile sending a letter via
one's legal representative to Volvo Cars Australia
informing them on notice, of the "just in case
scenario/possibility", and copy in the Minister for DOTARS
- see above.
-----Original Message----- From: ni-ilic@grapevine.net.au Questions: Hello, When will Ford instruct Volvo Cars Australia to match Volvo Cars North America's extended warranty program to cover the ETM failure issue which afflicts around 6000 Volvo Models here in Australia and no doubt worldwide. We Volvo owners, here in Australia, are fed up with your inaction and have commenced an information campaign to inform Volvo owners and potential Volvo owners of the truth behind the Volvo ETM failure issue. We have lodged defect notices with the Australian Government and the ABC news have taken the issue on board. It is my guess that Ford should urgently and proactively resolve the issue as Volvo's image can only become tarnished. I look forward to your response. You Ford rep here in Australia a Mr. Paul McMahon has been misinforming and telling untruths to Volvo owners here buy saying that an ETM issue does not exist despite our estimate that around 35 ETMs are being replaced each month and Volvo owners are being kept in the dark about the serious safety concerns about the ETM failures. For more information please see this site http://vexedvolvo.org. Regards .... Nick ----- Original Message ----- Thank you for contacting the Ford Motor Company Customer
Relationship Center. For further assistance in this matter,
we recommend contacting the following department: We consider the satisfaction of our customers one of our most important objectives. If you have any other inquiries or concerns, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to address them for you. Sincerely, > -----Original Message----- From: Ilic family [mailto:ni-ilic@grapevine.net.au] Subject: Re: Ford Motor Company and lemon Volvos Dear Kwabena, My point in referring the matter to Ford US is because Volvo AU is not co-operating. All our efforts to resolve the issues at hand with Volvo in Sweden have led to a brush off , i.e. they have referred us back to Volvo AU who via your Ford rep, a Mr Paul McMahon here is lying to Volvo AU owners by telling them, and the media that no problem with the ETM exists here in Australia. Ford controls Volvo - Ford needs to control and mediate a sensible outcome in this issue - got the message! We Australian Volvo owners want the same extended warranty program as recently introduced to North America. We also want Volvo to fund a total replacement for the ETM which they knew was faulty in 1998 as evidenced by a leaked internal Volvo memo, and despite this, rolled their cars into production knowing ETM failures where predicted at around 100,000 km. We will ensure that every Volvo owner in Australia will be informed about the Volvo ETM failure issue. We have already had press coverage in Melbourne last week. This is only the start of a campaign to expose the lies of Volvo and deceit it has deployed so far to Australian Volvo owners. We will ensure that every potential Volvo buyer is made aware of the issue. All motoring Journalists will be informed accordingly along with our motoring organisations. Our state based consumer affairs people will also be informed so that they can advise people of their rights. And the legal profession will also be advised. If you and Ford and Volvo don't think we have a leg to
stand on - well I'm sorry, but Volvo's Chief of safety has
admitted the ETM failure problem by instigating an extended
warranty program in North America. We want the same justice
and program in Australia. If you fail do so, the
consequences will no doubt be dire for Volvo. Regards .... Nick Ilic Top of page Back to VEXED Contents This page last edited 12/20/2007 *Volvo is a registered trademark of Ford Motor
Company,
AB Volvo or Volvo Cars North America.
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