Am I the only XC owner here complaining about poor stabilizer bar links design? I have had them both replaced @ 15,ooo Kms due to clunking noise over bumps. Now @ 30,ooo Kms they look like they are shot once again.. same noise. My service manager had told me the new ones (which are actually on the car) are reinforced and should last longer... NOT! It took me another 15K to prove the contrary. I only commute about 1 KM a day on dirt/gravel roads, the rest is pure paved roads.. not the best roads I've seen but nothing to be afraid of damaging suspension parts.. what gives? My '89 Ford Probe never needed those parts replaced.. and we're not talking about a utility vehicle here.. go figure. Would you guys think the aftermarket suspension shops could help me? Perhaps iPD? Screw the warranty, I hate getting things fixed zillion times for a very same issue that is prone to fail once again..

I wonder if the XC design is much different than non XC? I replaced mine in my '94 850 at about 95 k miles, and again just recently at around 200k miles. Easy to do, about 45 bucks a side, no big deal. Plus, I live in the frost heaved north and travel dirtroads all the time.

Too bad they seem to have messed with a good thing.

good luck

claude

Hi Eric G.

I know your pain. I have not had a set of stabilizer bar links installed yet but I see your point. The design is not very robust. You might want to try to call IPD and ask to talk to one of their technical specialists. I installed their anti sway bar in my 1999 V70 XC and was having a problem with keeping the bushing lubed. A technician got on the phone and we discussed the problem and came to a solution. IPD might know something or someone who sells a better bar.

The other issue you have is multiple installation of the same part. I know how you feel! On my V70 XC I have had 4 widow switches replaced (the driver switch 3 times), 2 upper engine mounts replaced and 3 turn signal light/socket replaced. It took the power of the US Department of Transportation to get Volvo to fix the turn signal problem here is the US.

The issue I see with Volvo is that they as a company do not do Value Engineering (i.e. they do not redesign/examine parts to fix reoccurring problems found at the dealers). I see no continuos improvement in the product once it comes on the market. To make my point all you have to do is look at the turn signal light bulb/socket issue. Volvo install the light/socket in the 1998, 1999 and 2000 V70s. They knew that there was a problem with the light/socket back in 1998. For 3 years they kept installing the same light/socket knowing that it was going fail! The problem was so bad that IPD was selling a light bulb kit upgrade to fix the problem that Volvo was ignoring! Now that is bad when a third party company can make money because a car manufacture will not fix its problem. I can go on with several other examples (upper engine mount, ball joints, window switches, etc….). I wonder about the issues I know nothing about because my car has not reached that mileage point (transmission issues due to burning fluid, transfer case gears being chew up due to tire size not being the same from front to rear and so on….). It is enough to keep you up at nights!

I do agree with you my 1999 V70 XC is not a keeper. When I bough my V70 XC I had high hopes and a good feeling that I was buying a quality car. What I got was a poorly engineer car and a Car Manufacture who will not back its product. I have 1-½ years or 24kmiles left on the warranty. At that time I am planning to dispose of my nightmare and buy a real good car. One I can keep for 10 years.

Good luck, Best wishes,

Steven---

Eric,

In some places the third repair of the same part can start a "lemon law"

others know more than me on this.

Kele'

I know about this law, however there is no such luck over here in Canada. It is something to live with or yell the Volvo reps at to get you another car.. (then again, you have to prove the car is either not driveable or is extremely dangerous to be put on the road). In my case, it is definitely annoying dealer visits.. and worries galore when the warranty expires. Hopefully the new XC platform is more rigid. My current one is definitely not a keeper.