I got a S70 99 and I think I have a problem with the dashboard. I live in Louisiana and during lunch time the car just bakes out in the weather. My dashboard passenger side has start to make some noise when driving specially during lunch times. By now you can hear it everytime of the day.

Took it to the dealer and even with the Volvo extended warranty I was told that they don't cover trim work. Dealer said to fix the problem need to replace complete dash, and price is about $3000 US. I almost lost my mind because my dash is in perfect condition and shiny. I have gotten very confused by the solution I have been offered. There are some cracked clips I was told and because of that need to replace the dash. Called back the extended warranty and I was told they don't cover trip - dash work but just mechanical parts. Looked up in the Dictionary and Trim is defiened as a decoration or ornament in a car or building. I told them clips are not decoration but you can't solve it with them. They will make you stupid as I don't understand. I don't believe for 1 or 2 cracked clips need to replace the dash.

If anyone has experienced the same problem, please let me know since I am getting very upset with this Volvo crap. I thought this was the most safe and reliable car in the world. They aren't worth a shit I think. I just need to fix this problem so I can sell my car and Never buy a Volvo ever again. Been having 3 of them so far and this is the worst. I wish I had my 360, 850 back. Never had BS like this: I think Volvo is going to be out of business one day in US if they keep this crap - They just lost one customer.

Please send me some help. Arian

Boy, you guys have really gotten into this topic. I can understand because I used to have the same issues on my car. Noisy plastics can diminish your driving experience like no other problem.

There is no need to remove the dash, that can just create new noises that you didn't have before. I resolved this problem a couple of years ago and I have shared my solution with other S/V70 owners who have had success too. Let's see if it can work for you.

The trick is to "chock" the dashboard in place. It's loose and needs to be firmly chocked or held down. The metal work of the car at the extreme left and right of the dashboard follows the shape of the dash plastic molding. However there is a small gap into which you can push a rubber wedge shaped "chock." (Imagine a small half inch wide door-stop). You can access this cavity by removing the plastic molding adjacent to the windshield pillar. If you can see the space I am describing, push a rubber chock into the cavity between the painted metal structure of the car and the top surface of the dashboard molding. The effect is to place a lot of pressure onto the top of the dashboard. That forces the dashboard down onto its mounting surface. In this condition the dash runs quiet in all temperatures and road surfaces.

You can also chock the sides of the dashboard plastics near to the front door frame. It all helps to stop the dash from moving on its mounts. At the sides I used rubber strips that I purchased at my local hardware store.

You may have to be creative to make the half inch rubber chocks described above. I made mine by gluing thin strips together to make a wedge shape.

Good luck and let me know if you have any luck with this repair.

Clive
San Diego

I really think some of you are unfairly going off on Volvo's "cheap" plastic interrior. On the contrary, the platics used in Volvos are mostly much better than in most other cars made now. I have had 4 Volvo's, and a number of other cars over the past 20 years (VW, Chevy/GMC, Ford, Honda, Nisson, Toyota, Subaru, and yes even a Hyundai). In my business I have had the opportunity to rent several hundred cars in that time. They are all filled with plastic, my 2003 Honda Odyssey has nothing but plastic - and it is all hard plastic, though it is very high quality. On many cars I have had many parts just break off in my hand or seriously warp from normal summer heat. The coatings on the plastic parts (chrome, soft feel materials, etc) have often come right off in a short time. I had a Honda Accord where the chrome covering on the plastic door handles pealed off on two of the fours doors. The hood unlocking lever under the dash of my Passat broke right off in my hand when the car was a few months old. The seat back plastics have broke right off on a Chevy Malibu and a GMC Sierra. My two Subaru's had too many rattles to locate. The plastics on my in-law's Saab 95 are all easily scratched, as it was on both of my Passats.

The main difference seems to be the quality of the plastics (density/weight, strength, etc.), and I feel the plastics in the Volvo's are a step above most. The Volvo dash thing is just something that happens to 850's and 70's, like other things that happen to all cars. Unfortunately it can be expensive.

The Volvo is still the safest and one of the better vehicles one can buy, though I personnaly would not by one brand new due to cost.

To address the original query . . . there is a lower cost solution whose appeal will depend on your morals (mine are low; I've used this appoach sucessfully several times).
The solution is to cause something to fail that is both covered by your warrantee and requires instrument panel removal to repair. Then you slip the repair person a $20 and ask him/her to replace the clips while they are at it. Those of us familiar with cattle prods know how effective they are at "killing" virtually any electronic component without leaving evidence of the cause.

A real life example: I once ordered a new $800 refigerator at an appliance store. When it was delivered, there was a big dent in the cabinet on one side. I phoned them and their only willing remedy was to offer me a financial "adjustment" of $50. I did not want a dented refrigerator for $750; the dent was in a location clearly visible after installation in my kitchen.
My solution was to "zap" the compressor controller with my trusty cattle prod. Now I had a dead refiigerator which they readily replaced under warranty with one that wasn't dented.

I don't think I am being unfair wrt QUALITY. If you are going to pay the kind of money Volvo is asking for their product, then you should expect and get it.
I also owned a 740, and yes... you guessed it, the dashboard cracked.
The problems are not just restricted to poor quality plastics, the electronic components seem to fail more. I only speak for myself but since I have owned a 740, an 850 and now a S70, the S70 has been the absolute worst! The radio, the headlight switch, the light bulb failures, the door lock failures, the electric window master control failed (started smoking!) the climate control module failed. Yes, Volvos are safe, but look-out Volvo, every other manufacturer is on the safety bandwagon.

Vlad,

I guess that I've been luckly. The only electronic failure has the been the ABS controller. The light switch and front turn signal indicator sockets were replaced under the recall--although neither had failed.

The plastics look very good, mostly due to being painted. But It seems almost impossible to remove them without breaking off a tab or clip. And the buckboard suspension sure takes a toll on fasteners and supports. Kudos to "PlastiFix".

And, I have learned the art of molding parts. This is not a skill usually required for a new car.

OTOH the plastics in my wife's Honda aren't any more durable than those in tthe Volvo. Neither are they quite as upscale looking.

There is no question that the 70series require a lot of TLC to stay in pristine condition. Whether there is more or less required than other Euro brands I couldn't say.

Anyway, it still gives me a lot of smile per mile.

Bryan

I agree with your main points, that those problems exist. But, just remember, Volvo quality is only average (see Consumer Reports & Edmonds). Lets see, my Sable needed a new steering rack in a few months after bought new. Needed new coil packs on my Passat sedan in the first year. There are many reports on Honda boards of people putting in 2 to as many as 4 transmissions in cars with less than 100,000 miles. My inlaw's Mercedes (same one with the Saab) needed a new power seat motor and a new sunroof motor in the first year. The ABS and ECU went out on the Saab 95 in less than 2 years. The turbo went on my Passat wagon in 4 years. Instrument panel, AC, and transmission went out in my Sierra at about 4 years. On and on.

Volvos have many strong points. They are still the safest (see latest roll-over tests), and the most fun car I have ever driven (the Saab 95 is close).

I feel for you... I have a 98 s70 T5. The only thing about the car I still like is the engine. My dashboard rattles (passenger side). I live in Canada, and during the winter, the change in temperature (when I run the heater) causes the cheap crap dashboard to expand and make noise while I drive. Yes, I love the interior of this car... the weather stripping around the doors has started to fall off, last summer, I went over a set of railway tracks and the front plastic part of the dashboard cracked!! (the part that has the red LED alarm indicator). I also will never buy another volvo.

In about 2 years, I am going to sell my restored 164 and my V70R and replace them with a 245T and something new (not Volvo) which will carry me around the country in comfort without breaking the bank because the plastic parts fall apart.
Remember, Volvo dealers are not in the repair business. They are in the replace with new business.

Klaus
--
98 V70Rawd(101Kmi), 95 854T(85K mi), 75 164E(173K mi)

oh come on Klause, what car DOESNT use cheap plastic. Give me a Porshe 360, Volvo 122S (any kind), we still have our '67 122S wagon, plastic, yeah seats and yes the dash. Any new car is a gamble, plastic, plastic. This is why our
122s wagon is still the main drive after 350K miles. Yes we have a 99 V70, I do not trust it like the 122s, Had a "95 Chevy Lumina cost us over $4K to get to trade in on the "new" V70. The Chevy had only 40K on it. Talk about trash!!
My two cents worth.

Arain,

As the others have said, the clips/tabs can be repaired.

There is a product called PlastiFix that will actually let you mold new ones.

BTW what is the noise? These cars are well known for dashboard noises when going over rough roads and during temperature extremes. On my car it was the glove box rubbing against the frame. Some felt and CAREFULLY snugging up the fasteners took care of most of the noise.

It could also be out-of-position isolation pads between the windshield and the dash. The 4 main bolts could just be loose. Can you pulll the dash away from the firewall? If so, then probably one or more of the clips/tabs is broken.

Snaps, crackles and pops just seem to come with every boxy Volvo.

Good luck,
Bryan

As the earlier post mentions, there are ways to fix the attachemnt problem without putting in a new dash. A number of independent shops have developed techniques to fix it. Southwest Auto near me in Dallas does a repair that is better than the original for about $760. Their number is (972) 488-2525.

Boy, sounds like you must have have a lot of other problems. I've owned a 940, 850, V70 and an S70. All have had their problems, and the V70 had the dash problem you have. Volvo reliability is only average, better than VW, BMW, Mercedes, Saab, but worse than the Japanese ones. But they are still the safest cars in the world, and very few cars drive as well or "feel" as good by any stretch. And, for the annoying problems, they have never left me stranded. I will always own a Volvo as one of my cars. BTW, my other car is a Honda Odyssey. It is good to have one highly reliable car.

The problem with those dashes in the 850 to s70 models are the clips that bolt the dashboard to the firewall. I can tell you how to check that. First you remove the cowl under the hood, and on the firewal is for 10mm bolts that pulls the dash up to the firewall to keep it tight. if those are tight the problem is the dash board clips mounted to the dash are either broken, or the part that hold the clips on the dash board are broken, 4 tabs 4 bolts hold that dash to the firewall. When you remove the dash board usually the 4 tabs break and you have to epoxy them back on, maybe that is what is wrong. may cost 1400 dollars to fix. I charge 10.5 hrs labor to remove the dash, maybe you can pull it yourself.

My wife drives 98 s70 it has the anouying pop sounds coming form dash as you drivr the car down the road. Iut sounds like a very load pop that sorta resembles an electrical pop sound. as for plastic breaking so far the only broken plastic is the trim piece on the dash agasinst the windshied. its broke in two places.

My dad had 88 740 turbo its plastic was always breakin gtin the interior.

T6texan