Volvo XC90 ball joint problems

Filed Mar 16, 2025 · Electrical, Lights · MA

Vehicle is slightly off-balance no matter if I do an alignment ball joints seem to always get affected. I’m not sure if the hydraulics are working correctly. Yesterday I just started leaking antifreeze fluid.

Filed Aug 18, 2024 · Wheels · MD

My car experienced a cracked front left control arm. It was not in an accident and the crack caused a creaking sound when conducting turns.

Filed May 19, 2021 · Seat belts, Steering · CA

Steering-linkages: tie rod assembly on certain passenger vehicles, the outer tie rod ball joint can deform at high loads causing a loss of the clamping force and the nut may loosen, which may eventually lead to a fatigue fracture of the outer tie rod ball joint. Consequences of defect: the driver may notice that hte vehicle is difficult to maneuver increasing the risk of a crash. Wheels: on certain SUV's the front wheel speed sensors may be defective. Causing an erroneous whill speed signal. Consequences of the defect: this can adversely affect a number of vehicle functions, including brake, engine, transmission, and torque distribution control which rely on this signal for proper operation. Visibilty: windshield wiper/washer on certain vehicles, if the wiper arm is activated in extreme winter weather conditions and without lifting the wiper arms and cleaning the windshield prior to moving, the wiper arm might slip on its drivershaft, resulting in an inability to move the wiper from the park posiiot from the park position. Consequences of defect: inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility. Seats belts: rear on certain SUV's, the seat belt attachment for the second and third row seats may not have been fitted properly. Consequences of defect: in the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury. Corrective action: dealers will inspect and repair the defects free of charged. In my case, the manufacturer has declined to repair the defects even when the dealer has diagnosed my SUV with the power steering problem, plus the defects already mentioned. Therefore,the dealer will not repair free of charge. Number of vehicles affected: 122431 dates manufactured: feb 2003 to jun 2004

Filed May 9, 2021 · Seat belts, Steering · CA

On certain passenger vehicles, the outer tie rod ball joint can deform at high loads causing a loss of clamping and the nut may loosen, which may eventually lead to a fracture of the outer rod ball joint. The driver may notice the vehicle is diffcult to maneuver increasing the risk of a crash. Wheels: on certain SUV's, the front wheel speed sensors may be defective, causing an erroneous speed signal this can adversely affect a number of vehicle functions, including brake, engine, transmission, and torque distribution control which rely on this signal for proper operation. Seat belts: rear on certain SUV's, the seat belt attachment for the second and third row may not have been fitted properly. In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury. Corrective actions: dealer will inspect and repair free of charge. In my case, the manufacturer has refused to repair free of charge, therefore, the volvo dealer will not repair defects on my SUV.

Filed Mar 5, 2020 · Steering · 51,500 miles · CA

On morning of 2/15/2020, I was driving my xc90 (2012, base, auto transmission) on a city street when I realized the steering wheel was no longer in control. It caused the vehicle to swing left and right between the 2 lanes. I pressed hard on the brake to slow down -- thank god that cars behind me were able to avoid me. After 10 seconds or so of maneuvering, I managed to pull over by the street. An orange triangle light came on the dashboard, with a warning message: "auto-skid temporary off". I called the roadside assistance to tow it to my go-to dealership. An hour later, a flatbed tow truck came. The tow guy managed to still drive it up the slope of the flatbed. When we got to the dealership, the tow guy had a hard time unloading the vehicle. As he reversed the xc90 back down from the slope of the flatbed, we could tell the front two tires were pointing in different directions. The left front tire even moved back and forth. If the steering wheel turned left, the left tire would crush into the back of the front bumper; if the steering wheel turned right, the left tire would back off. The guy had to insert a smooth plank under the front left tire to unload. On monday 2/17/2020, a rep from dealership called me, saying that the control arm was damaged with screws and bolts completely missing!!! She speculated that we drove over a very large pothole or hit some curb. My wife did hit a curb on 2/14/2020, one day prior, but it was just a normal sized curb, impacting on the front right side. Between my wife and myself, we couldn't recall anything severe enough to cause this sort of damage! Questions: (1) how could hitting some curbs over the past 8 years cause the bolts to shear/loosen and result in such a grave incident! (2) how am I ever going to trust that the vehicle is safe to drive again? How do I convince my 2 young children to ride in it ever?

Filed Nov 8, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 130,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 volvo xc90. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would pull to the right. The vehicle was taken to crippen volvo (8300 w. Saginaw hwy, lansing, mi), but the failure could not be duplicated. Approximately one month later, while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle suddenly pulled hard to the right and the driver nearly lost control of the steering. After stopping the vehicle, it was discovered that the front passenger side tie rod ball joint failed and the wheels were not properly positioned. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer and the tie rod was damaged. The contact indicated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 06v155000 (steering) although the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. Also, on several occasions, the vehicle could not be immediately started. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shut off and caused the power steering and power brakes to become inoperable. The cause of the failures was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was 130,000. *tt

Filed Jul 6, 2015 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc90. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle stopped independently. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the tie rod needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Mar 27, 2015 · Suspension · 130,000 miles · IN

I have had multiple issues with the suspension of this car in the past two years.- up until recently, these were the only problems I had with the car. First the strut engine mount brace and torque rods needed replacing, then at 155,000 I needed to have the front ball joint,control arms and bushings replaced. At 158,000 I had to replace the right rear knuckle and wheel bearings. Now at 189,000 I have a problem with my outer tie rods. I had just thought these were expected wear and tear for a high mileage vehicle, but I saw that there had been recalls for failures of these parts in some versions of my car. I checked with volvo and they claimed that my VIN was not included in these recalls. But I do find it suspicious that I now am having the same issues that so many "other versions" of my model and year vehicle had. Should my car have been included in the recalls? How do they determine which ones have a problem and which ones do not? Thanks

Filed Feb 12, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 11,700 miles · VA

I bought this car at 12/12/2013 when I test drove the car the dealer had the radio on and I never suspected any noise at the time.after I bought the car I kept hearing this knocking noise at first I thought is was the ski rack making the noise then when my husband drove it he said it was coming from the tires so I took the car to my mechanic and he check it a out and found multiple problems the suspension,inner tie rods,axles,sway bar, steering,bushings etc his reply was how did this car pass inspection with all the problems available take the car back and ask the dealer to fix the problems.I took the car back and ask the dealer to comply they would not I told them they had received a faulty inspections on the car so I took it to another mechanic same response. I then called the safety inspectors and they came out to check out the car and found nothing. I then took it to another dealer and they reported the same problems and added a cracked engine mount. I then asked the inspector to come and look at all the things that volvo found that the safety inspectors missed he agreed and saw but only wrote a report I still have a broke car that was faulty inspected. I want the dealer to fix my problem and they have refused I could sue them for getting a faulty inspection and selling a lemon but I fell like I am stuck I need to know what to do from here I have already paid for several things the rack and pinion is the most important I have to fix but expensive and the bushings and tie rods are going to be the next thing I repair I really don't have the money to fix them I am paying 7000.00 for a used car and I fell that the dealer and the inspectors are crooks and used a faulty inspection to sell a broke car please help.

Filed Nov 29, 2013 · Body, Driver assistance · 79,000 miles · CA · 1 injury

I was not aware of the design defect in sun roof & the water damages that result in electrical issues. I had always parked my vehicle in covered parking until moving this year in january. I had taken my car in to have a tune up in nov 2012 at which time I was given an estimate of repairs needed in my car. My car remained parked for most of 2013 due to having moved I wasn't able to afford repairs. The repairs where inner&outer tie rods,ball joints, mounts, arm bushings, rotors & break pads. The above aforementioned where made. Following repairs I washed my car and drove out of town 4th july weekend from los angeles to jamestown california. Once I arrived my car remained parked until returning home july 7th. Shortly after starting my car the dash gauges started to flash on/off and eventually went out. At the time I had my portable GPS, A/C was working & I had use of windows (rolling up & down). I knew I had a full tank of gas cause I had fueled up prior to arriving at destination. Being I was in the middle of know where without cell phone service I drove as far as I could before I thought I may need gas. When I stopped to get fuel I was not able to open the door to refuel with gas. I broke the clips on the door allowing me to access and fuel tank and refill with gas. It was sunday after a major holiday and there was a lot of traffic, the only volvo dealership I passed was closed and I just wanted to get home. So I continued to drive and was just getting onto the grapevine and traffic really backed up. There was a fire that had been burning on the mountain to the right and helicopters where dumping water on this ongoing fire. Around this time I noticed the A/C had quit working and was blowing hot air. I tried to roll my windows down and they where inoperable. Traffic was at a crawl and there was no place to pull over. Worst nightmare ever.