Am i Doomed?

[stevej69]

After having my MY18 XC90 T8 Inscription replaced after 7 months (and 7 courtesy/press cars from Volvo UK), my MY20 XC90 T8 R-Design finally arrived in July.

I'm around 5k miles in and i'm already experiencing issues. My mileage is nearly all motorway and not massively taxing. I have now had multiple instances of the car going into "Reduced Power Turtle Mode" whilst driving. The last time was at the weekend where the car lost a significant amount of power (akin to hitting a wall) whilst overtaking.

In all instances a restart clears the error, although i am hoping the ECU is logging codes.

The other issue occurs when the battery pack is exhausted and you are doing a tight right turn eg in a car park. There is a significant whine from the rear axel.

My local dealer cant have the vehicle until the 18th and given the challenge i've had since Jan, i'm sure they'll just perform a battery reset and tell me they can't find a problem (i even demonstrated the issues with my MY18 vehicle to their Master Tech and he couldn't "see" any issue).

I'm really frustrated, especially with an 80k car. Volvo UK were great, supplying me 7 courtesy vehicles (as i was only able to do 6k miles and i do 1k per week ish at peek). I was surprised that every one of the 7 vehicle i was loaned had some sort of issue. These were also all low mileage cars when they were delivered (500-1k miles).

I guess i'm just unlucky, but the faults are concerning. Any thoughts?

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by stevej69

After having my MY18 XC90 T8 Inscription replaced after 7 months (and 7 courtesy/press cars from Volvo UK), my MY20 XC90 T8 R-Design finally arrived in July.

I'm around 5k miles in and i'm already experiencing issues. My mileage is nearly all motorway and not massively taxing. I have now had multiple instances of the car going into "Reduced Power Turtle Mode" whilst driving. The last time was at the weekend where the car lost a significant amount of power (akin to hitting a wall) whilst overtaking.

In all instances a restart clears the error, although i am hoping the ECU is logging codes.

The other issue occurs when the battery pack is exhausted and you are doing a tight right turn eg in a car park. There is a significant whine from the rear axel.

My local dealer cant have the vehicle until the 18th and given the challenge i've had since Jan, i'm sure they'll just perform a battery reset and tell me they can't find a problem (i even demonstrated the issues with my MY18 vehicle to their Master Tech and he couldn't "see" any issue).

I'm really frustrated, especially with an 80k car. Volvo UK were great, supplying me 7 courtesy vehicles (as i was only able to do 6k miles and i do 1k per week ish at peek). I was surprised that every one of the 7 vehicle i was loaned had some sort of issue. These were also all low mileage cars when they were delivered (500-1k miles).

I guess i'm just unlucky, but the faults are concerning. Any thoughts?

If you are not happy, the long term answer is to buy another brand. It could be that it is also a matter of being in your best interest to cut and run, considering your intensive usage of the vehicle. You surely can't be happy with being inconvenienced so regularly.
Go for something with proven and reliable mechanicals next time, maybe no a plug-in hybrid with all the complications involved with such a design. A BMW X5 for instance. Or a Mercedes. Maybe something Korean or Japanese with a long bomb-proof warranty and reliability reputation. What about a Toyota Camry, which is almost guaranteed to not let you down and is available, I believe, as a simpler mild hybrid.

[MaDProFF]

Does the safety systems think you are going to hit something, or you are approaching something very fast that you know you will not hit, but the car might think you will?

I have had this once when I was planning an overtake on a lorry, but left it quite late to move out, as I wanted to pass a driveway, it basically cut the engine just as I was about to move out, scared the living daylights out of me, good job I knew nothing was coming up the straight.

[stevej69]

To be honest i purchased a Volvo as a well respected brand, part of the reason was to have a customer facing vehicle due to the sector i work in. What i like about the XC90 is you can drive an 80k car without looking at it. Driving a Merc,BMW or RR all scream Bling which doesn't work.

The hybrid purchase was fuelled (no pun intended) by the tax benefits, so that would need to be a thing and Jap cars although reliable are awful (in my opinion).

Bottom line is an 80k car shouldn't have as many issues, i wouldn't accept it from a 30k VW so don't expect it from an 80K volvo.

Re the Safety system issue, it was definitely a "limp mode" experience as it presented "Service or Repair Required"

[stevej69]

So it's been in since last Wednesday:

Engine Management Fault - Logging Overboost and underboost errors in the ECU, suspected Turbo Solenoid Valve which is being replaced.

Park Assist Unavailable Error in Traffic - Currently with Volvo Technical and parts on order.

Rear Axle Noise - Currently unable to re-produce.

I've got to go back in today to swap out my courtesy car (not sure if this means another long stint).

All in just over 6,000 miles

[m2srt]

1000 miles per week! I really don't think that a T8 is the ideal drive train for that kind of motoring! Would you consider a diesel?

[stevej69]

Sadly the BIK on a Diesel is crippling (even more than the T8), regardless of this it's only done 6k which is a little scary

[MaDProFF]

Originally Posted by m2srt

1000 miles per week! I really don't think that a T8 is the ideal drive train for that kind of motoring! Would you consider a diesel?

I cannot understand your thoughts here, considering cars back in the 80's I had were easily doing 1k a week up, and selling with over 100k some with 200k why would not think any car especially a Volvo could not do that today? If that was the case I would be taking it back and never buy another Volvo again.

I am sure these cars are tested for over 100's k miles, or designed for it.

[James77]

Originally Posted by MaDProFF

I cannot understand your thoughts here, considering cars back in the 80's I had were easily doing 1k a week up, and selling with over 100k some with 200k why would not think any car especially a Volvo could not do that today? If that was the case I would be taking it back and never buy another Volvo again.

I am sure these cars are tested for over 100's k miles, or designed for it.

If he not coming at it from an efficiency angle rather than longevity?