My XC90 Disaster Story

JRL said:

TotaLed has one L. I would suggest you not capitalize a misspelled word!

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Paul2660 said:

As the Hybrid motor is near to where you where hit if I understand the layout of the T8, it may still have something to do with that motor (one on each side) not getting a signal, disconnected, or just damaged internally.

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Tech said:

There is no electric motor there.

There are various reasons it may not start, I can't believe they can't figure it out. It really shouldn't be that difficult.

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jonbreweratx said:

If need to use the bathroom or grab a drink, I suggest you do so now before sitting down to this long-winded ramble that's about to occur.

Back in December, my wife and I purchased a 2017 XC90 T8 Inscription. It was my wife's dream car, and one that we were expecting to haul our future kiddos around for years to come (hence why we snagged the 8yr extended warranty). As we were actively trying to have our first child (giggity giggity), we dubbed her Freya, the Norse goddess of fertility. The sales experience was rather pleasant here at Volvo Cars of Austin. It was an on-the-lot purchase that another individual had ordered and had a change of heart :facepalm:. But their trash was our treasure, as it was the exact combo we wanted. After a couple calls to Chase to move some money around, we were in possession of our beloved Freya.

(the XC90 will induce a ****-eating grin upon any buyer)

Fast forward to March and we find out we're pregnant. Hooray! Freya's been a champ, and she's been maintained meticulously...coated upon pick-up back in December, then only two-bucket hand washed thereafter.

Fast forward again to July. It was a Sunday morning...10:30a. Wifey, fetus, and I hopped in Freya to make a quick grocery run...nothing crazy, just some milk, bread, produce, and the sort. We're heading southbound in the left lane of a 5-lane road (2+2 with a turn lane in the middle). I notice a white truck heading northbound in the opposite left-hand lane, and he starts to merge into the center turn lane. "Hmm, odd, there's no left turn there...". He then continues to drift into my lane, both of us going about 40-45mph. I veer right to avoid collision, hoping he'll see imminent danger and do the same...but he doesn't. He crashes into our rear driver-side wheel, causing Freya to skip and my side airbags to all go off. Freya then rolls quietly to the shoulder and comes to a stop. My wife is wigging out, I'm trying to calm her down so the stress and blood pressure spike doesn't affect baby. My arm is burned from the airbags, but I'm 100% fixated on making sure everything is okay to my right.

(I promise I usually keep the car cleaner)

(seriously long airbag)

EMS arrives and we all agree a little road trip is needed to the ER to make sure everything's okay, especially for mini-me and wifey-me. Thankfully, nothing seems to be damaged or broken. Just some nasty-ass bruises, my burns, and what I later determine to be a mild concussion.

(like that sad part of a movie where you say goodbye from afar)

After we get back home a few hours later (it's a strange feeling having to go home in an Uber from the hospital btw), I find out the dude was drunk, hit me, hit another car, and tried to flee. Thankfully, though, he sheered off his left tire and left a nice gouge in the road all the way to his house a couple miles away. Witnesses followed, as did the police a bit later, and he was apprehended, thankfully. We then contact insurance (Farmers) as well as an attorney. We call Volvo, and they recommend Caliber Collision, which is the only Volvo certified body shop in Austin. So off it goes.

Well, Caliber calls me to let me know it needs to go back to Volvo since it won't start and Volvo needs to handle those electrical/sensor bits and whatnot to get the car starting. Days go by, can't get it running. Try plan B, then C, then D. A month goes by, the call in Sweden, still no luck. Finally, Caliber agrees to take it back while Volvo works to replace any parts that might keep it from starting (seatbelts, airbags, sensors, etc). They've even dropped and checked the entire hybrid battery unit.

Fast forward to today...mid-October. The car is still at Caliber. Volvo Cars of Austin still hasn't started the car. They are now waiting on a seatbelt, yes a seatbelt, that they've promised would be in about 4 times now.

Volvo - seems to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and nobody seems to know wtf the solution is.
Caliber - getting pissed because there's a car wasting bay space for over 3 months now.
Farmers - refuses to total the car because the damage value is only ~$15,000. Therefore, way less than the replacement value ratio.

Therefore, most of my gripes lie with Volvo. I don't care if it's totaled or not...I'd re-order the exact same car. I just want my Volvo back, but I can't seem to get a proper answer on ETAs or solutions from Austin, Volvo NA (the guy from VNA literally tried to blame me for getting in a wreck), or even Sweden.

I can extrapolate on any of this, but I figure I've exhausted you enough. If you have suggestions on how to assist, lmk. I love the car, absolutely love it...but after making 3 car payments on a car I don't own and getting a total runaround on the service end, I'm growing extremely weary.

Cheers

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christiansin said:

First happy you are okay. Second, press charges or whatever you need to do to roast the drunk that tried to bolt. Now for the car. One, check your policy, there is normally a max on insurance rental payments so careful what you select to drive because at this rate the rental reimbursement will run out, if it hasn't already, and it can literally cost you thousands. If the other guy's insurance is covering it, you might be okay though so don't panic at what I just wrote...may not apply to your situation since he caused the accident. Two, you are the ultimate decision maker on the car. Both the mechanic and the insurance company require your permission for performing work on the car titled to you. If you feel the certified shop is incompetent you can argue with Farmers to move the car. Three, there are % of market value thresholds that are different in many states for guiding the insurance company to a decision of total loss the vehicle. These thresholds are set, from what I was told, not necessarily to protect time and expense inconvenience, but more our less to state that if x% of the car is damaged then the vehicle will likely not perform safely for the long term if all the repairs were elected to be made. A vehicle with 60% damage could be a threat to the driver and other drivers on the road. I think it also stops mechanics from trying to fix a vehicle at all costs to maximize revenue. My agent told me once there is more than 50% in repair value, the vehicles never drive the same after so many months and you wouldn't want the car repaired. For example, I crashed a 2017 Porsche that literally only damaged the headlight assembly area. The hood was not buckled and the side door was fine. However, they determined $39k+ in damage and declared it a total loss this past summer. I was shocked at the expense...last porsche this guy buys. Now for the legal area. You didn't buy a carbon fiber Porsche that needs 9 months of repairs. You bought a Volvo SUV for under 100k with what appears to be a material but non-critical hit and the wiring harness probably wasn't severed. $15k-$20 may be right for the estimated repairs judging by that photo. Now what I don't know. There must be a "reasonable" amount of time expected for repairs like this per "industry" "prudent" "best practices". The practical strategy for you is to close out the work with the mechanic shop and move that vehicle to a competent shop (your the decision maker) and re-assess. The less practical is to call a lawyer. Its less practical because I am assuming you will need to make the case that Volvo and the shop are not acting with diligence and good faith to repair your car. They appear stuck and slow. The lawyer will be asking an insurance company to pay for the shop's and Volvo's short comings if you try to argue for a replacement vehicle or check. I don't know if that is a solid strategy and you may be in a few grand for legal if your insurance doesn't assist with legal costs. Also, not sure how much you will be reimbursed. The check would be for a comparable car (used) less some of the efforts made. Its never a pretty scene unless you bought replacement car value insurance (if that even apples since it was not your fault). Maybe the lawyer recommends going after Volvo, but proving negligence would be also so hard and expensive. However, a combination of strategies may help you. It may be worth a couple hundred to at least meet with an attorney and air this situation out to see if you do have the ability to kick things into better response times with a legal letter while also moving the car to a more competent shop. The cheapest option is to call your claims agent today, whom I assume has seen this before with other makes and models if he or she has been around long enough, and ask for their guidance on moving forward and what recourse you might have.

What concerns me btw is why they needed Volvo to work on the electronics when the shop is certified. My certified shop had no intention of sending my porsche to porsche when they had porsche certified mechanics onsite specialized in rebuilding these things. Maybe I misread your account but it sounded like the shop and volvo need to both work on it?

Again glad you are okay. Airbags deploying and gray smoke filling the cabin is scary. Sounds like a gun discharging in the car and can be very traumatic. Now that I am digesting this more, I would call your agent now, then go meet with the shop foreman to find out the inside scoop then potentially spend a couple hundo for good measure on a lawyer to get peoples' butts moving. P.S. not sure why they didn't replace the seat belts anyway, because you have to physically cut them loose after an accident in many cars?

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jonbreweratx said:

If need to use the bathroom or grab a drink, I suggest you do so now before sitting down to this long-winded ramble that's about to occur.

Back in December, my wife and I purchased a 2017 XC90 T8 Inscription. It was my wife's dream car, and one that we were expecting to haul our future kiddos around for years to come (hence why we snagged the 8yr extended warranty). As we were actively trying to have our first child (giggity giggity), we dubbed her Freya, the Norse goddess of fertility. The sales experience was rather pleasant here at Volvo Cars of Austin. It was an on-the-lot purchase that another individual had ordered and had a change of heart :facepalm:. But their trash was our treasure, as it was the exact combo we wanted. After a couple calls to Chase to move some money around, we were in possession of our beloved Freya.

(the XC90 will induce a ****-eating grin upon any buyer)

Fast forward to March and we find out we're pregnant. Hooray! Freya's been a champ, and she's been maintained meticulously...coated upon pick-up back in December, then only two-bucket hand washed thereafter.

Fast forward again to July. It was a Sunday morning...10:30a. Wifey, fetus, and I hopped in Freya to make a quick grocery run...nothing crazy, just some milk, bread, produce, and the sort. We're heading southbound in the left lane of a 5-lane road (2+2 with a turn lane in the middle). I notice a white truck heading northbound in the opposite left-hand lane, and he starts to merge into the center turn lane. "Hmm, odd, there's no left turn there...". He then continues to drift into my lane, both of us going about 40-45mph. I veer right to avoid collision, hoping he'll see imminent danger and do the same...but he doesn't. He crashes into our rear driver-side wheel, causing Freya to skip and my side airbags to all go off. Freya then rolls quietly to the shoulder and comes to a stop. My wife is wigging out, I'm trying to calm her down so the stress and blood pressure spike doesn't affect baby. My arm is burned from the airbags, but I'm 100% fixated on making sure everything is okay to my right.

(I promise I usually keep the car cleaner)

(seriously long airbag)

EMS arrives and we all agree a little road trip is needed to the ER to make sure everything's okay, especially for mini-me and wifey-me. Thankfully, nothing seems to be damaged or broken. Just some nasty-ass bruises, my burns, and what I later determine to be a mild concussion.

(like that sad part of a movie where you say goodbye from afar)

After we get back home a few hours later (it's a strange feeling having to go home in an Uber from the hospital btw), I find out the dude was drunk, hit me, hit another car, and tried to flee. Thankfully, though, he sheered off his left tire and left a nice gouge in the road all the way to his house a couple miles away. Witnesses followed, as did the police a bit later, and he was apprehended, thankfully. We then contact insurance (Farmers) as well as an attorney. We call Volvo, and they recommend Caliber Collision, which is the only Volvo certified body shop in Austin. So off it goes.

Well, Caliber calls me to let me know it needs to go back to Volvo since it won't start and Volvo needs to handle those electrical/sensor bits and whatnot to get the car starting. Days go by, can't get it running. Try plan B, then C, then D. A month goes by, the call in Sweden, still no luck. Finally, Caliber agrees to take it back while Volvo works to replace any parts that might keep it from starting (seatbelts, airbags, sensors, etc). They've even dropped and checked the entire hybrid battery unit.

Fast forward to today...mid-October. The car is still at Caliber. Volvo Cars of Austin still hasn't started the car. They are now waiting on a seatbelt, yes a seatbelt, that they've promised would be in about 4 times now.

Volvo - seems to be running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and nobody seems to know wtf the solution is.
Caliber - getting pissed because there's a car wasting bay space for over 3 months now.
Farmers - refuses to total the car because the damage value is only ~$15,000. Therefore, way less than the replacement value ratio.

Therefore, most of my gripes lie with Volvo. I don't care if it's totaled or not...I'd re-order the exact same car. I just want my Volvo back, but I can't seem to get a proper answer on ETAs or solutions from Austin, Volvo NA (the guy from VNA literally tried to blame me for getting in a wreck), or even Sweden.

I can extrapolate on any of this, but I figure I've exhausted you enough. If you have suggestions on how to assist, lmk. I love the car, absolutely love it...but after making 3 car payments on a car I don't own and getting a total runaround on the service end, I'm growing extremely weary.

Cheers

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Nowayout1 said:

Op I work in the motor repair business & in all seriousness, the insurance is right in that it's not totalled. Two new doors, quarter panel, both upper & lower bumpers, bumper bracket wheel arch moulding tail light, air bags, head cloth & new leather seat cover. Judging from your pictures.

It's about a week to 2 week turn around. If car is not starting. Could bodyshop like all bodyshops in the world not put wheel dolly's under the wheels to push it & start replacing the quarter panel. There shouldn't be any wiring going through the quarter panel but if is or behind the interior plastics they'd find & it's help Volvo. If they haven't started the job & not finished it. It's bad business for the bodyshop. If they have it done & it's not starting, send it to Volvo to start diagnosing it.

Start building a case against Volvo Austin, Volvo Texas & Volvo North America & possibly the bodyshop for lack of equipment. If your calls & emails aren't being answered, maybe think of personally going to Volvo North America's head office to get answers. This worked for my parents Skoda Octavia needed major work to be done & Skoda dealership mechanic personally said they took a part out that goes & cleaned it, said part went a week outside of warranty & personally going to Skoda/VAG Ireland helped speed it all up.

Lastly here in Ireland only certain bodyshops car repair Volvos as well so your not alone there as their is one well it's 3 but are a chain of bodyshops under the one name & are taking a lot of work away from other bodyshops as they're owned by insurance company's themselves.

Hope new baby is doing well hope it's sorted soon.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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tonyc said:

^ re: porsche
I was rear-ended at low speeds in a (used) 991. The kid in a Honda accord somehow nailed the back at a precise angle that the main pulley was just slightly touched by the frame. The body shop said they had to drop the engine and send it out to verify that the motor was OK. Insurance didn't even wanna F with it. Unlike christiansin above, I got paid out in full and actually made a few grand. Would 100% buy another (used) 911 again.

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