Problems with 5 year old Volvo V40 D3

TrickyNicky

My friends 5 year old Volvo has developed terminal engine problems. She has had it from new and has done 83,000 miles. It now needs a new engine or she needs to get another car.  There was a 3 year warranty but clearly no use to her now. It seems this model is known to have this problem,( engines with a number below a certain point seem to all have this issue). The garage say there is nothing that can be done even though it is a known issue.  Can anyone advise if they've had similar problems or if you think she should fight for any kind of compensation?
Many thanks for any help.

powerful_Rogue

TrickyNicky said:

My friends 5 year old Volvo has developed terminal engine problems. She has had it from new and has done 83,000 miles. It now needs a new engine or she needs to get another car.  There was a 3 year warranty but clearly no use to her now. It seems this model is known to have this problem,( engines with a number below a certain point seem to all have this issue). The garage say there is nothing that can be done even though it is a known issue.  Can anyone advise if they've had similar problems or if you think she should fight for any kind of compensation?
Many thanks for any help.

She can't just fight for compensation. She needs to follow a process.

First she will need to get a report saying the engine failed due to an inherent fault. With the engine being 5 years old and having done 83k miles, she might struggle here. Has it had all the services, minor and major?

ssparks2003

I had an issue with a secondhand V70 a few years ago where the auto gearbox started to die around 50k, I dropped an email to volvo saying I was a little disappointed that a car with the reputation of volvo would fail so quickly,  and within 2 days they were back with a offer to assist on the cost, so it could worth emailing them.

Grumpy_chap

A lot more information will be required to comment fully and constructively.

What exactly is wrong with the engine?  What caused that to go wrong?  It is likely that a replacement engine will be financially worth it in a 5 yo 83k mile car.

What is the service history?  That will affect whether there is any "good will" available.

Exactly which Volvo is it?  There may be people with knowledge of that particular car that can comment.

There may be limited consumer rights routes open, though SoGA "reasonable life" may be an option.  Given the car being 5 yo, seeking a "good will" solution is probably favourable.

The OP may wish to consider whether this thread would be more suited to the Motoring Forum.

JJ_Egan

As above always worth asking the manufacturer nicely .

daveyjp

For any goodwill she needs a full Volvo main dealer history.

If not she needs to prove the engine has an inherent defect.

She also may benefit from having a look at Volvo forums, giving full details of what the problem actually is and seeing if other members can help.  

bigstevex

Volvo were good when the amplifier failed on my 5 year old xc60...new part plus fitting was £1100.  Without me even asking the manager came out to take payment and said I've managed to get volvo HQ to fund 60% of the cost as that shouldn't be failing until 10 years plus, came to something like £440 in the end.  I always used the main dealer for my services and other warranty work so I was friendly with them

TrickyNicky

Thank you everyone for your replies.  I have passed them on to my friend. It is a Volvo V 40 D3R 150bhp.   She bought the car new and has used this Volvo main dealer for all her servicing, as far as I am aware.  It is the dealers that have given her the cold shoulder and haven't offered any help. She has had to buy another car as she needed one for work so is now considerably out of pocket. Covid lockdown obviously hasn't helped.  I appreciate all the suggestions. Thank you.