Volvo Warns Customers of Engine Problem

May 3, 2010
The problem could cause cars to suddenly accelerate.

Volvo said on May 3 it would inform customers across Europe of an engine problem that could cause their cars to suddenly accelerate, adding it would recall the affected models if necessary.

"We are now sending out a letter to approximately 150,000 customers all over Europe, in approximately 30 markets, telling them that we are investigating a technical issue relating to increased oil levels in diesel engines with particle filters," Volvo cars spokesman Per-Aake Froeberg explained.

Froeberg said the company would consider a recall if its investigation showed that such action was necessary.

But he added that for the time being Volvo was "informing (customers) of the problem and asking them to check out their oil levels, which everybody should do anyway."Froeberg said the first notification letters would land in customer post boxes by the end of this week. Those who see their oil level above the maximum indication should consult their Volvo dealer, he said.

"The problem is that engine oil may enter the combustion chamber and act as additional fuel. This leads to maintained or increased engine speed," Froeberg explained.

He said the problem could manifest itself in different ways, "but it could be that you take your foot off the accelerator and the car keeps the same pace as before or it might, in some isolated cases, also increase the speed."

The problem was discovered after several incidents were reported by different customers in late 2009 and concerns eight car models that have a five cylinder diesel engine with a diesel particle filter.

In an interview with Swedish public radio, Froeberg said the problem could not be compared to the accelerator and brake defects that have caused auto giant Toyota to recall more than 10 million vehicles worldwide.

"First and foremost it's not the same problem that Toyota has had. The biggest difference is that customers have the possibility of making sure it doesn't happen by checking their oil level," he said.

Swedish-made Volvo spent a little more than 10 years as a Ford brand before being sold in March to China's Geely.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!