Volvo XC40 roof leak
Discussion
I purchased a 2nd hand Volvo XC40 T5 R Design in May on an 18 plate with just 10,000 on the clock. I loved it. However on a trip from Somerset to N. Wales in October it started to display various warning sign - SRS Airbag Service urgent drive to workshop, Park Assist System temporarily unavailable, Transmission Service Required, and various other warnings including an amber engine warning light.On our return home I booked the car into Yeovil Motor Company who are my nearest main agents. Initially they could not find the cause of the problem but managed to remove the warning signs. However as I drove away the amber engine light came back on and the car was booked in for a 2 day assessment. YMC sent a report to Volvo who suggested that the N/S floorpan should be checked for water ingress. Sure enough on the day of the assessment I felt the N/S floor coverings to find them sopping wet. I later received a call from YMC to the effect that they had found the drain holes in the sun roof were blocked and thus water had run down inside the car to the foot well corroding the wiring and electronics situated there and presented me with an estimate to carry out the repair in the sum of £4,300. I wrote to Volvo for their comments given it seemed to me that this was a design fault but they have so far not responded other than to try to deflect the issue onto the main dealer. Given that I had no warning that the drains were blocked (if water had come over the side of the channel into the car then I would have known there was something wrong) and given that clearly any seal between the sunroof and the car had obviously failed it seems to me that Volvo have a part to play in this. Has anyone else had a similar experience with Volvo cars?
Thekid71 said:
I purchased a 2nd hand Volvo XC40 T5 R Design in May on an 18 plate with just 10,000 on the clock. I loved it. However on a trip from Somerset to N. Wales in October it started to display various warning sign - SRS Airbag Service urgent drive to workshop, Park Assist System temporarily unavailable, Transmission Service Required, and various other warnings including an amber engine warning light.On our return home I booked the car into Yeovil Motor Company who are my nearest main agents. Initially they could not find the cause of the problem but managed to remove the warning signs. However as I drove away the amber engine light came back on and the car was booked in for a 2 day assessment. YMC sent a report to Volvo who suggested that the N/S floorpan should be checked for water ingress. Sure enough on the day of the assessment I felt the N/S floor coverings to find them sopping wet. I later received a call from YMC to the effect that they had found the drain holes in the sun roof were blocked and thus water had run down inside the car to the foot well corroding the wiring and electronics situated there and presented me with an estimate to carry out the repair in the sum of £4,300. I wrote to Volvo for their comments given it seemed to me that this was a design fault but they have so far not responded other than to try to deflect the issue onto the main dealer. Given that I had no warning that the drains were blocked (if water had come over the side of the channel into the car then I would have known there was something wrong) and given that clearly any seal between the sunroof and the car had obviously failed it seems to me that Volvo have a part to play in this. Has anyone else had a similar experience with Volvo cars?
I thought this was a standard maintenance item? Had a blocked drain hole in my Golf and my indy rodded it through for free. It didn’t leak inside the car though, just created sloshing noises whenever it rained. Would be interested in seeing the outcome from this.
If it was VW I reckon they would rinse their hands of it and say there’s nothing they could have done and the owner should have been on top of the maintenance.
Not on a Volvo but ask most Mercedes (R230) SL owners about how they leak straight onto the central locking unit, if Volvo are anything like Mercedes on this issue then expect to get no help.
Saying that the first time it happened Mercedes paid for the central locking unit & I had to pay the labour, the second time I had to pay for the lot.
Ring Volvo customer services & actually speak to someone (make sure you get their name) you may find it more helpful.
I have heard of this issue but I don't know what the outcomes were.
Saying that the first time it happened Mercedes paid for the central locking unit & I had to pay the labour, the second time I had to pay for the lot.
Ring Volvo customer services & actually speak to someone (make sure you get their name) you may find it more helpful.
I have heard of this issue but I don't know what the outcomes were.
VOLVO seem to have an issue with water ingress alot!
I had to fork out £300 for a door lock (V60) due to apparently water ingress (locked up), very common. No aftermarket part so has to be a dealer order, ridiculous item to fail.
Also had issue with leaking windscreen, the rubbers pull away, again a joke item to fail.
Anyway, hope they sort this leak for you, but im glad the cars gone!
I had to fork out £300 for a door lock (V60) due to apparently water ingress (locked up), very common. No aftermarket part so has to be a dealer order, ridiculous item to fail.
Also had issue with leaking windscreen, the rubbers pull away, again a joke item to fail.
Anyway, hope they sort this leak for you, but im glad the cars gone!
Trevor555 said:
Was it under 6 months of purchasing when you first reported the issues?
If so contact citizens advice for guidance.
Sorry to hear of this situation.
Please let us know the outcome.
This - if it’s within 6 months since you purchased it, the fault is deemed to have existed at sale & they will be the ones paying for it. If so contact citizens advice for guidance.
Sorry to hear of this situation.
Please let us know the outcome.
It’s crazy that a supposed SUV can suffer from water leak issues.
I used to have a V40 that also had a failed door lock due to water ingress - they usually fail in the winter when it freezes. It’s a regular occurrence on the owners club forums when the weather turns cold.
Since posting this I have heard from Volvo that they are prepared to foot the bill for this repair. Although I cited a number of what I thought were design faults they opted for the fact that nowhere in their manual or other readings does it warn users with a sunroof to regularly check the drain holes to ensure they are not blocked.
Whatever the reason for their decision, however, I applaud their decision to take responsibility.
Whatever the reason for their decision, however, I applaud their decision to take responsibility.
To update and thank everyone for their interest in this problem, although Volvo have agreed to foot the bill they have said it can take up to 3 months for the new wiring loom to be provided. The repairers say they hope to have it by the end of January so it has been pencilled in for first week in Feb for the repair.
Volvo refused to provide a replacement car whilst mine is off the road but in light of the advise offered by you all to go back to the dealer I bought it from as I had not had it for 6 months, I was able to persuade them (Stratstone BMW Hull) to provide me with a replacement whilst mine is off the road. They sent a 21 plate X3 down from Hull and we will have the use of that until ours is satisfactorily repaired. So thanks again for pointing me in that direction.
Volvo refused to provide a replacement car whilst mine is off the road but in light of the advise offered by you all to go back to the dealer I bought it from as I had not had it for 6 months, I was able to persuade them (Stratstone BMW Hull) to provide me with a replacement whilst mine is off the road. They sent a 21 plate X3 down from Hull and we will have the use of that until ours is satisfactorily repaired. So thanks again for pointing me in that direction.
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