Volvo all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles have been rated by most reviewers as reliable, but there have been several issues that have plagued Volvo AWDs. Carcomplaints.com has reported recalls on Volvo AWDs for brake problems, which can create accident situations. Other reviewers have listed issues with Volvo AWDs that make repairs very expensive for the owners, as reported by Epinions.com.
Volvo AWDs are well known for unusual noise and vibration issues, according to Repairpal.com and Epinions.com. These noises and vibrations have been attributed to the front control arm bushings failing. A coupler in the front suspension begins to fail or wear prematurely, causing the Volvo to make noise and eventually vibrate during operation. The 2006 Volvo AWD also saw two recalls on the automobile, and one of those recalls dealt with the seals leaking on the master cylinders. Brake fluid began to leak out of the AWD and cause the brakes to malfunction, creating noise and vibration in the front end of the Volvo.
Volvo AWDs have tire issues unlike most other automobiles on the road. Excessive wear on one tire creates major issues with the AWD vehicle. This variation in wear from tire to tire causes the sensors to apply more traction to the other tires, causing the AWD not to drive smoothly. Epinions.com recommends that the Volvo owner rotate the tires every 5,000 miles because if one tire wears down prematurely, then all the tires need to be changed at the same time. A Volvo AWD owner must replace all four tires at the same time, or this issue will simply get worse.
Many Volvo AWD owners find the need to replace the brake pads more often than most automobile owners, according to Epinions.com. The brake pads work harder in Volvo AWDs than they do in other vehicles because of the tire issues. This means that a Volvo owner spends more money on the maintenance of an AWD than most other owners do on their own vehicles. The Volvo is rated high for all the features that come with its AWDs, such as heated seats, dual-zone climate control and real-time data given to the driver during operation, but Motortrend expresses concern about the off-road stability of Volvo AWDs. According to Motortrend, most testers found Volvo AWDs to ride more roughly and more uncontrollably during off-road testing, which is attributed to issues with the brake pads.
