Volvo recalls 1,000 C1 platform cars for steering fault
It's not a large recall, but the effort will correct a potentially serious problem. Slightly more than 1,000 C1 platform cars -- C30, S40, V50, and C70 -- are in need of a replacement power steering return line. The hose isn't up to spec and could rupture, leading to a rapid loss of fluid and with it, power assistance, making steering dangerously difficult. Some drivers would welcome a blissfully simple and surgically accurate manual rack in their cars, but jettisoning power steering while underway might not be what they had in mind. Contact your Volvo dealer to see if your car is one of the roughly 1,020 affected, the fix is free of charge. [Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Randall 9:17AM (7/29/2008)
power steering equipped car with non-functional power steering rack = epic fail
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Goat Law 9:05AM (7/29/2008)
So can someone tell me exactly when driving a car without power steering became dangerously difficult? I've done it before and I didn't percieve any danger.
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Shawn 9:34AM (7/29/2008)
Old people, some smaller women, the disabled who use hand controls, and others need power steering. Sudden loss of powersteering will cause problems for anyone that's not expecting it. Amazing when you think about it isn't it? That the world isn't just about you.
Dan Roth 9:35AM (7/29/2008)
It's dangerous when you're not expecting it. Also, power racks running without their hydraulic assist are much heavier and usually have a slower ratio than a purpose-designed manual rack.
Goat Law 11:15AM (7/29/2008)
I agree it should be recalled, but calling it dangerously difficult is hyberbole. It should be recalled because Volvo knows of a systemic problem with their cars. As for the difficulty, I have lost power steering on 2 different vehicles and neither time was it anything more than an annoyance, and if you are incapable of driving a car that loses powersteering, something that can happen to any car, then you shouldn't be driving, period. Losing power steering is certainly no worse than a blowout, something that is difficult, but not dangerously so, unless you are an idiot and jerk the wheel to overcompensate. Operating a vehicle responsibly means being able to handle the vehicle in all situations. Under your logic drunks should be allowed to drive because they can do it under perfect circumstance. The problem is, perfect circumstance never exist. It is amazing when you think about it. Isn't it? That the world isn't just about you.
Dan Roth 11:31AM (7/29/2008)
I've also lost power steering, and while no, it's not an automatic ticket to crashing, you have to think of it from the automaker's side. Leaving a known issue out there like this is a huge potential liability, and it *does* compromise the driver's ability to maneuver safely. Also, have you seen how people drive? I'd say that loss of power steering could indeed be extremely dangerous *depending on the driver*.
Goat Law 12:50PM (7/29/2008)
Well, I absolutely agree with how bad most people drive. I am just tired of people accepting that as it is. Our driver education in this country is pathetic as is our general level of personal responsibility. There are millions of elderly, and other similarly disabled, people who absolutely should not be behind the wheel of a car, but our spineless politicians will never take their licenses away because old people are the only ones who vote. It is the same reason social security is very soon going to implode.
I also have no problem with Volvo's recall, whether based on warranty or liability reasons. There is certainly huge liability on their part, although it is improper liability in my opinion. I only took issue with Autoblog's characterization that steering would become 'dangerously difficult.' To me that is a gross exageration and only leads to further acceptance that drivers can't be expected to handle anything that skews from the ordinary and the general dumbing down of the driving populace.
Goat Law 1:01PM (7/29/2008)
And, wow, I just realized that you are the author of the article, so I guess I took issue with your characterization. Again, I don't disagree that based on the current sad state of affairs in the US, losing power steering could be dangerous to certain egregiously inept drivers. I just don't like making excuses in both policy considerations and even descriptive generalizations that take into account outliers that shouldn't even be allowed to exist. In the realm of driving policy, we shouldn't make laws that take poor drivers into consideration. We should make laws that take them out of considertion, by taking away their licenses.
Seminole 9:45AM (7/29/2008)
Bah I have an S40, time to call the dealer.
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Ryan M 9:45AM (7/29/2008)
Indeed any car can suddenly loose power steering when, say, a serpentine belt fails, but really the less sudden-power-steering loss opportunities the better. The problem I would say is more to do with the loss of power steering being sudden and unexpected. If you had it one second and then did not have it the next, the only way you might find out is when your steering effort suddenly became much harder. If you were not expecting this, you might not turn the wheel far enough fast enough, and the results could be disasterous.
That's not to say every one of those 1,020 cars affected would crash if that hose ruptured, but several might, aso that certainly warrants a recall.
Too bad we can't recall bad drivers ;-)
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PaulPaul 9:52AM (7/29/2008)
on a side note, i gotta say Volvo has the nicest steering wheel design; always bugs me when a see a nice interior on the car and some weird looking wheel
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CalGuy 11:55AM (7/29/2008)
I agree. Brilliant, simple beautiful steering wheel.
Sorin 10:38AM (7/29/2008)
It’s good to know for Volvo owners. Of course the fix is free of charge
It would be unbelievable to pay for something like this.
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CORVETTE ZR1 11:19AM (7/29/2008)
Volvo is made by Ford thats the reason for the recall... nuf said...
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Wally 12:27PM (7/29/2008)
I can't wait until your summer vacation is over and you back to school, kiddo.
CarbonBlack 6:49PM (7/30/2008)
Wally, you are spot on, and just made my day!
Goat Law 1:00PM (7/29/2008)
And, wow, I just realized that you are the author of the article, so I guess I took issue with your characterization. Again, I don't disagree that based on the current sad state of affairs in the US, losing power steering could be dangerous to certain egregiously inept drivers. I just don't like making excuses in both policy considerations and even descriptive generalizations that take into account outliers that shouldn't even be allowed to exist. In the realm of driving policy, we should make laws that take poor drivers into consideration, we should make laws that take them out of considertion, by taking away their licenses.
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