Car Clinic: Are owners of the new Volvo XC90 reporting many faults?
Should I buy or steer clear?
Q. I was about to buy a Volvo XC90 when I noticed online reports about faults, plus lots of classifieds for six-month-old models. Should I steer clear?
SMB, Petworth, West Sussex
A. The XC90 has had some software problems, relating largely to driver convenience functions: intermittent faults with the reversing camera, the touchscreen going blank and the infotainment system failing to remember a Bluetooth phone connection.
The latest Range Rovers have had similar software issues and in both cases they are taking some time to resolve.
However, the internet can exaggerate how bad things are. It is not unusual to find cars being sold on after six months — many demonstrator and former rental vehicles and some company cars will be exchanged after this time.
TIM’LL FIX IT
Tim Shallcross used to train AA patrols to fix cars. Now he advises the Institute of Advanced Motoring — read more from Tim here.
GOT A PROBLEM?
Email your question to carclinic@sunday-times.co.uk or write to Car Clinic, Driving, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF, with a daytime phone number, your address and as much detail about your car as possible. We can’t reply in person, so don’t send original documents or SAEs. Advice is given without legal responsibility.
