How easy is it for the steering wheel lock to break?

volvogrl05 · Post by **volvogrl05** » 15 Oct 2009, 19:12

I was wondering if it is common for the steering wheel lock to break?

I have a 2005 S40 2.4i with 58,800 miles. I took it to a Volvo dealership in Atlanta (Dyer and Dyer) to have a routine oil change. Raymond was my service helper. 1 hour after i dropped it off I recieved a call that my car wouldnt start. I have never had a problem with the car and there have been no funny noises what-so-ever. He tells me I need a new steering wheel lock. I asked the service guy how much it would cost and he quotes me $750.00!! (keep in mind I am a little blonde headed girl in my early twenties and probably look I dont have a clue about cars). After looking at the horrible reviews this dealership recieved online, i decided to get it towed to another dealership about 20 miles away for a second opinion. It just seemed a little too coincidental that it happen to break at the dealership. Raymond got really pissy after I told him I wasnt having them do the job. Turns out the steering wheel lock is broken but the guy said he has never in his life seen one just break all of a sudden and they can not find a cause for the failure. Also, he said to fix it would only run me around $200 or $250 total with labor and that $750.00 was unheard of. SO, Do you think Raymond broke it on purpose???

Other shady things that happen....When i asked for the estimate to be faxed to my work, Raymond couldnt come up with it. I called 6 times and everytime he said he just faxed it but nothing was ever recieved. Needless to say I had him email it to me and he actually sent it from his personal YAHOO account!!! It was not a formal write up but a blank page email with a sentence break down of the work. I had my boyfriend drive up to get the actual estimate and he returned with a post-it note with the pricing.....nothing had Dyer/Dyer Volvo on it! Now this might just be unprofessional business but to me it seems like he was trying to pull a scam.

I would like some other opinions on the matter. Please let me know if you have ever heard of a steering wheel lock breaking spontaneously and if not, how can I prove it was done deliberatly. This has been a huge headache and I would hate to think someone did this on purpose but things just arent adding up.....Thank you and sorry for the long post!

Post by **OEMVolvoParts** » 16 Oct 2009, 10:13

The steering column lock is a pretty common part to fail on these cars. In theory it could have just been perfect timing that when they changed your oil it broke, but still seems shady. If you didn't feel comfortable with the service you were receiving I'm glad you took it somewhere else.

Also, I would be amazed if the second shop would be able to fix it for $250.00 dollars. We sell the part alone for $131.70 and it requires software when it is installed. The software is $63.20 and it takes time to download it. That is about $195 bucks in just parts and software, which leaves no time for the labor they are going to charge. It takes 1.6 hours labor to replace the lock, and then you add on whatever labor they charge to download the software. If they do it for that price you are getting a smokin deal!

volvogrl05 · Post by **volvogrl05** » 16 Oct 2009, 11:31

Thank you for your reply..ya I just got the official written estimate from the second dealer...i must have heard him wrong because it is going to cost $448.00 for the repair...but thats still $300 less than the other dealership. I called my extended warrenty to see what Dyer and Dyer had said the cause of failure was. Apparently Raymond reported it was corroided however I am told this part does not corroid. The reason the new dealership says it is not working is because it is disengaged. SO ultimately, they say it was pretty much tampered with and done on purpose yet it is gonna be hard for me to prove. UNBELIEVABLE!