ETM Topic is solved

giggs22 · Post by **giggs22** » 12 Dec 2005, 16:25

I traded in our 2000 XC last Feb. We replaced the ETM 2 years ago. Don't have the bill, but have the credit card receipt. Haven't heard from Volvo yet. Should I hold my breath? Thanks in advance, John Smart

Post by **DonWillson** » 13 Dec 2005, 12:23

giggs22 wrote:I traded in our 2000 XC last Feb. We replaced the ETM 2 years ago. Don't have the bill, but have the credit card receipt. Haven't heard from Volvo yet. Should I hold my breath? Thanks in advance, John Smart

I would just wait. As soon as the letters go our I'll post one here. It should give all the details.

TheMerckx · Post by **TheMerckx** » 21 Dec 2005, 01:42

Hey giggs22,

At a minimum, I would recommend getting a copy of the repair order from the dealer/mechanic that did the repair. You will need to submit a copy of the repair order and proof of payment anyway in order to get the rebate.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 22 Dec 2005, 06:19

Yes, I just made a copy of my 2-page ETM repair bill and a copy of the check I used to pay for it. Now I just wait for the alleged refund letter in the mail.

Supposedly there is an extra form to fill out to recover the State sales tax on the transaction.

pauloregon · Post by **pauloregon** » 31 Jan 2006, 09:28

My wife had to replace the ETM in Oct 05 on her 2000 V70xc. The work was done by Barrier Volvo in Seattle. We've never received a letter from Volvo, so we sent a copy of the work order and payment proof to the refund address provided by Barrier.

This was in mid-Dec 05 and no rebate has been received so far. I guess 6-8 weeks is common with the holidays having some impact on the time that has passed so far.

I did call Volvo and verified that the VIN for my wife's car is associated with our mailing address (it was), but still no "warranty extension" letter.

Bud · Post by **Bud** » 01 Feb 2006, 10:11

Yes, I checked a week or two ago, and their excuse is that they have staggered the mailings, so as NOT to get buried in rebate letters. I can well imagine they are very BUSY.

Assuming approximately 235,000 (94% failure rate on 250K USA units sold) ETMs are replaced under the 10y/200K, and .....

Assuming that another 221,000 (94% failure on the replacement units) will fail within the 10y/200K period gives a possible number of failures, AND REBATES, of nearly 456,000.

Figure that Volvo might successfully try to conceil this from 114,000 (25% of 456K). After all, nothing suggests that they will voluntarily do the right thing. That leaves maybe 342,000 units that they will have to rebate just in the USA.

At $1000 a pop, that comes out to $342 MILLION, just in the USA. Not a small number.

According to some unofficial polls, many of us would have bit the bullet and paid the $1000, IF ONLY, they would have re-engineered the ETM with RELIABLE non-contacting postion sensors. In other words, a lifetime part that does NOT wear out. Using Hall-effect sensors the redesigned ETM need not cost any more than the lousy one they stuck us with.

So, IMHO, they might NOT now be paying 1/3 BILLION $$ in rebates, and the associated stain on their reputation, and legal fees, IF they had done the right thing from the first indication of design failure.

Legendary Safety,

I don't think so.