I needed to have a front wheel bearing replaced on my front wheel drive Volvo. I made an appointment at the King Nissan/Volvo dealership in Bellingham, WA. After I dropped my vehicle off I was contacted and was told that I should have both the front wheel bearings replaced because it's better that way. I said Okay if it's best. After I got my vehicle back about a week later, I was driving down the road (freeway) and heard a loud thump under the vehicle and in the rear view mirror I saw what appeared to be a rock that I ran over.
I had just taken an exit off the freeway and was making a left hand turn and the front right axle came off. My car immediately dropped causing the tire and rim to be buckled underneath the vehicle and came to a stop after about a 20 yard skid on top of my tire and rim. I ended up in the middle of a very busy intersection at rush hour. I called a tow company and had the vehicle towed to King Nissan/Volvo in Bellingham, WA. I called King Nissan/Volvo and advised them that I was having my vehicle towed because of the front axle departed the vehicle while I was in motion.
The service manager said he would take a look at it and let me know what the problem was. I received a call and the Service manager apologized to me and admitted that one of their technicians had been recently fired for failing to tighten lug nuts and other items on vehicles that they had serviced. He said that they would repair the vehicle under warranty since the King Nissan/Volvo service technician failed to cotter key and tighten the front end parts. The service manager even said that the only thing that held the front end together was the weight of the vehicle and it was a miracle that the vehicle didn't come apart at freeway speeds.
I got my vehicle back about four days later. I had returned to the dealership within a day to question new clumping sounds when I turned. The service manager tried to tell me that for a vehicle this old it was normal. I had to disagree with him because there was no clumping noise prior to the axel separation. The front right tire rim received gouges and the tire is scored overall the sidewall. I asked for replacement and was told that it was superficial and did not pose a safety concern.
After a few months I started getting indicators that the front wheel bearing was failing. I took my vehicle to a reputable repair shop (not KING VOLVO) and was told that the front wheel bearing was bad. I advised tem that it had just been replaced by the dealer recently. They showed me the part and stated their professional opinion that the part was several years old because of the corrosion on the part.
I made a call to the dealership to speak with the general manager and when I was connected to him he didn't even want to try to resolve my complaint. I indicated who I was and he said he remembered the incident. During our conversation he stated that they King Nissan/Volvo had done all that they were going to do (end of discussion).
King Nissan/Volvo in Bellingham, WA ripped me off.
1. Failed to compensate me in a fair manner after admitting faulty maintenance.
2. Fraudulently charged me for parts that were never used.
3. Failed to refund any part of the initial charges to me.
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