ZERO STARS -- $3,519.65 SPENT, FOUR VISITS, SAME PROBLEM
Our…read moreVolvo XC60 had an intermittent problem with the doors locking and unlocking. Sometimes they would unlock, sometimes they wouldn't. Sometimes they would lock, and on occasion, they could actually leave you locked inside the vehicle. We took the XC60 to Darling's Volvo, expecting a Volvo dealer to have the expertise to diagnose and repair the problem. What followed were months of expensive repairs with no resolution.
January: $200.85 "Diagnostics." We were told the key fobs were the problem. New key fobs: $1,009.28. The problem continued.
February: Back to Darling's because the doors still weren't locking and unlocking properly. Appointment made.
April: Wiring in the vehicle was repaired, along with work on the driver 's-side door lock and tailgate latch. Required us to rent a car for 4 days.: $2,309.52. The problem continued. (By this point, we had paid Darling's $3,519.65 and still had essentially the same problem we originally brought the vehicle in to have repaired.)
August: Back again with the same issues. This time, we were quoted approximately $740 for the tailgate latch and another $1,200 to rewire the vehicle. That was enough. After spending more than $3,500 without resolving the problem, we were now facing another approximately $1,940 in proposed repairs. We had become so frustrated that we were actually considering trading the vehicle. It seemed clear they COULD not or WOULD not fix the issue.
Instead, we took the XC60 to our local mechanic. The OEM latch from Volvo- $71 (not 740). Labor to install- 1 HR. Their bill was $189.15.
Problem solved.
That is perhaps the most frustrating part of the entire experience. After four trips to a Volvo dealership, thousands of dollars in repairs, and proposed additional work, another repair shop resolved the issue for less than $200.
I understand that modern automotive electrical problems can be difficult to diagnose. What I cannot understand is repeatedly paying substantial amounts to address the same complaint without resolving it, and then being asked to spend still more money on additional repairs, including rewiring after wiring work had already been performed.
We went to a Volvo dealer because we expected specialized knowledge of Volvo vehicles. Based on our experience, that expectation was badly misplaced.
Darling's: $3,519.65 -- problem not solved.
Kennedy Tire and Automotive: $189.15 -- problem solved.
That comparison says more than anything else I could write.
I would not return to Darling's Volvo for service, and based on this experience, I cannot recommend their repair department. Nor would I expect to ever use ANY Darling's facility for any reason in the future. I did have a few words for the service manager. They are not fit for print.
