2003 brake modulator failure at 700 miles

[Tedmom]

While driving my month old 2003 XC with 700 miles on it at relatively low speed (25 MPH), the brake pedal went virtually to the floor with no evidence at all of any ABS action before the car would stop at a stop sign. Subsequently, the brake pedal kept sinking while the car was fully stopped. It was towed to the closest dealer (not the selling franchise) via Volvo on Call and was in the shop for about a week. I was first told it was a bad master cylinder. After that was replaced, it was still not fixed and they determined it was a bad brake "modulator." I was told that there was some kind of electrical problem with the modulator and that was why it needed to be replaced. As I am not that knowledgeable about car repair issues and problems, I was wondering if this is a common problem and whether I should be on the lookout for other related troubles. My husband also thinks I should be raising heck with Volvo about this, but I tend to be one who gives the benefit of the doubt to the other side in these situations. They did provide a free rental car while the car was being worked on and the service staff at this dealer was very "nice" to be during this disappointing event. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!

[wiz]

Sorry to hear about this, Tedmom. I cannot recall reading about this problem in the 6 months I've been a member here, but if I were you I would do a careful search on the key words just to be sure.

When you say you were "towed", I am hoping that you mean the car was placed on a flat-bed truck and removed to the dealer - not towed in the literal sense. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif

[Tedmom]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (wiz @ Jan. 22 2003,18:37)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">When you say you were &quot;towed&quot;, I am hoping that you mean the car was placed on a flat-bed truck and removed to the dealer - not towed in the literal sense. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh2.gif[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Thankfully, they flat-bedded it. I haven&#39;t been able to find any other 2003 XC postings about this problem, so hopefully this was just a one in a million fluke and the problem has been solved. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[wiz]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (Tedmom @ Jan. 23 2003,05:13)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Thankfully, they flat-bedded it. I haven&#39;t been able to find any other 2003 XC postings about this problem, so hopefully this was just a one in a million fluke and the problem has been solved.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Phew - sounds like you know the car is not to be towed - although maybe the MY2003&#39;s are OK with towing because the AWD is now electrical...

Yep - sounds like a one-off. Let&#39;s hope it is anyway&#33; http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[coastal]

Definitely sounds like a unique one.. have never heard of that happening before either.

I had a transmission computer failure at 200Km (actually 2 of them went kaput in succession). I was very worried when it happened but I&#39;m now at 52,000k, and no problems at all. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Good call on the flat deck too.. even if it&#39;s less of a problem with the 2003&#39;s (which I&#39;m not sure on), IMO flat deck is always safer.

[joeboy01]

Something similar happened to me on my 02. The ABS light came on in the dash and would not go away. &nbsp;THe brakes felt a bit funny, but not too bad. &nbsp;Took it to the deal who quickly figured out it was the ABS computer module that had failed. &nbsp;Replaced and no problems with this since.