Major safety problems and possible fire hazard: The 1999 is hard to start and has to be cranked for about a minute before it starts, and we also smell gas when we stopped the car (by the fuel filler). I took the car to union park spent $300. Thinking it needed a tune up. Still the problem exists. I took the car back to union park and I was advised that the problem is a leak in the vent tube off the gas tank. When the key is turned on, the electric fuel pump primes the line. However, since there is a leak in the vent tube this sucks in air and prevents the gas from going to the fuel injectors, then the fumes exit out the vent. I was advised that the vent tube is not a replaceable part and that I will have to buy a new gas tank with vent tube at the cost of $1,081.30. I feel that this is a design problem and should be paid for by Volvo. Other vehicles have this as a two piece unit and the tube can be replaced at a lower expense, less than $150. I also feel that this is a safety problem; if some one was smoking near the rear of the car a fire could start. I have reported this to the national dot safety board. Front end parts, stearing I have also had problems with the front end parts, ball joints replaced, upper strut bushing replaced and now they tell me that the sway bar links need to be replaced at a cost of $192.04, I feel that this car is a lemon. In the past two years I have spent $3000. To fix items which should not have broken with normal driving usage. I always bought Volvo's because they were reliable.this car is a major headache. The electrical system has one problem after another. The door locks need fixing or replacement for the third time. The problem with the fuel valve is a design problem and a huge safety concern. Since Ford took over Volvo, the car has gone from an extremely safe and reliable means of transportation to a constant worry about safety and maintenance and a money pit.

- New Castle, DE, USA