My wife recently purchased a 2005 s60 T5 (that I now steal pretty regularly) We love it so far but we' have run into a problem with the leather. The second time I cleaned the seat a very large section of the leather on the passenger seat "skinned" off. This wasn't slowly over a period of days, but immediately. I know skinned is a weird word, but that's just what it was like. The texture was like the skin the develops on the top of paint if you leave it open for too long. I used the same leather cleaner on my truck, and this was the last seat that I cleaned in the Vovlo. This is about a month after we've purchased the car.

It is under the CPO warranty, but I would like to have a guess as to what is wrong here before the dealership tries to tell me it's wear and tear. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.



(guess I can't post pics?)

 

I read somewhere that nordkap seats had something likea TNN about tanning or wear, but I can't remember exactly. If I find it I'll post it....

 

I also own an S60, great cars by the way, in love with mine. When I was shopping around for one a couple a month's ago, I came across a T5 that had yellowing on the tan leather. I was told by the sales guy that they had hired a leather specialist which was on his way to re-stain the leather to bring it to like new condition.

I find this to be a trend on s60's. It looks to me that your seat had previously been stained, but peeled away for mysterious reasons.
Discoloration is not wear and tear, unless it is cracked, or ripped in which case theay would have a chance to argue. Find out from the place from where you bought it if they re-stained the leather, and have them address the problem.

 

I had similar problem with my old S60. Mine sort of flaked off like dry skin, but it was also all at once, not a gradual thing. I never took it in because it was out of warranty, but I have noticed that a lot of people have this problem, especially in the new S60's and XC90's. I did find that Meguire's Leather Conditioner Foam worked really well-I was able to keep cleaning the leather, bu8t it didn't make anymore peel off. Good Luck

 

On most volvo I don't think they use geniune leather (until 2007 start using it again in S80) that's why it bubble when leather cleaner applied. I've used cleaner (commercial interior cleaner) Upside-down Xtra duty cleaning spray aerosol by car bright seems to work well and not bubble up or peeling the false leather. hope this help