I seriously don't know who a Volvo thought is would be a good idea to put a retractable metal antenna on a 2003 car when GM hasn't done that in 15 years but it wasn't a good idea. Mine doesn't fully retract and I get lousy reception and I'm always thinking it could somehow break or worse someone would break it.

Does anyone know of a decent replacement? I'd like to put a new antenna in the same position so I won't have a hole in my rear fender.

 

Mine doesn't retract flush either. Any DIY's on how to fix it?

 

I have never found a decent replacement for any electric antenna I have ever owned. You get many "universal fit" antennas that don't really fit and are way too loud going up and down. You can't find the newer style OEM "shark fin" anywhere except the junkyard. I just bit the bullet and bought a new Volvo antenna. The old one lasted 10 years so it's not really that bad. Just as long as you remember to put it down before going through a car wash.

 

If you clean it periodically with WD40 it continues to work fine until the toothed nylon extender inside it breaks. Turn on the radio and clean it with WD40, turn the radio off/on to make it retract and extend and repeat a few times. Maintenance is the key. Think of it like changing your oil.

Once it does break, a new mast is pretty cheap and it's a simple fix.