Over the last 3 years, the car (60 plate with just over 40k miles) has failed on a number of occasions including requiring TWO fan belts as both shredded (Oct 2013 and Nov 2015), a new battery (Jan 2015) a leak was found behind the engine (Sept 2013).
The vehicle has been serviced by reputable local independent garages not at Volvo. Timing belt has now failed with Volvo telling me they have found the lifters broken, webbings on the cylinder head broken and the exhaust camshaft twisted needing the replacement of the cylinder head and exhaust camshaft with all rollers and gaskets and fuel pipes. The estimated cost for this repair works out at £7k


So far Volvo have offered no goodwill as the garage that had the original timing belt never kept it for inspection.


Appreciate any advice on dealing with Volvo UK, does this problem exist elsewhere or am I just plain unlucky?

 

Bummer. I am sorry to hear that.

FWIW, it's not accurate to say the timing belt failed. What has happened is the exhaust cam locked up in its bearings. There is no way the timing belt can turn that, so it has to break.

I am not sure whether that has any bearing on the outcome.