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Carling Motors
Ottawa, ON
16 Reviews
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Showing 16 reviews
September 21, 2025
Warning: stay away. Volvo is not the brand it used to be. I signed for a 2025 EC40 (rebranded C40) in December 2024. Since then, my experience with the vehicle, this Volvo is not the brand it used to be. I signed for a 2025 EC40 (rebranded C40) in December 2024. Since then, my experience with the vehicle, this dealership, and Volvo Canada, has been egregious. Getting this vehicle just before my first daughter was born, I thought I was choosing a reliable brand that would serve our family for years. Within months, it began to experience critical failures, which left us stranded on two occasions. Dealing with Volvo at Carling Motors and Volvo Car Canada has become a part-time job. I have had to advocate, escalate, follow up, send registered letters, take detailed notes, engage regulators, and spend hours on the phone—just to get the absolute minimum. Trouble started on April 19, 2025 when, without warning, the vehicle suddenly failed, leaving me stranded with a baby in a parking lot. An error message read: “The propulsion system requires service urgently. Drive carefully to the nearest workshop.” But the car would not go into drive. There was no support available over the weekend. On Monday, the Service Department at Carling Volvo told me the next available appointment was in 2 weeks, and no loaner vehicles were available. It took three hours of escalating to the General Manager to get a loaner, but they still took 6 weeks for the repair—and then it failed again 5 days later. Over the months that followed, I have had approximately 40 additional interactions with Volvo, and as of September 2025, major problems with the vehicle persist. • April 19, 2025: My new EC40 broke down and left me stranded with a “Propulsion System” error that prevented it from shifting into drive. It took persistent advocacy and 6 weeks to get this fixed. • After 6 weeks, when I finally went to pick up the vehicle, the same error message was still on the dash, and I had to return a second time for a software update. • 5 days later, it failed again with a new propulsion system warning, requiring yet another visit to the Service Department at Carling Motors. • After this “repair,” it came back with yet another new problem with the eCall system. It was actually driven to me with a large error message on the dash. • September 16: Another service appointment for grinding and vibration coming from the wheels. Incredibly, the Service Department advised me that there was corrosion on all four brake rotors, but it was “normal wear and tear” that would cost me $1,585 plus tax to repair. The vehicle is 9 months old with 9,300 km, and I park inside. After a terse conversation, they opted to replace the front rotors under warranty, but again returned the vehicle to me with the problem not fixed. • 3 days after that, while my wife was visiting Montreal (from Ottawa), the car suddenly stopped being able to charge, showing “Reconnect Error” with the dash lit up red, and she had to use the emergency release to get the charging cable unplugged. You might expect luxury service from Volvo, but without exaggeration, I feel more cared for at Service Ontario. Even when I sought intervention from Volvo Canada, they just sent regrets, generated a case number, and offered me $500 in “goodwill”—which they never even sent (follow-ups have been ignored). There are other things I want to be doing with my life, like spending time with my family, but instead I have to fight with Volvo. Even when the vehicle is working, I worry we’ll end up stranded somewhere, having to figure out a way to get home from another city with a baby and a dog. For a laugh, read the “My Volvo Experience” promise: “Life is precious. So is living. That’s why we created My Volvo Experience to improve your quality of life. It simplifies your day-to-day, helping you save your time and energy for the things that really matter.” What a joke. If you are dealing with Volvo, take detailed notes, believe nothing they say, and be ready for a fight if anything goes wrong. Better yet, shop elsewhere. Read more here: http://bit.l More
by Michael Brulotte
Employees Worked With
Craig Smith, Dan Gervais
November 03, 2023
Spoke with Service Manager regarding a warranty issue on our Volvo XC60 brakes and rotors, less than 10 months of wear and the rotors were rusted and scared. Vehicle is parked inside and driven daily in sh our Volvo XC60 brakes and rotors, less than 10 months of wear and the rotors were rusted and scared. Vehicle is parked inside and driven daily in short distances nothing erractic or hard (everyday use). Told Volvo won't honor their warranty as the "scaring" was at fault...WHAT? Because of faulty pads and bad rotors they won't cover THEIR OWN shoddy product and work. Service manager (Rick) won't offer to cover either. Will NEVER buy or use their company again. I will use a local garage who are HONEST and STAND-BY their work and warranties. I DO NOT RECOMMEND CARLING Motors...horrible service and company. More
by Shaun
Employees Worked With
Rick (Service Manager)
April 29, 2023
I've been a service customer there for many years, but lately the quality has gone way down. Not happy with either the service or sales department . lately the quality has gone way down. Not happy with either the service or sales department . More
by marianna.cioabla
Employees Worked With
Roger Howell
June 30, 2021
Bought a used XC60 last month from Carling after many weeks of looking and talking to many different sales persons. By far the best deal and the best sales experience was at Carling. The sales person weeks of looking and talking to many different sales persons. By far the best deal and the best sales experience was at Carling. The sales person Etienne Bercier was straight forward, knowledgeable and easy to deal with. If you are in the market for a Volvo do yourself a favour, call Carling and ask for Etienne. More
by Lynchjohnston
Employees Worked With
Etienne Bercier
January 12, 2021
Not happy with either the service or sales department when the car broke on the 3rd of ownership. Un-driveable at this time. Volvo XC60 Hybrid T8 Inception and on the 3rd day the wipers don't work, th when the car broke on the 3rd of ownership. Un-driveable at this time. Volvo XC60 Hybrid T8 Inception and on the 3rd day the wipers don't work, the turn signals don't work, and the 12V system is non-operational. For a very safe vehicle this is unacceptable. Several calls to the dealership and still no reply, on lunch or away from the office and the vehicle is un-driveable. NOT happy with any of this experience so far. I will update this IF the dealership steps up their game. More
by Shaun
Employees Worked With
Brandon
July 16, 2018
They broke my car and charged me for it. I've been a service customer there for many years, but lately the quality has gone way down. I brought in my Volvo with intermittently working air c I've been a service customer there for many years, but lately the quality has gone way down. I brought in my Volvo with intermittently working air conditioning. The mechanic wanted to replace the compressor, which needed to be ordered, taking a couple of weeks. Instead of topping up the system while waiting for parts, and wIthout my authorization, they made the system completely non-operational. "Government regulations"! Had I not brought the car in for servicing, the slow leak would have continued, but because I wanted it repaired, they couldn't allow it to work while waiting for parts they don't stock! When I called to complain, the service advisor had nothing helpful to suggest, and when I wrote the General Manager, I received no answer - they did not feel it necessary to even acknowledge my complaint! I will be taking my business away from Volvo. It seems satisfying the paying customer is not their priority anymore. More
by M J
Employees Worked With
d gervais
May 15, 2018
service is great, sales rep not so much Sales rep made a lot of promises he didn't keep and then decided to stop returning my attempts to resolve the issues, basically leaving me out to dry. Sales rep made a lot of promises he didn't keep and then decided to stop returning my attempts to resolve the issues, basically leaving me out to dry. I love the car but this treatment from the sales rep just sours the overall experience. Must say that to date the service Dept have been fantastic. More
by volvoguy
Employees Worked With
Mark Jazzar
April 18, 2018
Good service and fast enough to wait for my car Every visit I have been satisfied, friendly staff, I don’t wait for nothing, they tale Time to explain what they have to fix and repair Every visit I have been satisfied, friendly staff, I don’t wait for nothing, they tale Time to explain what they have to fix and repair More
by Peter
Employees Worked With
Dan Karell
August 04, 2017
Only praise I have been a customer at Carling Motors Mazda for 7 years. Al Greer has been the best in terms of service and advice. Thank you I have been a customer at Carling Motors Mazda for 7 years. Al Greer has been the best in terms of service and advice. Thank you More
by Perlargonium
Employees Worked With
Al Greet
