On my brand new S-40 Volvo with a manual 5 speed transmission operating the clutch pedal to be fully depressed to the floor can be obstructed easily by an adjacent protruding panel on the floor board. When my left foot is blocked by this protruding panel, I am inhibited from shifting gears. This condition is very dangerous in heavy traffic. Volvo customer service has been advised of this problem and has refused to acknowledge it as a defect. Volvo has refused to provide a simple solution to the problem by supplying a properly formed clutch lever that positions the clutch pedal far enough away from the protruding panel for consistently proper depression of the clutch during shifting.

- Bristol, TN, USA