Sounds like a on-going thing with Volvo. We have a 220 E with a 7 yard spade nose. Within the first month we had to replace all the shanks in the bucket with some heavy Cat shanks and teeth. Tore all the stock ones out. Now keep in mind this loader works in a sand and gravel pit, not a shot rock pit. We use the 988 in the shot rock.
After that the weak point was the back side of the bucket, right where coalburners ripped apart. Solution-fab up an old 980C Cat bucket to fit.
I for one hated to run it though. It didnt have any power to the boom. About the only place you could get a full scoop was in a loose sand pile. I made the suggestion to put a 4 yard bucket on it since that was about all you could get out of the pit face!
I heard yesterday from one of our mechanics that the engine block cracked at only 5000 hours. It had a new transmission last summer. New head last winter, and like was stated before, waiting forever to get parts.
Sometimes the lower cost just isnt worth it in the long run.