NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
40 reportsClear category filter87,000 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATED SPORADICALLY BEGINNING IN JULY, 2005. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PERFORMING ADEQUATELY WHEN GOING UPHILL OR IN SEVERE HEAT. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN ALLENTOWN, PA WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR SAME WOULD BE OVER $800. WE…
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THE ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL LIGHT ACTIVATED SPORADICALLY BEGINNING IN JULY, 2005. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT PERFORMING ADEQUATELY WHEN GOING UPHILL OR IN SEVERE HEAT. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN ALLENTOWN, PA WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TOLD THAT THE COST TO REPAIR SAME WOULD BE OVER $800. WE DECIDED TO PASS ON THIS REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND THOUGHT THAT ANOTHER AUTO SERVICE MECHANIC COULD PERFORM THE REPAIRS AT A LESSER PRICE. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER, THE ETS LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED ON EVERY OCCASION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS USED. SINCE A SECOND MECHANIC (NOT AFFILIATED WITH VOLVO) STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO THE REPAIRS, WE DECIDED TO CONTACT ANOTHER VOVLO DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR OF THE THROTTLE BODY AND ETM "RELOAD" WAS PERFORMED BY A VOLVO OF FORT WASHTINGTON, PA AT A COST OF OVER $800 ON AUGUST 17, 2005. AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT NHTSA RECEIVED ON THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY, WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE REPAIR PERFORMED. WE DID CONTACT VOLVO IN ROCKLEIGH, NJ VIA EMAIL AND RECEIVED AN INITIAL RESPONSE FROM A MR. JOHN WILLETS REQUESTING INFORMATION ON OUR VIN NUMBER AND MILEAGE. WE SUPPLIED SAID INFORMATION ON THE SAME DATE (AUGUST 10, 2005). WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM HIM DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS VIA EMAIL. WE HAD TO PAY THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY.
NHTSA ODI #10133751
94,000 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR HESITATES AND/OR STALLS ON ACCELERATION FOR PAST 20,000 MILES. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS FROM VOLVO DEALER SHOWED "NO FAULT CODES STORED, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE." FINALLY, TODAY I STALLED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND ALMOST GOT BROADSIDED. JUST AFTER THAT AN ETS LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD "IT WILL COST UP TO $1000 TO…
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CAR HESITATES AND/OR STALLS ON ACCELERATION FOR PAST 20,000 MILES. INITIAL DIAGNOSIS FROM VOLVO DEALER SHOWED "NO FAULT CODES STORED, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE." FINALLY, TODAY I STALLED WHILE MAKING A TURN AND ALMOST GOT BROADSIDED. JUST AFTER THAT AN ETS LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD "IT WILL COST UP TO $1000 TO REPLACE THE PART." THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND TO THINK THAT VOLVO KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (I SURFED THE INTERNET AND FOUND RIGHT AWAY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM) AND LET ME TAKE THE CAR OUT WITH THIS ISSUE KNOWN. (REGARDLESS OF A FAULT CODE STORED)*JB
NHTSA ODI #10133090
100,000 miles · Aug 8, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR STARTED MISSING, LOSING POWER, ETS LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALER REPLACED EGR MODULE ?, COST ABOUT $1000 ALTOGETHER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131963
90,000 miles · Aug 6, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
BEGINNING IN APRIL OF 2005, THE ENGINE ON MY 1999 VOLVO S70 HAD STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. IN EACH INSTANCE, IT HAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED, HOWEVER, THE STALLS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. I HAVE READ OR THE NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM, AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY VEHICLE'S OPERATION AND REPAIR COSTS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10131793
47,000 miles · Aug 4, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
I PURCHASED MY 1999 USED S70 IN JUNE OF 2001. IT HAD APPROX. 47,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LOSS OF SPEED, ETC. WITHIN 1 YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE TURBO AND THE WHOLE ENGINE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IN ALL, I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $9,000 IN REPAIRS TO THIS…
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I PURCHASED MY 1999 USED S70 IN JUNE OF 2001. IT HAD APPROX. 47,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN A WEEK OR TWO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LOSS OF SPEED, ETC. WITHIN 1 YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE TURBO AND THE WHOLE ENGINE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IN ALL, I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $9,000 IN REPAIRS TO THIS CAR DUE TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN THE ABSOLUTE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. IT HAS ALSO HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS SINCE I PURCHASED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10131542
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S70. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE, WITHOUT WARNING CUTS OUT. WITH THIS THE POWER STEERING GOES AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER OUT OF TRAFFIC. BOTH THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS AN INTERSECTION. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENT. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, …
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I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S70. ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE, WITHOUT WARNING CUTS OUT. WITH THIS THE POWER STEERING GOES AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STEER OUT OF TRAFFIC. BOTH THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS AN INTERSECTION. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENT. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS HARD TO DIAGNOSE AS IT JUST HAPPENED ONCE. WELL IT HAPPENED AGAIN! THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 1, 2005 AND THE SECOND ON JULY 30, 2005. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131237
62,070 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
WARNING LIGHT, ENGINE RAN ROUGH, STALLED SINCE APRIL 2004 UNTIL JANUARY 2005, AND DEALER REPEATEDLY RAN TESTS AND CHARGED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR TESTS AND REPLACING PARTS THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL JANUARY 2005. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10131013
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLVO S70. CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT AN AIR-INTAKE PROBLEM. HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND NOT ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING. HAD CAR IN THE REPAIR SHOP THIS PAST WEEK, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HOWEVER, THEY CLEANED OUT AIR INTAKE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAM…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLVO S70. CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT AN AIR-INTAKE PROBLEM. HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE, AND NOT ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING. HAD CAR IN THE REPAIR SHOP THIS PAST WEEK, AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HOWEVER, THEY CLEANED OUT AIR INTAKE, BUT SHE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, SAW AN ARTICLE AT WWW.NBC4.COM UNDER THE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10130900
106,056 miles · Aug 1, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
IN THE LAST MONTH OUR 1999 S70 VOLVO HAS STALLED - ONCE WHEN TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED AND THE OTHER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR COULD BE RESTARTED. ALSO, THE "CHECK ENGINE" INDICATOR ILLUMINATES FREQUENTLY - AS IT IS NOW - AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WE ARE ADVISED THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.…
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IN THE LAST MONTH OUR 1999 S70 VOLVO HAS STALLED - ONCE WHEN TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEED AND THE OTHER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE CAR COULD BE RESTARTED. ALSO, THE "CHECK ENGINE" INDICATOR ILLUMINATES FREQUENTLY - AS IT IS NOW - AND WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER WE ARE ADVISED THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10130849
50,000 miles · May 19, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED A NEW 1999 S70 VOLVO FROM HERB GORDON VOLVO IN SILVER SPRING, MD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, STILL NO CHANGE. I RECENTLY HAD IT REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10121417
NHTSA investigations
5EA05021 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Dec 6, 2005 · Closed Dec 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
RQ04004 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jun 8, 2004 · Closed Nov 5, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
PE00031 · Turn Signal
Opened Aug 15, 2000 · Closed Dec 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available
PE99040 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jun 7, 1999 · Closed Oct 27, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
No summary supplied.
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