Illustration2000 VOLVO S70 ETM ISSUES VEHICLE LUNGES, HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT, SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2000 Volvo S70
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S70 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
1625–50K
5350–75K
2775–100K
21100–150K
7150K+
127 reports with mileage · 37 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
164 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN BRAKING AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY LUNGE FORWARD OR THERE WOULD BE LIMITED ACCELERATION POWER. THE ETF THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST THE CON…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN BRAKING AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY LUNGE FORWARD OR THERE WOULD BE LIMITED ACCELERATION POWER. THE ETF THROTTLE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED FROM 2000 TO 3000 WITHIN 15 SECONDS WITHOUT THE CONTACT ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR MASS METER, EVAPORATOR VALVE, CATALYTIC CONVERTE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED FROM 2000 TO 3000 WITHIN 15 SECONDS WITHOUT THE CONTACT ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR MASS METER, EVAPORATOR VALVE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND ALLOWED IT TO SIT FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND ALLOWED IT TO SIT FOR FIVE MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED NORMAL OPERATION AND WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED OF A RECALL RELATING TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) REPAIRS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
AFTER SCRAPING A CURB AND TEARING THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE 195/60HR-15 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE960AS POLE POSITION TIRES ON MY 2000 VOLVO S70, I REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME TIRE. SEVEN MONTHS AND ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE REPLACEMENT TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. SINCE PURCHASING THE SET IN MARCH OF 2008, THIS…
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AFTER SCRAPING A CURB AND TEARING THE SIDEWALL OF ONE OF THE 195/60HR-15 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE960AS POLE POSITION TIRES ON MY 2000 VOLVO S70, I REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME TIRE. SEVEN MONTHS AND ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE REPLACEMENT TIRE DEVELOPED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. SINCE PURCHASING THE SET IN MARCH OF 2008, THIS IS THE THIRD TIRE I'VE HAD TO REPLACE DUE TO A SIDEWALL PROBLEM. I GENUINELY BELIEVE THIS TO BE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. I'VE RETAINED THE MOST RECENTLY REPLACED TIRE IN CASE THE NHTSA DESIRES TO INSPECT IT. *TR
THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER AT START. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT FULL CAPACITY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALSO INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY DURING DRIVE TIME. HAVING THE PART REBUILT. *TR
2000 VOLVO S70 4 DOOR, AWD, TURBO SEDAN STALLED OUT IN TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. CAR WAS ON A HILL WHEN IT HAPPENED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. TOOK 6 TRIES TO GET IT RESTARTED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR
2000 VOLVO S70 (50,000: WHILE CHANGING LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT, NOTICED THE INSULATION WAS FLAKING OFF THE WIRES. INSPECTED THE OTHER SIDE. IT WAS WORSE WITH MAJOR BEAR SECTIONS OF WIRE. ALSO NOTED THE WIRE IS VERY THIN GAGE FOR HEADLIGHT CIRCUITS, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A HOT, HIGH USE AREA. HIGH BEAM OK. CHECKED VOLVO FORUMS. FO…
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2000 VOLVO S70 (50,000: WHILE CHANGING LEFT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT, NOTICED THE INSULATION WAS FLAKING OFF THE WIRES. INSPECTED THE OTHER SIDE. IT WAS WORSE WITH MAJOR BEAR SECTIONS OF WIRE. ALSO NOTED THE WIRE IS VERY THIN GAGE FOR HEADLIGHT CIRCUITS, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A HOT, HIGH USE AREA. HIGH BEAM OK. CHECKED VOLVO FORUMS. FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVO AND A MECHANIC POSTED A REPAIR PROCEDURE. BESIDES THE SAFETY HAZARD OF SUDDENLY LOSING HEADLIGHTS, FLASHING OF A CIRCUIT OF THIS MAGNITUDE MIGHT HAVE OTHER AFFECTS ON COMPUTER RELATED CONTROLS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. IN 2006, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,447 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NOTICED ENGINE DYING OUT WHEN ACCELERATING, THE PROBLEM WAS NOTICEABLY GETTING WORSE. FINALLY THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AT THE LIGHT, LIGHT TURNED GREEN PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NO RESPONSE, CAR SAT THERE IN IDLE WITH NO RESPONSE TO PRESSING ON THE PEDAL. *TR
Official recalls
306V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Nov 15, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
00V405000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
Dec 6, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA05021 · 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.