IllustrationDT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55-70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE LIGHT (ETM) ILLUMINATED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE HAD FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL/DIE AND LOSE POWER. *AK *MR *NM
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 reportsREFERENCE 10130593, SECOND VEHICLE LISTED, STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION, LIFE THREATENING ISSUE, THROTTLE BODY FAULT CODE. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING UNIT, CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE DONE BECAUSE DEALER COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT. SAME PART PUT IN AS FAILED PART. ALSO, HAD FAILURE ON S80. *AK *JB
THE ETS SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VOLVO S70 IS FAILING. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THIS WILL COST $1000 TO FIX. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS NOW STALLING IN TRAFFIC DUE TO THE ETB NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND COULD CAUSE INJURY WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC THE OTHER DAY AND I FEAR…
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THE ETS SYSTEM ON MY 2000 VOLVO S70 IS FAILING. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT THIS WILL COST $1000 TO FIX. MY CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS NOW STALLING IN TRAFFIC DUE TO THE ETB NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER AND COULD CAUSE INJURY WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC THE OTHER DAY AND I FEARFUL TO DRIVE IT ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. VOLVO NEEDS TO SEND A RECALL OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. *NM
DT: 2000 VOLVO S70 SE. WHILE DRIVING 70-75 MPH VEHICLE BUCKED AND LOST CRUISE CONTROL. *AK THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN VERY QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT REGAIN SPEED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND KEEP HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
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DT: 2000 VOLVO S70 SE. WHILE DRIVING 70-75 MPH VEHICLE BUCKED AND LOST CRUISE CONTROL. *AK THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN VERY QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT REGAIN SPEED. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND KEEP HER FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
CAR WAS STALLING, SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. IT WAS LURCHING FORWARD WHEN I STEPPED ON THE THROTTLE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE ETM HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE ON THIS VEHICLE. *NM
CAR WAS STALLING, SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. RUNNING ROUGH AND LURCHING FORWARD AFTER IT HAD BEEN STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ETM FAILED ON MY 2000 S70. THE ETM WAS REPLACED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE BUT IT REQUIRED 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ETM. EACH TIME…
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CAR WAS STALLING, SLOWING DOWN AND STOPPING. RUNNING ROUGH AND LURCHING FORWARD AFTER IT HAD BEEN STALLED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ETM FAILED ON MY 2000 S70. THE ETM WAS REPLACED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE BUT IT REQUIRED 4 TRIPS TO THE DEALER BOTH TIMES BEFORE THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ETM. EACH TIME THEY TRIED TO FIX IT WITH OUT INCURRING ANY COSTS TO THEM AND THE CAR WOULD FAIL WITHIN LESS THAT WEEK UNTIL THEY CHANGED THE ETM. *NM
DT: THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. LOST POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR 80% OF THE TIME. THE STC LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME WHEN LOSING POWER. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENT…
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DT: THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. LOST POWER WHEN SHIFTING FROM THIRD TO FOURTH GEAR 80% OF THE TIME. THE STC LIGHT COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME WHEN LOSING POWER. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. CHECKED THE SENSORS AND LET THE DEALER KNOW IT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN .THEN THEY SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A MODULE. THIS HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2004.*AK *JB
DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND OPERATED POORLY DUE TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. *AK *JB
DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER. DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. *AK *JB
THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ON OUR VEHICLE HAS CAUSED US TO ENCOUNTER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. IN JANUARY, 2004, THE ETS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE WE COULD DRIVE THE 60 MILES TO THE NEAREST VOLVO SERVICE CENTER, OUR CAR WAS SPUTTERING AND SURGING AND LOSING POWER ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. THIS WAS …
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THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ON OUR VEHICLE HAS CAUSED US TO ENCOUNTER HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. IN JANUARY, 2004, THE ETS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND BEFORE WE COULD DRIVE THE 60 MILES TO THE NEAREST VOLVO SERVICE CENTER, OUR CAR WAS SPUTTERING AND SURGING AND LOSING POWER ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. THIS WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR US TO BE IN. THE REPAIR THAT WAS MADE INVOLVED INSTALLING A USED PART BECAUSE OF COMPUTER RELATED PROBLEMS (WHICH IS ANOTHER STORY AND A COMPLAINT TO VOLVO). NOW, 20 MONTHS LATER, THAT USED PART HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND PUT US IN A SIMILAR HAZARDOUS SITUATION (NOT TO MENTION AN INCONVENIENT SITUATION) AGAIN. WHEN THESE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULES MALFUNCTION, THERE IS LITTLE NOTICE AND THE RESULTS CAN BE SERIOUS WHEN THEY OCCUR AS YOU ARE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. *JB
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.