NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
33 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 19, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CHECK ENGINE AND URGENT LIGHT HAVE BEEN POPPING ON. I HAVE TO GO TO MY MACHANIC (WHO IS VOLVO CERTIFIED) TO HAVE THEM TURN OFF. BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MORE FREQUENT NOW. FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, WHEN I START THE CAR, IT HESITATES AND RUNS ROUGH, LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPE…
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FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CHECK ENGINE AND URGENT LIGHT HAVE BEEN POPPING ON. I HAVE TO GO TO MY MACHANIC (WHO IS VOLVO CERTIFIED) TO HAVE THEM TURN OFF. BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON MORE FREQUENT NOW. FOR THE PAST 6 MONTHS, WHEN I START THE CAR, IT HESITATES AND RUNS ROUGH, LIKE IT IS GOING TO STALL. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY MACHANIC SAID IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. TODAY 10/19/06 I BROUGHT IT TO MY MACANIC AGAIN, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE MODULE AND THE 1999 S80 'S ARE HAVING ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BEFORE IT GETS WORSE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10171355
75,000 miles · May 22, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE GOING TO 700 RPMS WHEN GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS. THE SOLENOID WENT OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 13000 MILES AGO. CURRENTLY I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ERROR COD…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE GOING TO 700 RPMS WHEN GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS. THE SOLENOID WENT OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 13000 MILES AGO. CURRENTLY I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ERROR CODES "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT", LOW OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE ASAP", AND "EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED". I HAVE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. NM
NHTSA ODI #10158043
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
1999 VOLVO S80 T6 3/08/06 REPLACED TRANSMISSION ( 75,000 MILES) ( $4,800) 08/05 REPLACE RADIATOR 08/05 REPLACED ETM 04 - REPLACED FRONT SUSPENSION / SWAY BARS / STRUTS/ ETC.. VOLVO UNDER ENGINEERED THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR AND IF YOU GO TO WEB BLOGS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY 1999 - 2000 S-80 VEHICLE... ITS DISGUSTING THAT …
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1999 VOLVO S80 T6 3/08/06 REPLACED TRANSMISSION ( 75,000 MILES) ( $4,800) 08/05 REPLACE RADIATOR 08/05 REPLACED ETM 04 - REPLACED FRONT SUSPENSION / SWAY BARS / STRUTS/ ETC.. VOLVO UNDER ENGINEERED THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR AND IF YOU GO TO WEB BLOGS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY 1999 - 2000 S-80 VEHICLE... ITS DISGUSTING THAT THIS CAR IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OR FORD/ VOLVO ISN'T HELD LIABLE...*JB
NHTSA ODI #10152819
70,000 miles · Jan 13, 2006
Electronic Stability ControlEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS ACTIVATING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10147731
64,000 miles · Nov 2, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
ENGINE MISS FIRING AND EMISSION LIGHT ON. LATER ENGINE RUNNING GOOD BUT CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND TEXT MESSAGE 'ENGINE SYSTEM FIX NEXT SERVICE' WITH ORANGE WARNING LIGHT ON. TOOK TO VOLVO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ETM FOR NO CHARGE. THEY KEPT THE OLD PART BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ONE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10141529
53,000 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A VOLVO S80 VEHICLE. IT INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/ DIED, AND LOST POWER. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILED AND WAS CLEANED THREE TIMES. *AK THE LINE SEAL AND GASKET WERE REPLACED DUE TO AN OIL LEAK. THE TOP ENGINE TORQUE ARM WAS CRACKED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132993
75,700 miles · Sep 11, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM, MY ENGINE ABRUPTLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. UPON EACH ATTEMPT TO RESTART, THE ENGINE WOULD ACTUALLY RUN ROUGHLY FOR 1-2 SECONDS AND THEN STALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED…
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ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM, MY ENGINE ABRUPTLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. UPON EACH ATTEMPT TO RESTART, THE ENGINE WOULD ACTUALLY RUN ROUGHLY FOR 1-2 SECONDS AND THEN STALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED ABOUT 35 MILES TO MY VOLVO DEALER. WHEN IT ARRIVED, IT STARTED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE LAST TIME, THE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. I AM AWARE THAT VOLVO SUSPECTS THE THROTTLE BODY IN THESE MATTERS. MINE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED! *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136123
142,000 miles · Aug 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: CONTACT STATES: ON 7-8-05 WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A SPUTTERING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURST OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE FUEL PIPE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER., WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10133792
51,928 miles · Aug 3, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT;VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER, AND OPERATED ON REDUCED SPEED. PCV FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10131256
169,836 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S80 WHICH I DRIVE FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. ON AUGUST 17, 2004 THE VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WOULD BARELY RUN, EVEN WITH FULL THROTTLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO OF LOUISVILLE, KY. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY . APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER, HAD SAME OCCURRENCE. CAR STALLED AT HIGHWA…
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I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S80 WHICH I DRIVE FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. ON AUGUST 17, 2004 THE VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WOULD BARELY RUN, EVEN WITH FULL THROTTLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO OF LOUISVILLE, KY. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY . APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER, HAD SAME OCCURRENCE. CAR STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER, CENTURY VOLVO HUNTSVILLE, AL. THEY EXAMINED IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING FOR THEM. THEY KEPT VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I HAD A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE AGAIN APPROX. 5 DAYS LATER. INSTEAD OF HAVING VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN, THE SERVICE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR MIGHT "RESET" IF LEFT FOR 2-3 HOURS. I LEFT CAR ON ROADSIDE OVERNIGHT AND HAD MY WIFE COME PICK ME UP. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. I HAD ANOTHER OCCURRENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON OCTOBER 26, 2004. VEHICLE TOWED TO ROYAL VOLVO IN BIRMINGHAM. BY THE TIME THEY EXAMINED IT, VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MALFUNCTIONING. THEY KEPT IT RUNNING UNDER LOAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THERE WERE NO COMPUTER FAULT CODES FOUND THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT CENTRURY VOLVO HAD FOUND AND ADVISED ME OF EARLIER. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A LOT OF CONCERN THROUGH THE WINTER. IT WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAD ANOTHER OCCURRENCE IN MAY 2005. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME BY ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR 20-30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD DRIVE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFORE GOING BAD AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I PARKED THE CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING MY SECONDARY VEHICLE (A 94 VOLVO 960). UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE ON JULY 29, 2005 WHICH FORCED ME TO DRIVE THE 99 S80 AGAIN. IT STALLED OUT AGAIN TODAY (SECOND DAY DRIVEN). I'VE HAD IT TOWED TO CENTURY VOLVO IN HUNTSVILLE AGAIN. MY SALESMAN SHOWED ME AN ARTICLE IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPER REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131203
Official recalls
4Nov 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.
Sep 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Apr 7, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN ELECTRIC COOLING FANS COULD BE INADEQUATE IN A HOT CLIMATE. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN COMPONENTS COULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE MELTING OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Aug 24, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OVER TIME, THE BALL JOINT BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL KING PIN AND THE SUSPENSION LINK ARM, CAN EXPERIENCE INCREASED LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT THE BALL JOINT'S DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS.
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
2EA05021 · 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.
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