NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
33 reportsClear category filter93,780 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 1999 S-80 VOLVO LOST POWER TEMPORARILY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. SEVERAL OF THE CARS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED AND BRAKE SERVICE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY TYPE MESSAGES. THE VOLVO DEALER JUST REPLACE THE ABS MODULE AND SEVERAL COIL PACKETS AND SPARK PLUGS. A COUPL…
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MY 1999 S-80 VOLVO LOST POWER TEMPORARILY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. SEVERAL OF THE CARS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED AND BRAKE SERVICE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY TYPE MESSAGES. THE VOLVO DEALER JUST REPLACE THE ABS MODULE AND SEVERAL COIL PACKETS AND SPARK PLUGS. A COUPLE OF OLD PARTS WERE LEFT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE PARTS ARE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131165
100,000 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR IS STALLING AND IDLING IRREGULARLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131112
73,000 miles · Aug 1, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING OF ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED CAR SAFELY OFF ROAD. CAR RESTARTED. BROUGHT CAR TO VOLVO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10130940
64,832 miles · Mar 24, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
VOLVO S80 T6 1999. DEFECTIVE ETM (THROTTLE MODULE OR THROTTLE UNIT). THIS MODULE FAILED AT ONLY 64,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER VOLVO WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOSY EVERY OWNER OF THIS MODEL YEAR. I'M ASKING FOR VOLVO TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST (PARTS AND LABOR). THE FAILURE OF THIS UNIT COULD CAUSE …
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VOLVO S80 T6 1999. DEFECTIVE ETM (THROTTLE MODULE OR THROTTLE UNIT). THIS MODULE FAILED AT ONLY 64,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER VOLVO WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOSY EVERY OWNER OF THIS MODEL YEAR. I'M ASKING FOR VOLVO TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST (PARTS AND LABOR). THE FAILURE OF THIS UNIT COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY AND/OR DEATH AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL DIE AT ANY SPEED AND ANYWHERE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACEMENT COST IS OVER $1000.
NHTSA ODI #10114624
31,000 miles · Feb 18, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059235
57,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET O…
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I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET OUT OF TIME WHICH CAUSED ALL THE INTAKE VALVES TO BE BE BENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO OF AMERICA. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BELT WAS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 60,000 MILES , THE CAR WAS STILL OUT OF WARRANTY AND SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE IT FROM THE VOLVO DEALER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. I AGAIN CONTACTED VOLVO AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT SINCE THE BELT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 30000 MILES THAT THERE WAS AN IMPLIED WARRENTY AND VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
NHTSA ODI #10070071
4,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND LOW SPEEDS, APPARENTLY VOLVO KNOWS THAT THERE IS A BAD COMPUTER CHIP IN MANY OF THE CARS BUT DOES NOT ADMIT TO IT BECAUSE IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE THE CHIP. I FOUND THIS OUT FROM ANOTHER VOLVO DRIVER!
NHTSA ODI #10069358
34,000 miles · Dec 8, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY 1999 VOLVO S-80 T-6 SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. SERVICING DOES NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT, SO I HAVE BEGUN TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE LIGHT. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS PROPERLY FOR 20,000 THEN BEGINS TO OSCILLATE UPAND…
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MY 1999 VOLVO S-80 T-6 SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. SERVICING DOES NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT, SO I HAVE BEGUN TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE LIGHT. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS PROPERLY FOR 20,000 THEN BEGINS TO OSCILLATE UPAND DOWN BY 200-300 RMPS AT IDLE. THIS SEEMS MINOR, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SLOWED TO IDLE AND THEN SPED UP JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP. THE HIGHER RPM CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE INTO THE INTERSECTION. IF ANOTHER CAR HAD BEEN APPROACHING, IT WOULD HAVE STRUCK MY CAR. I ASKED MY WIFE (THIS IS HER PRIMARY CAR)IF SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE SAID SHE HAD SEVERAL TIMES. I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT MANY VOLVO OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME RPM AND ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME NEAR ACCIDENT I DID, BUT I MUST ASSUME THEY HAVE. HAVE YOU RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS VOLVO BEEN NOTIFIED? I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM. THE WORDS ON THE INTERNET TELL ME THEY ARE MISTAKEN. SOME ONE COULD GET KILLED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10049436
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE SUFFERS COMPLETE SHUTDOWN AT 30-40MPH. OCCURS 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR LAST 3-4 MONTHS. DEALER CAN FIND NO PROBLEM AND HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM HOWEVER I SEE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT THIS DATABASE AND ALSO WWW.CARREVIEW.COM. ENGINE WILL RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM HOWEVER OBVIOUS…
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ENGINE SUFFERS COMPLETE SHUTDOWN AT 30-40MPH. OCCURS 3-4 TIMES A WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR LAST 3-4 MONTHS. DEALER CAN FIND NO PROBLEM AND HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM HOWEVER I SEE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO THIS EXACT PROBLEM AT THIS DATABASE AND ALSO WWW.CARREVIEW.COM. ENGINE WILL RESTART WITH NO PROBLEM HOWEVER OBVIOUSLY WHEN ENGINE STOPS ALL POWER TO BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEM IS LOST. ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN COASTING, TYPICALLY DOWN LOW GRADE, AND TAKING A CORNER. I BELIEVE ISSUE IS TIED TO POWER STEERING, CLIMATE CONTROL AND LOW RPM (OR COMBO THEREOF) AS AT THIS SPEED THE TACHOMETER SWINGS WILDLY BETWEEN 400 AND 1200 RPM THOUGH SPEED IS STEADY (POSSIBLE EMISSION CONTROL ISSUE).*AK
NHTSA ODI #764181
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
THE LEFT REAR BUSHINGS FAILED CAUSING A RUBBING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP. NLM
NHTSA ODI #566698
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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