WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER
1999 Volvo S80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S80 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Volvo S80 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S80 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
120 reports with mileage · 79 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 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
53 reportsECM
WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED…
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WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND A SWEET ODOR FROM THE VENTS WAS NOTICED WITH A SMOKE . WE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT SUCCESS . ALSO NOTICED AN NO OIL PRESSURE READ ON DASH ONLY WHEN WE WERE NOT IN ACCELERATION. THIS DISAPPEAR WHEN UPON ACCELERATION AND RETURNED WHEN IDLING. WE SERVICED THE OIL FILTER THE FLUIDS PERFORMED A MOTOR FLUSH FIRST AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS AND CONTINUE OF THE CODE RETURNS AFTER PERFORMING A DRIVE CYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. WE ARE CONVINCED THIS IS CAUSED BY THE RECALL #R155. THANK YOU FOR HELP IN REPAIRING THIS ISSUE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL#06V441000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I AM WRITING YOU TODAY IN REGARD OF A RECALL FOR MY 1999 VOLVO S80'S ETM (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE). IN 2006, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN WHICH VOLVO AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE ETM TO 10 YEARS OR 200,000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY FATHER. MY FATHER OWNED THE CAR…
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I AM WRITING YOU TODAY IN REGARD OF A RECALL FOR MY 1999 VOLVO S80'S ETM (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE). IN 2006, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN WHICH VOLVO AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY OF THE ETM TO 10 YEARS OR 200,000 MILES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY FATHER. MY FATHER OWNED THE CAR SINCE 2007, AND HAD FRUSTRATINGLY SPENT A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $7,000 IN (DOCUMENTED) REPAIRS. HE NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THIS RECALL AND WOULD HAVE UNDOUBTEDLY MADE THAT REPAIR KNOWING THE PART WAS RECALLED AND THERE WAS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CAR AS OF NOW HAS UNDER 126,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY SINCE 2009. VOLVO WILL COVER A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR FREE, BUT IN THE EVENT THE SOFTWARE PATCH FAILS, THE REPAIR WILL COST IN UPWARDS OF $1000. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ON MY BEHALF TO GET THAT REPAIR TAKEN CARE OF SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER : 155 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER : 10019595 COMPONENT : VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DATE OF BULLETIN : MAR 20, 2006 I SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT FELT A THUMP FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP OR DECELERATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DEGRADED. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT FELT A THUMP FROM THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER SHE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP OR DECELERATED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSULATION SURROUNDING THE WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WERE DEGRADED. THE VEHICLE ALSO DISPLAYED DIFFICULTY WHEN SHIFTING INTO FOURTH GEAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM 40 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS 00V238000 (SUSPENSION: FRONT: CONTROL ARM: UPPER BALL JOINT), 02V096000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: COOLING SYSTEM: FAN), AND 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,100.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THERE WAS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE RPMS INCREASED FROM 700 TO 4000. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED O…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THERE WAS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE RPMS INCREASED FROM 700 TO 4000. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE RPMS INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THREE TIMES AND THEN BACK ON IN ORDER TO RESET ITSELF. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,044.
1999 VOLVO S 80. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL LIGHT LEVELS ON A REPEATED BASIS. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS, WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT AP…
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1999 VOLVO S 80. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL LIGHT LEVELS ON A REPEATED BASIS. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS, WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WITHOUT APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR AND AT TIMES WOULD ALMOST COME TO A COMPLETE STALL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AS HE ENTERED THE INTERSTATE ON ENTRANCE RAMPS DUE TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE STALLING OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE ETM HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER ABOUT A RECALL AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLVO, HE WAS TOLD HIS VEHICLE WAS UPDATED IN AUGUST 2008 AND THEY WOULDN'T ASSIST ANY FURTHER. *JB
1999 VOLVO S80. CONSUMER STATES RECEIPT OF LETTER THAT STATES A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE THE ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES WITHOUT WARNING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE NOR PREVENT UNSAFE…
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1999 VOLVO S80. CONSUMER STATES RECEIPT OF LETTER THAT STATES A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE THE ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES WITHOUT WARNING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE NOR PREVENT UNSAFE SITUATIONS. THE DEALER EVEN CLEANED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE IN HOPES OF RESOLVING THE SUDDEN SURGES, ACCELERATION AND ENGINE REVVING THAT WAS OCCURRING, BUT TO NO AVAIL. ULTIMATELY, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS NOT EFFECTIVE. *JB
VOLVO S80 STALLS AT SPEED, COMPANY WON'T HONOR EXTENDED WARRANTY *CN
Official recalls
406V441000 · 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.
04V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
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.
02V096000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
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.
00V238000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
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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