MONTHS PRIOR TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT , AT MY COST, 1999 VOLVO S80T (@85K MILES) ENGINE IDLE SURGING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY OCCURRED, REQUIRING RESTARTING CAR WHEN IT STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEW THROTTLE(GAS PEDAL) WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. LASTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTE…
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MONTHS PRIOR TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT , AT MY COST, 1999 VOLVO S80T (@85K MILES) ENGINE IDLE SURGING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY OCCURRED, REQUIRING RESTARTING CAR WHEN IT STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEW THROTTLE(GAS PEDAL) WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. LASTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATED BEYOND 20 MPH(LIMP HOME MODE) AND VOLVO DEALER REPLACED ETM TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE, THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED(UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) BECAUSE A MULTITUDE OF WARNING LIGHTS WERE OCCURRING (ABS, BRAKES, POWER STEERING). WHILE I'M LISTING FAILURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED(UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134845
78,000 miles · Aug 26, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIFT SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE INDICATOR LIGHT READ FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. THE CAR SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED, BUT HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME ACCELER…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIFT SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE INDICATOR LIGHT READ FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. THE CAR SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED, BUT HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. MY SON-IN-LAW, A MECHANIC, BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLES (VOLVO). I HAVE NOT AS YET HAD THE MODULE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134327
88,000 miles · Aug 25, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. RECENTLY WHEN IDLING, THE ENGINE RPM'S HAVE SURGED FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1400 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CURRENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THE ENGINE SURGES FROM ABOUT 700 TO AP…
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THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. RECENTLY WHEN IDLING, THE ENGINE RPM'S HAVE SURGED FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1400 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CURRENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THE ENGINE SURGES FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1000. WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL VOLVO DEALER SERVICE PERSON, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10134206
80,000 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT:VEHICKE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10133059
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT:VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER AND DIED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10131356
73,000 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED CAR OFF ROAD SAFELY. ENGINE RESTARTED. BROUGHT CAR TO VOLVO DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10130941
96 miles · Oct 3, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THER…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THERE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALER DOSE NOT HAVE ON THE REPAIR (CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY) *AK
NHTSA ODI #10093515
4,000 miles · Feb 28, 2004
Exterior LightingPower TrainSteering
VEHICLE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYES: ABS SYSTEM FAILURE/SERVICING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE POWER STEERING SERVICE EMISSIONS CONTROL SERVICE ALSO, THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT/FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INOP HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT COM…
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VEHICLE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYES: ABS SYSTEM FAILURE/SERVICING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE POWER STEERING SERVICE EMISSIONS CONTROL SERVICE ALSO, THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT/FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INOP HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT COMMANDED ETC. INCIDENT DATE--THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP . *AK
NHTSA ODI #10059976
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
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.
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.
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.
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
2
EA05021 · 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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