NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
199 reports110,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005
Electrical System
CAR HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION LOST COMPLETE POWER AND WILL BASICALLY JUST IDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WILL STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP AS WELL AS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUME AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT SHOP FOR REPAIR WITH ESTIMATE OVER $1…
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CAR HAS ON NUMEROUS OCCASION LOST COMPLETE POWER AND WILL BASICALLY JUST IDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH WILL STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP AS WELL AS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HAS ALMOST RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO HIGH TRAFFIC VOLUME AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT SHOP FOR REPAIR WITH ESTIMATE OVER $1000. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140083
62,208 miles · Oct 14, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL ODOR IN VEHICLE, AND FUEL LEAKING UNDER VEHICLE. FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS STRESS CRACKED AT FUEL PRESSURE LINE. FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY REQUIRED TO REPAIR LEAK. REPLACED FUEL PUMP. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10139681
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2005
Electrical SystemCrash
HAD TAKEN MY S80 TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES COMPLAINING OF ENGINE HESITATION AND STALLING. VOLVO"S DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SYSTEM "VADIS" OUTPUT CODES CLEARLY SHOWED DEFAULT CODES INDICATING A FAULTY MODULE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS STEADFASTLY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE MODULE "DUE TO COST". I WARNED HIM OF THE POTE…
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HAD TAKEN MY S80 TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP A NUMBER OF TIMES COMPLAINING OF ENGINE HESITATION AND STALLING. VOLVO"S DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER SYSTEM "VADIS" OUTPUT CODES CLEARLY SHOWED DEFAULT CODES INDICATING A FAULTY MODULE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS STEADFASTLY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE MODULE "DUE TO COST". I WARNED HIM OF THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE WITH UNRELIABLE ENGINE FIRING AND THE ASSOCIATED "STALLING" THAT OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS TO HIM ABOUT THE DANGER THAT THIS PROBLEM PRESENTED FOR ME AND OTHER VEHICLES WHICH I HAD EXPERIENCED DURING PREVIOUS "STALLINGS". UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER TREMENDOUS RESEARCH AND A NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS BEFORE I COULD BRING THIS INFO TO BEAR TO FORCE THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY I EXPERIENCED A "STALLING" EVENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHICH LEAD TO A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT,RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138995
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
66,000 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Electrical System
VEHICLE SURGES IN RPM WHILE DRIVING,VEHICLE STARTED BY NO ACCELERATION WARNING LIGHT ON ENGINE MALFUNCTION. SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10137671
147,000 miles · Sep 25, 2005
Electrical System
1,2) VOLVO S80 STALLED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH IN RUSH HOUR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. CAR LOST POWER, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, POWER STEERING LOST; SHE GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD JUST IN TIME BEFORE A ONE-LANE CONSTRUCTION BARRIER; OTHERWISE, TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN BACKED UP FOR MILES FOR A LONG TIME (THERE WAS…
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1,2) VOLVO S80 STALLED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH IN RUSH HOUR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. CAR LOST POWER, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, POWER STEERING LOST; SHE GOT THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD JUST IN TIME BEFORE A ONE-LANE CONSTRUCTION BARRIER; OTHERWISE, TRAFFIC WOULD HAVE BEEN BACKED UP FOR MILES FOR A LONG TIME (THERE WAS NO TURN AROUND AVAILABLE FOR TOW-TRUCK IN THIS PART OF THE INTERSTATE, THE TOW-TRUCK WOULD HAVE HAD TO BACK UP THE HIGHWAY OR TRY TO MAKE IT UP THE GRASSY DIVIDER EMBANKMENT TO GET TO HER STALLED CAR. LUCK WAS ON HER SIDE; NO INJURIES, AND NO BLOCKED TRAFFIC-THIS TIME. 3) CAR TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER, WHERE IT RESTARTED. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, RESET SENSORS AND REPLACED A VACUUM HOSE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS CAR HAS A DEFECTIVE ETM VALVE AND THAT THE CAR IS STILL A DANGER TO DRIVE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10137523
100,575 miles · Sep 22, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
(1) ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE VOLVO S80 HAS HAD SHUTTERING OF THE ENGINE AT IDLE. (2) ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE VOLVO S80 HAS PLACED THE OCCUPANTS AT RISK OF BODILY INJURY DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. (3) THE VOLVO S80 HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS - THE FIRST OCC…
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(1) ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE VOLVO S80 HAS HAD SHUTTERING OF THE ENGINE AT IDLE. (2) ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION THE VOLVO S80 HAS PLACED THE OCCUPANTS AT RISK OF BODILY INJURY DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER AND SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. (3) THE VOLVO S80 HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS - THE FIRST OCCASION, I BELIEVE THE THROTTLE BODY COMPONENTS WERE CLEANED AND THE WARNING LIGHT RESET - THE SECOND AND LATEST VISIT, ON SEPT 21, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $850 AND THAT MY ABS BRAKE MODULE ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $830.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10137272
41,000 miles · Sep 15, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
EMT FAILURE IN 1999 S80T6 VOLVO. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 2 WEEKS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR >$900. THE NEXT TIME W/IN 2 WEEKS IT LOST POWER AND THEY REPLACED THE EMT >$1000. ONLY 41K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136599
50,605 miles · Sep 14, 2005
Electrical System
I PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO S80 ON AUGUST 30, 2005. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR WOULD RACE AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE NEXT DAY, IT RAN ROUGH IN MY DRIVE WAY WHILE IT IDLED. I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN MEMPHIS. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A ETM AND AIR FLOW METER. THESE WERE REPLACED AT A CO…
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I PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO S80 ON AUGUST 30, 2005. WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR WOULD RACE AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE NEXT DAY, IT RAN ROUGH IN MY DRIVE WAY WHILE IT IDLED. I TOOK IT DIRECTLY TO THE VOLVO DEALER IN MEMPHIS. THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED A ETM AND AIR FLOW METER. THESE WERE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $848.21 PARTS AND LABOR. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136510
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
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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