NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
68 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Mar 27, 2015
Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsVisibility
MY DRIVER SEAT BELT JUST LOCKED UP AND I AM UNABLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ALL OF THE HOUSING INSIDE CAR APPEARS TO BE CRACKING. I HAVE HAD THE TWO FRONT WINDOWS REPAIRED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN LET MY FRONT WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE ALSO PAID TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED. NOT TO MENTION HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HA…
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MY DRIVER SEAT BELT JUST LOCKED UP AND I AM UNABLE TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ALL OF THE HOUSING INSIDE CAR APPEARS TO BE CRACKING. I HAVE HAD THE TWO FRONT WINDOWS REPAIRED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND NOW I CAN'T EVEN LET MY FRONT WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE ALSO PAID TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPAIRED. NOT TO MENTION HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702125
63,000 miles · Dec 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM THE VOLVO DEALER LAST WINTER IT HAS STALLED ON ME AT LOW RPMS IT ALSO SURGES FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT CARS IN FRONT OF ME I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THEM AND THE DEALERS TOLD ME ITS NORMAL BECAUSE ITS FUEL INJECTED AND THEY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441243
110,000 miles · Dec 13, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire
DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT NIGHT, EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY COASTED TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP. UPON STOPPING OBSERVED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE CAR. NOTICED A FLAME UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE FRONT…
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DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT NIGHT, EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. FORTUNATELY COASTED TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP. UPON STOPPING OBSERVED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE EDGES OF THE HOOD. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND EXITED THE CAR. NOTICED A FLAME UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WITHIN ONE MINUTE THE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED IN A BRIGHT YELLOW FIREBALL ESTIMATED TO BE 20 FEET HIGH. IT BURNED UNTIL THE FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED 20 MINUTES LATER. THE HEAT WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE. THE HOOD VAPORIZED, METAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE MELTED, TIRES EXPLODED. CAR HAD A FULL TANK OF GAS AND STRONGLY SUSPECT MALFUNCTION OF FUEL SYSTEM. HAD WE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN FOUR FATALITIES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439772
144,400 miles · Oct 29, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING IN THE CITY AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BRAKES BECAME HARD AND ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING WELL. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE OFF IN THE GREEN LIGHT THE SPEED CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL WAS VERY CHAOTIC. I GOT A MESSAGE OF ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED A FA…
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DRIVING IN THE CITY AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BRAKES BECAME HARD AND ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING WELL. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE OFF IN THE GREEN LIGHT THE SPEED CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL WAS VERY CHAOTIC. I GOT A MESSAGE OF ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED A FAULTY THROTTLE ETM ASKING 2000 $ TO REPLACE. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ON THAT BY VOLVO AND WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER HE SAID THAT THIS WAS TRUE BUT MY CAR WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD ( ALTHOUGH HE COULD HAVE INFORMED ME ABOUT THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE). HE INFORMED ME THAT A SOFTWARE SERVICE ON THE ETM OF MY CAR WAS DONE IN 2006 ( AFTER THE RECALL?) BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ETM DESIGN ( FALTERING POTENTIOMETER). THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE JUNKYARD, BUT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED BY ALL VOLVOS REMAINING ON THE STREET WITH FAULTY ETM'S, WHICH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED AT NHTSA SHOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10433515
130,000 miles · Jan 24, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURES OCCURRED I…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. UPON RESTART THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LONGER START AT ALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
NHTSA ODI #10378455
115,300 miles · May 26, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY SURGE/HESITATE AND STALLS AT LOW REVS. THIS STARTED MAYBE ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE PROBLEMS EVEN AT HIGH REVS. THE PROBLEM CULMINATED ON MAY 17TH 2009 OR THERE ABOUT WHEN I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE MIDDLE AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THERE WAS A SLOWER VEHICLE…
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THE VEHICLE SPORADICALLY SURGE/HESITATE AND STALLS AT LOW REVS. THIS STARTED MAYBE ABOUT HALF A YEAR AGO AND HAS GOTTEN WORSE WITH THE PROBLEMS EVEN AT HIGH REVS. THE PROBLEM CULMINATED ON MAY 17TH 2009 OR THERE ABOUT WHEN I NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE MIDDLE AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THERE WAS A SLOWER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I ACCELERATED TO TRY TO PASS THE VEHICLE ON THE FAST LANE. THE VEHICLE DID PICK UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WENT ON A LIMP MODE EVEN I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST JUST SIDE BY SIDE TO THE SLOWER VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE NEXT THING I HEARD WAS A LOUD CONTINUOUS HORNING AND SCREECHING OF BRAKES OF A CAR BEHIND ME ON THE FAST LANE.. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND PERFORM SERVICE WELL ABOVE AS WHAT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED. BASED ON VARIOUS INFO. SOURCES, THE PROBLEM IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO CAR THAT HAS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269931
94,000 miles · Mar 13, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 S80 VOLVO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY, CAR STALLING OF THE FREEWAY WITH CHILDREN IN CAR. VOLVO MALUFACTOR DEFECTED PART AND THEY CONTINUE TO CHARGE THEIR CUSTOMER FOR PARTS AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS DEFECTED PART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261718
66,000 miles · Dec 23, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
DRIVING ALONG DOWN AN INTERSTATE I HIT THE GAS TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WHEN MY TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF GEAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED I HAD NO POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT IS KICKING BACK IN BUT I CAN NOT DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH OR ABOVE 3000 RPM OR IT …
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DRIVING ALONG DOWN AN INTERSTATE I HIT THE GAS TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WHEN MY TRANSMISSION CAME OUT OF GEAR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON I LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED I HAD NO POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT IS KICKING BACK IN BUT I CAN NOT DRIVE ABOVE 20 MPH OR ABOVE 3000 RPM OR IT WILL SLIP OUT AND RED LINE ALSO MY ENGINE MOUNT HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME WHEN IT SLIPPED OUT MY S 80 T6 IS BECOMING A PAPER WEIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252698
108,000 miles · Dec 11, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS A BENEFICIARY OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE MODULE IN THE ENGINE. THE VOLVO DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE WARRANTY LAWSUIT. THE LAWSUIT WILL EXPIRE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE BECOMES TEN YEARS OLD OR REACHES 200,000 …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS A BENEFICIARY OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE MODULE IN THE ENGINE. THE VOLVO DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE DUE TO THE WARRANTY LAWSUIT. THE LAWSUIT WILL EXPIRE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE BECOMES TEN YEARS OLD OR REACHES 200,000 MILES. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SURGE FROM FAST TO SLOW OR VICE VERSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO DEALER NEARBY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THEY DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #10251455
78,000 miles · Nov 12, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO STATED THAT THE COOLING FAN CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CONTACT'S …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO STATED THAT THE COOLING FAN CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CONTACT'S MECHANIC INFORMED HIM OF A RECALL REGARDING THE COOLING FAN. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 78,000.
NHTSA ODI #10248573
Official recalls
4Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
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.
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.
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.