NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
68 reportsClear category filter55,000 miles · Jul 6, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
2000 S80 VOLVO HAS DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ACCORDING TO VOLVO REPAIR CENTER. THIS IS A KNOW AND WIDE SPREAD DEFECT. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SURGE SPORADICALLY OR TO DIE. VOLVO HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ALL SERVICE CENTERS ADVISING THEM OF THE DEFECT. VOLVO WILL NOT REPLACE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR THOSE AUTO OUT OF WARRANTY. …
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2000 S80 VOLVO HAS DEFECTIVE THROTTLE BODY ACCORDING TO VOLVO REPAIR CENTER. THIS IS A KNOW AND WIDE SPREAD DEFECT. IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SURGE SPORADICALLY OR TO DIE. VOLVO HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ALL SERVICE CENTERS ADVISING THEM OF THE DEFECT. VOLVO WILL NOT REPLACE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOR THOSE AUTO OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10080421
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING,MOSTLY ON TURNS.BUT A FEW TIMES ON A STRAIGHT AWAY. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALESRHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SELLING THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT OUR PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10078824
92,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
CONTINUOUS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR DIES ON ROAD. GET FIXED, THEN AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. RAN INTO A PERSON WHO VOLVO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON AND SHE WAS INJURED. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, CAR "DIED." I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP & I HAD TO RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. HA…
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CONTINUOUS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR DIES ON ROAD. GET FIXED, THEN AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. RAN INTO A PERSON WHO VOLVO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON AND SHE WAS INJURED. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, CAR "DIED." I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP & I HAD TO RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. HAD TO GET A "JUMP START" TO GET HOME. CAR IS UNSAFE. RETURNED TO VOLVO. ALSO HAD STEERING WHEEL THAT SHAKES AT HIGWAY SPEEDS, ALARM THAT WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING, & WOULDN'T START, REMOTE DOOR OPENER DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED ON & OFF -- SAID IT WAS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10069650
60,500 miles · Jan 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
VOLVO 2000 S80 T6 - 61000 MILES "VENT BOX SEALS LEAKING OIL".*AK
NHTSA ODI #10052441
85,000 miles · Sep 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR OVERHEATS WHILE DRIVING BELOW 15 MILES PER HOUR OR STOPPED IN WARM WEATHER. INDICATOR LIGHTS TELL YOU TO TURN OF THE ENGINE. TEMPERATURE GUAGE PEGGED IN THE RED ZONE. RADIATOR FLUID BOILS OUT WHEN YOU TURN OF THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 1999 S80'S (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V096000 ) HAVE. UNF…
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CAR OVERHEATS WHILE DRIVING BELOW 15 MILES PER HOUR OR STOPPED IN WARM WEATHER. INDICATOR LIGHTS TELL YOU TO TURN OF THE ENGINE. TEMPERATURE GUAGE PEGGED IN THE RED ZONE. RADIATOR FLUID BOILS OUT WHEN YOU TURN OF THE CAR. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 1999 S80'S (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 02V096000 ) HAVE. UNFORTUNATLY MY CAR WAS PRODUCED 2 MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10039399
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE, THEY CLAIM THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE COULDN'T BE DETERMINED. THE ENGINE WAS SEVERELY MELTED. *AK *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10022631
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10022129
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AFTER STOPPING. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10022054
Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES HIS VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, HAPPENED ON NOVEMBER 8, DECEMBER 15, AND 24 DEALER HAS INSPECTED THREE TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #10001697
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE ENGINE SHUT CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. MR
NHTSA ODI #8020498
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.