NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports10,000 miles · Jan 21, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineInjury
MY 2000 VOLVO S80 T6 ETM THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS I BOUGHT A CEM THEY SAID CAR WOULDN'T WORK WITHOUT IT. SO THEY FIXED IT TO A TUNE OF $900.00 FOR CEM SO I CHARGED IT BACK ON MY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE IT'S ALL COVERED ON ETM UPDATE. IN THE MORNING THE CAR STILL REVS MORE I WANT VOLVO TO BUY THIS CAR BACK FROM ME BECAU…
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MY 2000 VOLVO S80 T6 ETM THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT UNLESS I BOUGHT A CEM THEY SAID CAR WOULDN'T WORK WITHOUT IT. SO THEY FIXED IT TO A TUNE OF $900.00 FOR CEM SO I CHARGED IT BACK ON MY CREDIT CARD BECAUSE IT'S ALL COVERED ON ETM UPDATE. IN THE MORNING THE CAR STILL REVS MORE I WANT VOLVO TO BUY THIS CAR BACK FROM ME BECAUSE NO ONE INFORMED ME OF THIS PROBLEMS. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME OLD CEM I ASKED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10179282
95,000 miles · Dec 27, 2006
Latches/locks/linkagesSeat BeltsStructureCrash
TL* - THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STATES THAT IT WAS WINDY AND THAT THERE WERE LIGHT FLURRIES AT THE TIME. THE REAR BACK BUMPER WAS STRUCK AT AN ANGLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THE REAR BUMPER REPLACED, AND NOW THE VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR DOOR IS NOT LOCKIN…
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TL* - THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY A TRUCK WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE CONTACT STATES THAT IT WAS WINDY AND THAT THERE WERE LIGHT FLURRIES AT THE TIME. THE REAR BACK BUMPER WAS STRUCK AT AN ANGLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS HAD THE REAR BUMPER REPLACED, AND NOW THE VEHICLE'S LEFT REAR DOOR IS NOT LOCKING AND THE SEAT BELTS NOT LATCHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK FROM THE MAIN PANEL AND THAT SHE HAS TO LOCK HER CAR MANUALLY. THE CONTACT STATES THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE DOORS, THE LOCKING MECHANISMS OR, SEAT BELTS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE SEAT BELTS AND THE LOCKING MECHANISM ARE MALFUNCTIONING BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10177094
80,000 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO VEHICLE BEGAN ERRATIC THROTTLE WHILE ON SPEED CONTROL (SURGING). DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE WITH SOFTWARE UPDATE AND TEMPORARILY RESOLVED PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AS WELL A SPONTANEOUS STALLING, AND VERY ERRATIC VARIANCE IN THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION AND ACCELERATION. STALLING HAS OCCURRED WITH THROTTLE…
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APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO VEHICLE BEGAN ERRATIC THROTTLE WHILE ON SPEED CONTROL (SURGING). DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE WITH SOFTWARE UPDATE AND TEMPORARILY RESOLVED PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AS WELL A SPONTANEOUS STALLING, AND VERY ERRATIC VARIANCE IN THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION AND ACCELERATION. STALLING HAS OCCURRED WITH THROTTLE PEDAL RELEASE ENTERING TURN LANE - NO POWER STEERING NOR BRAKE BOOST. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE - CLEANED SENSORS RELATED TO THROTTLE POSITION MODULE - WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. WIFE IS REFUSING TO DRIVE VEHICLE SHE NOW REFERS TO AS SCARY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10175749
45,000 miles · Nov 28, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages
1. FOLLOWING DOWNLOAD OF RECALL SOFTWARE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN VASTLY REDUCED AND NOW ONLY ACHIEVES 8.2 MPG. 2. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY IN THE FAILURE MODE. ABS BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY-REPLACEMENT $950 3. WHILE BACKING (COLD ENGINE), BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL SEC…
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1. FOLLOWING DOWNLOAD OF RECALL SOFTWARE PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN VASTLY REDUCED AND NOW ONLY ACHIEVES 8.2 MPG. 2. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY AND USUALLY IN THE FAILURE MODE. ABS BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY-REPLACEMENT $950 3. WHILE BACKING (COLD ENGINE), BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS (FEET). 4. THE VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY ON TURNS BUT ON STRAIGHT AWAY. A. CAR NOW SHUTS OFF APPROX 6-8 TIMES WHILE DRIVING, DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AT INTERSTATE/HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT "SURGES" FORWARD AND THE LIGHTS (DASH AND HEADLIGHTS) FADE - VEHICLE STALLS WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. 5. CRUISE CONTROL FAILS ?? UP HILLS/DOWN HILLS SHUTS DOWN. NOW IS INOPERABLE. 6. THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY. 7. FOLLOWING ERROR CODES DISPLAY AND TOTAL MILEAGE, TRIP 1 & 2 MILEAGE DISPLAYS DEFAULT TO ?? --------?? AND MILEAGE DOES NOT LOG ON THE ODOMETER: A.BRAKE FAILURE STOP ASAP B.COOLANT LEVEL LOW STOP ASAP C.ABS FAILURE / SERVICE REQUIRED D.STC SERVICE REQUIRED E.POWER STEERING FAILURE - SERVICE REQUIRED F.EMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED G.STOP SAFELY AND RESTART ENGINE H.ALARM SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED I.ALARM TRIGGERED J.EMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED K.NO OIL PRESSURE STOP ASAP L.CHECK ENGINE. *NM THE BALL JOINT, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, SUNROOF SWITCH WERE REPLACED. NUMEROUS BULB REPLACEMENTS AND REPLACEMENT OF MASS FLOW SENSOR. THE COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONED. THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WOULD FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ABS TO NOT FUNCTION. THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INCONSISTENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOOSE POWER WITH THE CRUISE ACTIVATED. THE ELECTRONIC DOORS MALFUNCTIONED, THE FOB DOES NOT ALWAYS OPEN THE DOOR AND AT TIMES WHEN CLOSING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. UPDATED 12/15/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174627
84,900 miles · Nov 15, 2006
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
ERRATIC THROTTLE POST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVE, MUCH ACCELERATION, NOT ENOUGH ACCELERATION, HESITATION, BACKFIRES LEAN. GETS STUCK 2ND GEAR. CEL ON. "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. CRUISE CONTROL IS LOST AND CANNOT BE TURNED BACK ON. OBDII PCODES STORED 10-29-2006 10:21:18.464 READ STORED DTC: P075…
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ERRATIC THROTTLE POST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVE, MUCH ACCELERATION, NOT ENOUGH ACCELERATION, HESITATION, BACKFIRES LEAN. GETS STUCK 2ND GEAR. CEL ON. "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT" WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. CRUISE CONTROL IS LOST AND CANNOT BE TURNED BACK ON. OBDII PCODES STORED 10-29-2006 10:21:18.464 READ STORED DTC: P0756 DTC: P1171 DTC: P1181 DTC: P1618 10-29-2006 10:21:18.474 READ STORED DTC: P1184 10-29-2006 10:21:18.474 READ STORED DTC: P1174 THE FIRST CODE ALWAYS DISPLAYED WHEN THE FAULT OCCURS. SUBSEQUENT CONTINUED DRIVING RESULTS IN THE SECOND CODE PENDING OR PERMANENT. THE REMAINING CODES WILL BE ADDED IN PAIRS. FIRST DEALER REPORTS I HAVE 18 CODES BUT FACTORY VADIS INDICATES CAN ONLY STORE 15 CODES MAXIMUM. REQUESTED ADDITIONAL $300 TO ADJUST FUEL TRIMS, CHECK EXHAUST AND INTAKE LEAKS, CHECK O2 SENSORS, WORK DECLINED. SECOND DEALER REPORTS NEEDS COMPLETE TRANSMISSION. NO ATTEMPT TO SOLVE COMPLAINTS BY DEALER, CONTACTED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DECLINED TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS, THEY DECLINED ANY FURTHER INVOLVEMENT. CAR HAD SALVAGE TITLE 2+ YEARS AGO FROM MINOR ACCIDENT WHICH PREMATURELY DEPLOYED AIR BAGS, REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. I AM RETIRED ASE MASTER MECHANIC, SERVICE MANAGER, AND SAE MEMBER, THIS IS NOT A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT CAUSED BY THE ERRATIC ACTIONS OF THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AND MODULE. TRANSMISSION PASSES ALL CONVENTIONAL TESTS. RESULTS STUCK IN GEAR CAN BE CORRECTED BY CYCLING THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF AND BACK ON. THIS CAN BE DONE BY PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPING TO CYCLE THE KEY OR TRAFFIC PERMITTING PLACING IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTING AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE. NO OBSERVED FAILURES ABOVE 65 MPH. TSB SEND WRONG SIGNALS TO "NETWORK" ARE TRANSLATED AS INSTRUCTIONS RESULTING IN POOR FUEL CONSUMPTION, HIGH EMISSIONS, ABNORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON TRANSMISSION, IGNITION SWITCH, STARTER, AND RELATED COMPONENTS FOR NORMAL OPERATION, PLUS A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10173590
91,522 miles · Nov 1, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
IN EARLY JUL 05, I EXPERIENCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80. PARTICULARLY CONCERNING TO ME FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT WAS THAT SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING WHEN I WAS IN HIGHWAY DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE CAR ON ITS OWN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED, HESITATED ON ACCELERATION OR WOULD NOT ACCELE…
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IN EARLY JUL 05, I EXPERIENCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80. PARTICULARLY CONCERNING TO ME FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT WAS THAT SEVERAL TIMES, INCLUDING WHEN I WAS IN HIGHWAY DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE CAR ON ITS OWN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED, HESITATED ON ACCELERATION OR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND DISPLAYED ENGINE STALL SYMPTOMS. THE COMPUTER INDICATED DEGRADED ENGINE PERFORMANCE (LIMP MODE). I LINED UP A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH LOVERING VOLVO OF MEREDITH. AFTER LOVERING'S FIRST ATTEMPT AT REPAIRS, THE CAR WAS STILL NOT OPERATING NORMALLY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME. I PAID A TOTAL OF $2,074.42 FOR REPAIRS, $1,741.44 THE FIRST TIME AND $332.98 DURING THE SECOND VISIT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH A JUNE 2006 VOLVO LETTER, I TOOK MY S80 BACK TO LOVERING FOR INSPECTION AND ETS SOFTWARE UPGRADE. I SUBMITTED TO VOLVO A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR ETS REPAIRS. THE ADVERTISING CHECKING BUREAU (ACB), WHICH ADMINISTERS THE ETS WARRANTY REBATE PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF VOLVO, SENT ME A CHECK FOR $747.93 FOR THE ETS REPAIRS. ACB SAID IT WAS AUTHORIZED TO REIMBURSE ME ONLY THE $587.93 COST OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE RELOAD, AND GASKET, AND ASSOCIATED $160.00 LABOR COST. ACB ADVISED ME TO CONTACT THE VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. A VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED THAT ACB HAD DONE AS INSTRUCTED AND SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE UP THE MATTER OF THE REMAINING REPAIR COSTS WITH LOVERING. THE LOVERING INVOICES, DATED JULY 26, 2005 AND AUGUST 8, 2005, INDICATE THAT A $295.65 PORTION OF THE INITIAL $1,741.44 REPAIR BILL HAD TO DO WITH TOTALLY UNRELATED STEERING/SUSPENSION AND ENGINE MOUNT REPAIRS. STILL QUESTIONABLE IN MY MIND ARE THE OXYGEN SENSOR REPAIRS WHICH ADDED UP TO $897.86 AND THE SUBSEQUENT MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPAIRS WHICH CAME TO $332.98. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEMS ARE ALL ETS-RELATED AND I AM CURRENTLY PURSUING THE MATTER WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10172342
59,000 miles · Oct 12, 2006
Suspension
PURCHASED A 2000 VOLVO S80 IN MARCH OF 2006, EXPERIENCE POWER LOSS WITH THING SUCH AS SUNROOF AND WINDOWS, TERRIBLE GLARE FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD IMPAIRS VISION, SUSPENSION- BALL JOINTS, AXLES, RODS, STRUT BUSHINGS, STRUTS, BRAKE CALIPERS, CV BOOTS/JOINTS, CONTROL ARM, AND TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ... STILL HEAR NOISE., ENGINE SUR…
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PURCHASED A 2000 VOLVO S80 IN MARCH OF 2006, EXPERIENCE POWER LOSS WITH THING SUCH AS SUNROOF AND WINDOWS, TERRIBLE GLARE FROM FRONT WINDSHIELD IMPAIRS VISION, SUSPENSION- BALL JOINTS, AXLES, RODS, STRUT BUSHINGS, STRUTS, BRAKE CALIPERS, CV BOOTS/JOINTS, CONTROL ARM, AND TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ... STILL HEAR NOISE., ENGINE SURGES AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN CAR IS STOPPED- ENGINE TORQUE MOUNT REPLACED, BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PRESSED COMPLETELY BEFORE CAR STOPS-DESPITE BRAKE BOOSTER, AND MASTER CYLINDER BEING REPLACED. ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED. CAR DRAGS (HAS A DELAY) WHEN ACCELERATING. RECEIVED UPDATES AND RECALLS PERFORMED. FIXED ALMOST EVERYTHING CAR SURGED FORWARD INTO A TRAILER HOOK ON THE BACK OF A PARKED CAR-COSMETIC DAMAGE VERY EXPENSIVE. HAVE BEEN HOPING THAT THE REPAIRS WILL COME TO AN END...FIRST CAR EVER PURCHASED AND HAVE ALMOST SPENT 1/2 OF ITS BLUE BOOK VALUE IN REPAIRS. SEEKING EXPLANATIONS, REIMBURSEMENTS, AND NATIONAL AWARENESS. LOVE THE APPEARANCE, WISH IT WASN'T SO MANY DEFECTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170597
65,000 miles · Oct 10, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline
IN JULY I WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT IDLE SPEED WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO SURGE THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, HOWEVER I HAD TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME USING THIS METHOD TO KEEP THE RPMS UP. WHEN THE CODES WERE READ IT SAID THE 4 OXYGEN SENSORS WE…
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IN JULY I WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT IDLE SPEED WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO SURGE THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, HOWEVER I HAD TO KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE OTHER ON THE BRAKE TO KEEP IT RUNNING. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP IT HOME USING THIS METHOD TO KEEP THE RPMS UP. WHEN THE CODES WERE READ IT SAID THE 4 OXYGEN SENSORS WERE OUT OF RANGE. I TUNED UP THE CAR, CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY AND OXYGEN SENSORS AND RESET THE CODES. (65,000 MILES) AFTER THIS THE CAR SEEMED ALRIGHT UNTIL AROUND 79,000 MILES. MY WIFE AND I WERE ON RTE. 1A ON THE MAINE COAST IN TRAFFIC . WHILE GOING AROUND A SHARP CURVE THE CAR STALLED. I LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE CAR NEARLY WENT OVER THE CLIFF INTO THE OCEAN. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT UNDER CONTROL AND THE CAR RESTARTED WITH THE IDLE SURGING. I LIMPED THE CAR HOME USING THE GAS AND BRAKE METHOD. AT INTERSECTIONS IF I LET THE CAR IDLE THE CAR WOULD SURGE FORWARD THEN STALL. MY MECHANIC READ THE CODES AND TOLD ME THE MAP SENSOR AND O2 SENSORS WERE BAD AND REPLACED THEM. THIS SEEMED TO WORK FOR A WHILE, HOWEVER THE CAR REVERTED BACK TO THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FINALLY CALLED GALLO VOLVO WHO HAD SERVICED MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 60,000 MILES AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM COVERED UNDER A HIDDEN RECALL. ONCE A CUSTOMER COMPLAINED THEY COULD FIX IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THEM AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TO "REPAIR" THE PROBLEM. MY CAR NO LONGER STALLS, HOWEVER IT SURGES AND HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION NEARLY CAUSING PEOPLE TO HIT ME IN TRAFFIC. I AM STILL TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM AFTER OVER $1800 DOLLARS IN EXPENSES, MULTIPLE NEAR ACCIDENTS AND NUMEROUS HOURS OF MY TIME. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170372
82,000 miles · Oct 8, 2006
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY 2000 VOLVO S80 BEGAN GIVING ME ERROR MESSAGES OF SEVERAL KINDS, ONE OF WHICH TELLS ME "DIPPED BEAM BULB FAILURE." WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK (THEY COME ON WHEN I START THE CAR AS RUNNING LIGHTS). AFTER BUYING NEW BULBS TO PUT IN, I FOUND THAT THE OLD BULBS WERE NOT BURNED OUT AND THAT THE PROBLE…
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MY 2000 VOLVO S80 BEGAN GIVING ME ERROR MESSAGES OF SEVERAL KINDS, ONE OF WHICH TELLS ME "DIPPED BEAM BULB FAILURE." WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK (THEY COME ON WHEN I START THE CAR AS RUNNING LIGHTS). AFTER BUYING NEW BULBS TO PUT IN, I FOUND THAT THE OLD BULBS WERE NOT BURNED OUT AND THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT RANDOM. THE BIG PROBLEM WAS DRIVING HOME WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ONLY - WHICH THOUGH SEEMED DIFFERENTLY, ARE NOT TOO AWFULLY BRIGHT - ONLY A FEW PEOPLE FLASHED ME. I THEN HAD OTHER CODES COMING UP AND HAD TO REPLACE THE "ABS CONTROLLER" TO THE TUNE OF $1000; AND, GUESS WHAT? THE DIPPED BEAM BULB FAILURE MESSAGE STILL OCCURS OFF AND ON (SPENDING THE $1000 DID CURE THE OTHER, MULTIPLE MESSAGES)*JB
NHTSA ODI #10170237
58,000 miles · Sep 27, 2006
Power Train
SINCE BUYING MY 2000 VOLVO S80 T6 IN 2001 I'VE BEEN PUZZLED BY AN OCCASIONAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WOULD MENTION IT TO THE PAT PATTERSON VOLVO, MEMPHIS, TN SERVICE WRITER. HE WOULD PASS MY COMMENTS ON TO THE MECHANICS BUT NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND. ON SATURDAY 8/5/2006 I MADE A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CENT…
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SINCE BUYING MY 2000 VOLVO S80 T6 IN 2001 I'VE BEEN PUZZLED BY AN OCCASIONAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND WOULD MENTION IT TO THE PAT PATTERSON VOLVO, MEMPHIS, TN SERVICE WRITER. HE WOULD PASS MY COMMENTS ON TO THE MECHANICS BUT NOTHING WAS EVER FOUND. ON SATURDAY 8/5/2006 I MADE A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS DURING WHICH I DROVE ON A ROUGH, GRAVEL ROAD. AFTER A LITTLE OVER A MILE I HEARD A NOISE SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAUSED WHEN THERE IS A FLAT TIRE. I WAS FORTUNATE IN FINDING A MECHANIC TO LOOK AT THE CAR. HE WAS ABLE TO GET ME ON MY WAY AND I THUS WAS NOT STRANDED ON A WEEKEND A HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME. MYSTERY OF THE LONG TIME NOISE SOLVED! THE PROBLEM WAS A BOLT LOOSE ON THE RIGHT FRONT HUB. THE MECHANIC STATED THE BOLT HAD BEEN LOOSE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEORIZED THAT DRIVING ON THE ROUGH ROAD HAD CAUSED IT TO FINALLY COME ALL THE WAY OUT. THE REASON THE BOLT CAME LOOSE, HE SAID, WAS THAT LOCK-TIGHT WASN'T APPLIED BY THE FACTORY. THE LOCAL MECHANIC REMOVED THE BOLT ON SATURDAY BUT DIDN'T HAVE A REPLACEMENT SO I TOOK IT BACK TO PAT PATTERSON VOLVO (PPV) YESTERDAY. THE LACK OF LOCK-TIGHT HAVING BEEN USED BY THE FACTORY WAS CONFIRMED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10169409
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.