NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports87,576 miles · Oct 20, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
AT 70MPH MY CAR SAID REDUCED PERFORMANCE, AND WITHIN 30 SEC. MY CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, THE CAR REDUCED TO 5MPH, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. I WAS IN 5 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DOING 70-80MPH. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER SKIDDED APPROX. 50 FEET IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING ME. HE THEN HAD TO BLOCK OFF TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO ASSIST …
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AT 70MPH MY CAR SAID REDUCED PERFORMANCE, AND WITHIN 30 SEC. MY CRUISE CONTROL FAILED, THE CAR REDUCED TO 5MPH, AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. I WAS IN 5 LANES OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC DOING 70-80MPH. AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER SKIDDED APPROX. 50 FEET IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING ME. HE THEN HAD TO BLOCK OFF TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO ASSIST ME TO THE SHOULDER. MY CAR WOULD ONLY COAST. IT WAS A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I'M THANKFUL MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME. AFTER BEING TURNED OFF OVER NIGHT, MY HUSBAND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP. HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME. WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO A COMPUTER CHIP MALFUNCTION. A CHIP WHICH CONTROLS THE THROTTLE, FUEL-INJECTION, AND CRUISE CONTROL. WOW! THE SERVICE REP. "WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYMORE PROBLEMS AFTER REPLACING THE CHIP". WE ASKED WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED. THE REP. SAID "THERE HAVE TO BE SO MANY ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES REPORTED, BEFORE THEY WILL RECALL IT". THIS HAS LEFT ME VERY DISTURBED, AND RELUCTANT TO EVER DRIVE A VOLVO AGAIN. I FEEL SURE IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR MY QUICK USE OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE TRUCK DRIVER ALSO CONCURRED. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THEY MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.
NHTSA ODI #10096086
56,001 miles · Oct 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC (WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO MAKE THE TURN). AS SHE DECELERATED TO MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR DIED. AS THIS HAPPENED, OF COURSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST. SHE NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS STUCK OUT IN THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS TRAFFIC (WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO MAKE THE TURN). AS SHE DECELERATED TO MAKE THE TURN, THE CAR DIED. AS THIS HAPPENED, OF COURSE ALL POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WERE LOST. SHE NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT, AS SHE WAS STUCK OUT IN THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE SPENT SOME TIME RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM AND ITS CAUSES AND I HAVE FOUND AMPLE SUPPORTING INFORMATION THAT MANY OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM OF THE CAR DYING ON DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY DUE TO AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM). THIS IS A UNIQUE SYSTEM INSTALLED BY VOLVO THAT DOES AWAY WITH THE TRADITIONAL THROTTLE CABLE. APPARENTLY THESE DEVICES ARE FAILING REGULARLY, AND MUST BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1000 COST TO THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I THINK THAT IF A NORMAL THROTTLE-CABLE VEHICLE HAD A GREAT TENDENCY TO BREAK THROTTLE CABLES, EVEN ON CARS WITH LOW MILES, THIS WOULD LEAD TO SOME SORT OF RECALL BECAUSE THIS LEADS TO AN UNSAFE SITUATION. THIS WAS SUCH A NEAR MISS FOR MY WIFE THAT SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. CHECK WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM SITE. THIS IS A SITE FOR VOLVO OWNERS. A SEARCH FOR S80 AND ETM WILL GENERATE MANY HITS FROM OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME UNSAFE CONDITION LEADING TO A NEED TO REPLACE THIS FAULTY DEVICE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10093868
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2004
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING REARVIEW MIRROR GLARED OFF THE DASHBOARD. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094914
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2004
Unknown Or Other
PROBLEMS WITH 2000 S80 T6. *MR *SC
NHTSA ODI #10087086
49,747 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED WHILE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH; CAUTION LIGHTS AND SERVICE ENGINE URGENT MESSAGE DISPLAYED; UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC; THEN FAULT CLEARED AND VEHICLE RAN OK; ATTEMPTED TO RETURN HOME AND ETM FAILED AGAIN; THEN FAULT CLEARED AGAIN. NO W…
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ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED WHILE VEHICLE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH; CAUTION LIGHTS AND SERVICE ENGINE URGENT MESSAGE DISPLAYED; UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC; THEN FAULT CLEARED AND VEHICLE RAN OK; ATTEMPTED TO RETURN HOME AND ETM FAILED AGAIN; THEN FAULT CLEARED AGAIN. NO WARNING LIGHTS; VEHICLE DRIVES OK, SUSPECTED LOOSE GAS CAP; TIGHTENED AND DROVE AGAIN; RAN OK, THEN EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM LATER IN THE DAY, THIS TIME LEFT CAR TO BE TOWED. FAILURE OF ETM AND WARNINGS MISLEADING TRUE SEVERITY OF FAILURE. VOLVO SHOULD CHANGE WARNING TO "DO NOT DRIVE" IS VEHICLE FAILURE MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE. ETM FAILURE MAKES VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ANY CONDITIONS. REPORTED INCIDENT TO VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10082353
55,000 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
30,000 miles · Jun 24, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
AS THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE, IT PLACED ITSELF IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND ACCELERATED ACROSS A MEDIAN, AND THEN HAD COME TO REST AGAINST TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND AN ABUTMENT. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10061030
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND TURNING RIGHT CAR OMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, PLACEED CAR IN PARK AND RESTARTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075321
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2004
Unknown Or Other
CONSUMER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE NUMEROUS REPAIRS DONE TO HER VEHICLE WITHIN A YEAR. (NAR) *PH *CB
NHTSA ODI #10061761
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.
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