NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports86,000 miles · Sep 19, 2009
Power Train
OWN A 2000 VOLVO S80, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN UNEVEN IDLING WHEN DRIVING EITHER LOW OR HIGH SPEED, WHETHER ON CRUISE CONTROL OR NOT. THE CAR IDLE GOES OUT OF CONTROL, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR GOES ON LIMP MODE, I'M THEN COMPELLED TO ACCELERATE TO COMPENSATE AND REGAIN SPEED. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED, HAD THE VEHICLE SPEED SENS…
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OWN A 2000 VOLVO S80, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN UNEVEN IDLING WHEN DRIVING EITHER LOW OR HIGH SPEED, WHETHER ON CRUISE CONTROL OR NOT. THE CAR IDLE GOES OUT OF CONTROL, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR GOES ON LIMP MODE, I'M THEN COMPELLED TO ACCELERATE TO COMPENSATE AND REGAIN SPEED. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED, HAD THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED, COMPLETE TUNE UP, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I DID MY RESEARCH ON THE WEB ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PART OF A RECALL FROM VOLVO. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VOLVO DEALER (VOLVO OF LOS ANGELES) WITH THE RECALL DOCUMENTATION, THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR A WEEK, THEN I WAS TOLD THAT VOLVO DOES NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE COMPUTER CODE SHOW UP IN THEIR SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CAR ARE CLEARLY DEPICTED IN THE NHTSA ACTION #EA05021. DRIVING THIS CAR IS UNNERVING, AS I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER IT WOULD RESPOND IN TIME, WHEN I HAVE TO GAIN SPEED ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR FAILURE IS OCCURRING MORE OFTEN, GETTING WORSE AS I DRIVE, SOMETIMES I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR WILL RESPOND AS STEP ON THE GAS TO PROCEED AFTER A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNS GREEN. I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH MY VOLVO DEALER FOR NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284609
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE THAT MY VEHICLE WILL DIE ON ME, AT TIMES IT WON'T START, AND IT LUNGES FORWARD AS I START THE ENGINE. IT IS ALSO IDLING VERY HIGH. IT HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS, AND HAVE HAD SENSORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. NOW MY VEHICLE IS SMELLING OF GAS AS I TRY AN…
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THE EVENTS THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE THAT MY VEHICLE WILL DIE ON ME, AT TIMES IT WON'T START, AND IT LUNGES FORWARD AS I START THE ENGINE. IT IS ALSO IDLING VERY HIGH. IT HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS, AND HAVE HAD SENSORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. NOW MY VEHICLE IS SMELLING OF GAS AS I TRY AND START IT. I HAD IT REPAIRED ON 7/22/09, AS THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T PASS SMOG, AT WHICH TIME APPARENTLY THEY REPLACED A SENSOR AT THAT TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282566
122,000 miles · May 26, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANS SIGNAL (ALERT TO THE ABS AND SPEED SENSOR) WOULD ALTER THE ABS AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. HE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANS SIGNAL (ALERT TO THE ABS AND SPEED SENSOR) WOULD ALTER THE ABS AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. HE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE RESULTS PRODUCED SIX CODES AND INDICATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS ALSO A PART OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,944 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.
NHTSA ODI #10269938
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
125,300 miles · May 12, 2009
Electrical SystemFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. FLAMES WERE PRESENT SOON AFTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTED. A FIREFIGHTER STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, SHE NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. FLAMES WERE PRESENT SOON AFTER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS MELTED. A FIREFIGHTER STATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WILL CALL VOLVO AND FILE A CLAIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,300.
NHTSA ODI #10268477
125,000 miles · Apr 8, 2009
Visibility
I TOOK MY CAR TO A CAR WASH IN FEB. 2008 AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT COST ME ALMOST $1500.00 TO FIX. I SENT IN THE DOCUMENTATION TO THE CARWASH ASSOCIATION. THEY TOLD ME VOLVO WILL REIMBURSE ME. I PRAY THEY ARE RIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264489
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
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2008
Fuel System, Other
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE FUEL TANK DOOR DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE DETACHMENT OF THE FUEL TANK DOOR AFTER REACHING HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE FUEL TANK DOOR DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE DETACHMENT OF THE FUEL TANK DOOR AFTER REACHING HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,000.
NHTSA ODI #10253077
95,000 miles · Dec 28, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
VOLVO S-80 AIRBAG FAILURE IN A SEVERE CRASH. 2000 VOLVO S-80 INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT (DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT). WENT OFF ROAD AT 55+MPH, SPUN INTO A DITCH HIT THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN, TOSSED BACK ACROSS THE ROAD AND LANDED IN THE MEDIAN. TOTALED THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE SIDE CURTAIN, SIDE IMPACT (IN DRIVER SIDE SEA…
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VOLVO S-80 AIRBAG FAILURE IN A SEVERE CRASH. 2000 VOLVO S-80 INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT (DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT). WENT OFF ROAD AT 55+MPH, SPUN INTO A DITCH HIT THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN, TOSSED BACK ACROSS THE ROAD AND LANDED IN THE MEDIAN. TOTALED THE CAR. ALTHOUGH THE SIDE CURTAIN, SIDE IMPACT (IN DRIVER SIDE SEAT) AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE MAIN DRIVER AIRBAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY. MULTIPLE MINOR INJURIES; UNKNOWN IF ANY WILL TURN OUT TO BE SERIOUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252977
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
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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