IllustrationETS WARNING. PRIOR TO THIS LACK OF PERFORMANCE AND POWER. SOON AFTER PURCHASE IT HAD OCCURRED AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER. *NM
1999 Volvo V70XC
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V70XC years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
125–50K
2350–75K
1675–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
64 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
79 reportsELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED TWICE AT 8/1/03 68,000 MILES AND ON 9/8/05 AT 76,000 MILES. VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN MEDFORD, OREGON CHARGED OVER $800 EACH TIME TO REPAIR THE DEFECT.*AK
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING 2 FAULTY THROTTLE MODULES (ETM) THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY VOLVO DEALERSHIPS FOR MY 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. THE FIRST/ORIGINAL ETM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 58,635 MILES ON 22 MAY 03. 14 MONTHS AND 12,474 MILES LATER, THAT ETM FAILED AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED IRREGULAR…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING 2 FAULTY THROTTLE MODULES (ETM) THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY VOLVO DEALERSHIPS FOR MY 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. THE FIRST/ORIGINAL ETM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 58,635 MILES ON 22 MAY 03. 14 MONTHS AND 12,474 MILES LATER, THAT ETM FAILED AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED IRREGULAR AND ERRATIC ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION OF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATION PEDAL PRESSED, BUT STEADY. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE TWO ETM'S THAT WERE INSTALLED WERE BOTH MODEL# 8644347. THIS SHOWS EVIDENCE THAT VOLVO IS ONLY REPLACING A FAILED DEFECTIVE ETM WITH A NEW DEFECTIVE ETM. I URGE THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF VOLVO DRIVERS WHO MIGHT GET INTO A FUTURE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THANK YOU. *JB
DT: CONTACT STATES THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIS VEHICLE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHT: SWITCH, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V504000. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWIT…
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DT: CONTACT STATES THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIS VEHICLE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHT: SWITCH, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V504000. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *NM
A SUDDEN DROP IN POWER ON FREEWAYS AND CITY STREETS. *JB
SURGING, FOULING SPARK PLUGS, HESITATING, STALLING, CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND LOCKS UP. *NM
1) ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING CAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, ETS STAYED ON. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SURGE, PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE AROUND 35-MPH AND 60-MPH. 2) ALL MOST COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SIDE STREET, UNDER NORMAL …
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1) ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING CAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, ETS STAYED ON. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SURGE, PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE AROUND 35-MPH AND 60-MPH. 2) ALL MOST COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SIDE STREET, UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS VERY LITTLE RESPONSE. PARKED THE CAR OVER NIGHT ON SIDE OF ROAD. NEXT DAY IT WAS MORE RESPONSIVE, THOUGH STILL HAD THE ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. 3) VOLVO DEALER REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. TOTAL COST $1300. I ASKED FOR THE OLD THROTTLE BODY, BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, AS THERE WAS A "CORE CHARGE" FROM VOLVO. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF THERE EVENTUALLY WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART MY RECEIPT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *JB
I OWN A 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. ON OCTOBER 27, 2005, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BEGAN TO STALL. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO NO AVAIL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED TO DR…
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I OWN A 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. ON OCTOBER 27, 2005, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BEGAN TO STALL. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO NO AVAIL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED TO DRIVE A LITTLE BETTER, IT CONTINUED TO JERK AND SPUTTER. *JB
ABS CONTROL UNIT SPORADICALLY FAILS, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GO ON NOTIFYING DRIVER THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING. IF THE SYSTEM FAILS AT A CRITICAL TIME, COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *NM
TURBO RETURN LINES ARE LEAKING - RUBBER HOSES ARE STIFFENING FROM HEAT - SHOULDN'T THESE HAVE BEEN METAL LINES TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS A POLLUTION AND FIRE HAZARD. *NM
Official recalls
206V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control
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.
04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
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.