NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
103 reports82,000 miles · Jan 27, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
OUR 2000 VOLVO XC70 STATIONWAGON EXPERIENCED SLUGGISH SPEED ON A WEDNESDAY - IT DID NOT LIKE TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS ALSO GOING THROUGH OIL, WHICH THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAID WAS "NORMAL" FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE - IT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. ON THURSDAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT START (IT WAS VERY COLD). WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR …
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OUR 2000 VOLVO XC70 STATIONWAGON EXPERIENCED SLUGGISH SPEED ON A WEDNESDAY - IT DID NOT LIKE TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS ALSO GOING THROUGH OIL, WHICH THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP SAID WAS "NORMAL" FOR A CAR OF THIS AGE - IT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON IT. ON THURSDAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT START (IT WAS VERY COLD). WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY FOUND THAT IT HAS OIL PUMP PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT GET OIL INTO THE ENGINE. WE THEREFORE NEED A NEW ENGINE. HE ALSO NOTED ISSUES WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256458
85,000 miles · Feb 17, 2008
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFire
PURCHASED CAR IN DEC 2006. WITHIN FEW MONTHS, BEGAN TO NOTICE THE CAR WOULD LOSE SPEED ON HIGHWAY AND DROP TO A SPEED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60-80KM/HR. BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT EXHAUST. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP (WHERE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTAINED CAR). SEVERAL FILTERS, SEALS, REPLACED. FEW MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. R…
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PURCHASED CAR IN DEC 2006. WITHIN FEW MONTHS, BEGAN TO NOTICE THE CAR WOULD LOSE SPEED ON HIGHWAY AND DROP TO A SPEED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 60-80KM/HR. BLACK SMOKE ROLLED OUT EXHAUST. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP (WHERE PREVIOUS OWNERS MAINTAINED CAR). SEVERAL FILTERS, SEALS, REPLACED. FEW MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM CONTINUED. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD CAR NEEDED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. AFTER BEING TOLD THE COST, DEALERSHIP CALLED BACK TO SAY UNDER EMISSIONS WARRANTY. $1200 PART WAS COVERED BUT I PAID LABOR/OTHER PARTS. DEALER WAS ASKED ON BOTH OCCASIONS TO COMPLETE SERVICE DUE. FAILED TO COMPLETE THESE AS REQUESTED. PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT ETS WAS GONE CAUSING THE CAR TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. REPAIRS DONE AT A COST OF ALL $2600.00. LESS THAN A YEAR, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON (THOUGH THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR). THE CAR WAS TOWED TWO HOURS BACK HOME . WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT GARAGE THEY (LIKE TWO OTHERS BEFORE) TOLD ME TO VOLVO. WENT BACK TO VOLVO BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD TO PULL OVER AND BE TOWED AGAIN. THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING, THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE OIL LIGHT (WHICH VOLVO HAD LESS THAN TWO WEEKS BEFORE SAID WAS FINE) CAME ON...THE REPORT BACK FROM VOLVO IS THAT THE ETS IS GONE AGAIN BUT ALSO THAT THE ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACING ($6000 JOB). THIS WAS MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO AND MY CAR STILL SITS AT VOLVO WAITING FOR RESOLVE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THE ONGOING ISSUES ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE NEED FOR A NEW ENGINE AND THAT VOLVO WAS NEGLIGENT IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITY (REPEATEDLY) TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. NOT ONLY AM I OUT THE $20 000.00 TO PURCHASE THE CAR ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, I AM OUT ABOUT $6000 FOR REPAIRS ALREADY COMPLETED AND AM NOW BEING TOLD IT WILL BE ANOTHER $6000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218283
74,000 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GAS CAP, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED F…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY DURING ACCELERATION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE GAS CAP, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
NHTSA ODI #10214807
64,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008
Structure
TAILGATE LATCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AT COLD TEMPERATURES. FAILURE IS COVERED FOR V70, BUT NOT V70XC. LATCH ASSEMBLIES ARE THE SAME. NUMEROUS OTHER REFERENCES TO V70XC LATCH FAILURES FOUND ON INTERNET. PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ACKNOWLEDGED. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO MULTIPLE DEALERS. THEY ONLY SPRAY LUBRICANT…
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TAILGATE LATCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AT COLD TEMPERATURES. FAILURE IS COVERED FOR V70, BUT NOT V70XC. LATCH ASSEMBLIES ARE THE SAME. NUMEROUS OTHER REFERENCES TO V70XC LATCH FAILURES FOUND ON INTERNET. PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN ACKNOWLEDGED. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO MULTIPLE DEALERS. THEY ONLY SPRAY LUBRICANT ON THE LATCH AND IGNORE THE PROBLEM.*CN
NHTSA ODI #10213442
155,005 miles · Oct 4, 2007
Electrical System
SENSORS IN VEHICLE SUDDENLY REPORT PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE GOES INTO CREEP HOME MODE. SYSTEM CAN BE RESET BY REMOVING BATTERY TERMINAL AND WILL THEN WORK FINE FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE SENSORS AGAIN REPORT PROBLEM AND GO INTO CREEP HOME MODE. *JB UPDATED 10/23…
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SENSORS IN VEHICLE SUDDENLY REPORT PROBLEMS WITH MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT SYSTEMS. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE GOES INTO CREEP HOME MODE. SYSTEM CAN BE RESET BY REMOVING BATTERY TERMINAL AND WILL THEN WORK FINE FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE SENSORS AGAIN REPORT PROBLEM AND GO INTO CREEP HOME MODE. *JB UPDATED 10/23/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10204832
51,247 miles · Aug 9, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY HESITATE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY HESITATE AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE SPEED DECREASED FROM 60 MPH TO 0. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,247.
NHTSA ODI #10198989
134,000 miles · Aug 3, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
I FILLED THE CAR UP WITH GASOLINE AND UPON RETURNING HOME FROM THE GAS STATION, NOTICED THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDER THE REAR RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CAR NOW HAS A CONSTANT DRIP OF GASOLINE SO THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10198458
51,272 miles · May 19, 2007
Power Train
CONSISTENT GRINDING SOUND WHEN DRIVING. IT WAS DRIVESHAFT FAILURE. 2000 VOLVO XC HAD ONLY 56,021 MILES ON IT AND WAS DRIVEN 4 1/2 YEARS WHEN THIS BEGAN HAPPENING. PARTS/LABOR REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191244
98,490 miles · Apr 8, 2007
Power Train
ANGLE GEAR BROKE IN THE VOLVO V70XC AFTER 90000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10187284
64,745 miles · Mar 13, 2007
Power Train
TL*- WHILE PARKING HER VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE 2000 VOLVO V70 XC. THE CRACKING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION ANGLE GEAR CRACKING. FIRST TIME THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE ANGLE GEAR WAS ON 04/17/03 AT 64,745 MILES, PART NUMBER WAS 8601587-2. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE…
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TL*- WHILE PARKING HER VEHICLE THE CONTACT HEARD A CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE 2000 VOLVO V70 XC. THE CRACKING NOISE WAS DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION ANGLE GEAR CRACKING. FIRST TIME THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE ANGLE GEAR WAS ON 04/17/03 AT 64,745 MILES, PART NUMBER WAS 8601587-2. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE INVOICE IF NEEDED. THE CURREN MILEAGE WAS 148,000.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10184950
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.