2001 Volvo V70XC

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE MY CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND CALL VOLVO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE IT SAT FOR A MONTH BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DETERMINED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME EXPERIENCE OCCURRED, ONCE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE "PROBLEM" WAS FIXED AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR VARIOUS REASONS FOR YEARS. WHEN I WAS FINALLY FED UP WITH IT AND DECIDED TO SELL IT, IT NEEDED MORE ELECTRICAL WORK. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT A DEALERSHIP LISTENED TO THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR OVER THE YEARS AND FELT THAT IT WARRANTED A CALL TO THE VOLVO REP. I GAVE HIM ALL WORK ORDERS WHICH I HAVE FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR. HE WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO REP THAT SINCE ALL REPAIR WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT A VOLVO DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NORMAL WORK SUCH AS OIL CHANGES, ETC. WERE DONE BY A MECHANIC WHO ONLY WORKS ON SAABS AND VOLVOS. UPON LOOKING FOR THE NAMES OF VOLVO EXECS THAT I COULD WRITE A LETTER TO I STUMBLED ON A WEBSITE ABOUT VOLVO PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO HOLD THE COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES OF ANY TYPE. I WROTE TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO STARTED THE WEBSITE AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I SEND MY E-MAIL TO STEPHEN MCHENRY AT NHTSA WHICH I DID. AFTER TRYING FOR MANY DAYS TO DO SO AND FAILING TO CONNECT BECAUSE OF SOME PROBLEM WITH THE MESSAGE TRYING TO REACH MR. MCHENRY I JUST LET IT GO. WE NEED TO SELL THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO I SELL A CAR THAT NEEDS OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK? I AM FORWARDING THE E-MAIL I TRIED TO SEND TO STEPHEN MCHENRY TO YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. WHAT CAN I DO? AM I TOO LATE IN REPORTING THIS? WHAT DO YOU ADVISE ME TO DO? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SUSAN K. LUXEM *TR

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS A ROUGH IDLE (VEHICLE WOULD SURGE TO 1100 RPM AND DROP TO 500 RPM) WHILE AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING IN PARK. I CONTACTED THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE DAY BEFORE I WAS TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS A NEAR COLLISION DUE TO THE STALL. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR IF IT WOULD DAMAGE THE VEHICLE IF I WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. HE INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEIR FACILITY. THEY REFERRED ME TO A PRIVATE TOWING COMPANY. THERE WAS NO ANSWER TO THE PHONE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN. I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE TRAFFIC TO SUBSIDE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP USING SECONDARY ROADS. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP THE IDLE HIGH WHENEVER I APPROACHED A STOP. WHEN I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS AN EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE GAS PEDAL RESUMED WORKING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE CONTINUED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP (APPROX. 7:30 P.M. '' BY THIS TIME THEY WERE CLOSED). THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VOLVO SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM). I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PART (10-YEARS, 200,000-MILE). THE SERVICE INCLUDED A CLEANING OF THE PART AND RELOADING OF SOFTWARE. AFTER LEARNING THIS, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS TYPICAL TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL YOUR REPORTS WILL SOON SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE INJURIES. *JB

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 50 MPH ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE UP A HILL WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. THE COMPUTER DISPLAYED A "REDUCED POWER" MESSAGE. I PULLED TO THE RIGHT, AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 1/8 MILE AT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED POWER UNTIL I COULD PULL COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD (MY CHILDREN WERE WITH ME AND I WANTED TO BE OFF THE ROAD). I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE. AFTER A TWO PHONE CALLS, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON. IT SEEMED TO RUN FINE. I CONTINUED ON, DROPPED MY CHILDREN AT SCHOOL, AND DROVE TO THE VOLVO DEALER. THEIR NOTES INDICATE: "...FOUND THAT ETM IS DEFECTIVE AND HAD INTERNAL FAULTS IN IT. ALSO FOUND THAT THE CODES WERE SET FOR MAF SENSOR READING OUT OF RANGE. REMOVED ETM AND FOUND THAT IT WAS COVER WITH OIL. CHECKED BANJO FITTING AND FOUND IT TO BE PLUGGED, CLEAN OUT BANJO FITTING, REPLACED ETM AND MAF SENSOR DOWN LOADED NEW SOFTWARE INTO CAR. CLEARED ALL OLD DTCS AND TEST DROVE CAR. CAR NOW DRIVING TO VOLVO'S SPECS." COST OF REPAIRS: $1332.47 OUCH! THE LOST OF POWER OCCURRED FIRST -- THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WERE, I BELIEVE, A RESULT OF THE ETM FAILURE OR DUE TO THE FACT THAT I NEEDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO FIND A SAFE STOPPING PLACE. REPLACED: THROTTLE BODY, GASKET, MASS AIR FLOW, ETM RELOAD. *NM

VEHICLE INCURRED MINOR LOSS OF POWER WHILE CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SURGES AND REPEATED LOSSES OF POWER. ENGINE DID NOT STALL OUT, BUT DID DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL AND DASH BOARD DID DISPLAY REDUCED PERFORMANCE WARNING. AFTER VEHICLE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THE REDUCED PERFORMANCE WARNING TEMPORARILY DISAPPEARED AND THEN REAPPEARED AFTER 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. THIS ENGINE BEHAVIOR LAST ABOUT ONE WEEK, AND THEN THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED A NEW SERVICE MAINTENANCE-URGENT MESSAGE. THE 2001 VOLVO XC70 WAS THEN DRIVE IMMEDIATELY TO VOLVO DEALER AND HE DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY ELECTRIC THROTTLE BODY AND DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR SENSOR. THE REPAIR COST OVER $1,075.00 TO REPAIR. *JB

MY 2001 VOLVO V70XC W/APPROX 91,000 MILES STALLED WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC -- NEARLY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS THE TRUCK BEHIND ME NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME. ALSO, BECAUSE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN THE POWER STEERING NO-LONGER WORKED, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. MY VOLVO DEALER TOLD ME I HAD A "BROKEN" ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE" (ETM) WHICH COST ME OVER $750 TO REPLACE. SINCE THEN, I LEARNED ON LOCAL CT NEWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 160 COMPLAINTS INVOLVING 1999-2001 VOLVOS OF VARIOUS MODELS (INCLUDING THE V70XC) FOR THE SAME THROTTLE FAILURE PROBLEMS - WHICH POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I INTEND TO RAISE HELL WITH VOLVO ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND SEE IF THEY STAND UP TO THEIR REPUTATION FOR MAKING SOME OF THE SAFEST CARS IN THE WORLD BY RECALLING THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE ETMS! *NM

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO MY 2001 VOLVO XC70 STATION WAGON SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK VOLVO ABOUT 3 HOURS TO TOW THE VEHICLE. THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. JUNE 5, 2005 CAR LOOSES POWER ON HIGHWAY AND STOPS IN TRAFFIC. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THERE WERE ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN TANK AND COMPUTER READ OVER 100 MILES TO EMPTH. SAME VOLVO DEALER TAKES POSITION IT HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM.

VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY ON HIGHWAY. REDUCED PERFORMANCE MODE INDICATED ON CPU. CAR LERCHED VIOLENTLY. NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN VEHICLE STALLED ON VERY HEAVY TRAFFICED I95N IN NEW JERSEY. 2001XC70 WITH THROTTLE BODY FAILURE AS DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND IS HAPPENING TO MANY MANY PEOPLE. CAR WAS ONLY 3.5 YEARS OLD WITH 65,000 MILES. ALL DEALER SERVICES & MAINTENANCE COMPLETED PER MANUFACTUERER. PART WAS PROBELMATIC FOR AT LEAST A YEAR BEFORE IT FAILED AND DEALER/VOLVO REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM OR FIX IT. I'M LUCKY MY WIFE AND KIDS WEREN'T KILLED.

1) DRIVING IN URBAN TRAFFIC OVER A TWO LINE BRIDGE IN PORTLAND OREGON. THE SERVICE INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON FOR A TAIL LIGHT BULB OUT. I HAVE SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT WEEK TO HAVE IT REPLACED. 2. THE CAR DECREASES IN SPEED FROM 50 MPH TO 20 MPH IN ABOUT 100 FEET. TRAFFIC BEHIND FORTUNATELY IS FAR ENOUGH BACK TO AVOID COLLISION ON A VERY NARROW BRIDGE. I DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE BRIDGE AND PARK IT. IT IS TOWED THE FOLLOWING DAY TO THE DEALER. 3. THE DEALER STATES THAT IT NEEDS A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. I ASK IF THIS IS ANYTHING UNUSUAL, AND HE STATES THAT IT IS NOT AND THEY JUST SOMETIMES NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ESIMATES THE COST AT $1000 DOLLARS. I COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COST AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER I AM TOLD THE PART WILL BE FREE AND I ONLY NEED TO PAY THE 360 DOLLARS FOR LABOR. THIS ALL SEEMS STRANGE- I FEEL MY LIFE WAS ENDANGERED AND PERHAPS THERE IS MORE TO THIS PROBLEM THAN SOMETHING PARTICULAR TO MY CAR. I GET ON THE WEB AND RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM- INCLUDING RECENT ARTICLES IN THE LA TIMES. IN TALKING WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT VOLVO NORTH AMERICA- IT WAS CLEAR THEY WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT FIXED SO I WOULDN'T COMPLAIN TO ANYONE. I SUGGEST, HOWEVER, THAT A RAPID DEACCELLERATION IS A POTENTIALLY LARGE SAFETY ISSUE AND IF AS WEB RESEARCH SHOWS, THAT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS SPECFIC MALFUNCTION- THEN SOMEONE SHOULD COMMENCE A RECALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY IS HURT. I AM HAVING THE DEALER REPLACE THE PART NOW.