2001 Volvo V70XC

THE ENGINE PERFORMED A SHUT-DOWN/REDUCTION IN POWER PROCEDURE WHILE ACCELERATING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. "PERFORMANCE REDUCED/ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT" NOTICE APPEARED ON THE INFORMATION SCREEN. I HAD TO QUICKLY MOVE OUT OF THE WAY TO PREVENT CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. AFTER RESETTING THE WARNING LIGHT, I PROCEEDED DRIVING TO GET TO AN APPROPRIATE LOCATION TO WAIT FOR ASSISTANCE. THE ENGINE SHUT-DOWN AGAIN. *JB

ETM/ECM REPLACED 1/2006. SUBSEQUENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE 05/08/2006, 08/09/2006. ROUGH CRANKING IDLE. SUBSEQUENT SHIFTING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. FOLLOW UP WITH SOFTWARE UPGRADE TCM ON AUG. 9, 2006. PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING JERKS BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR UPON ACCELERATION/DECELERATION. ROUGH SHIFTING WITH KICK DOWN SHIFTING AT SPEEDS +60 MPH. *JB

I PURCHASED A 2001 V70 XC IN NOVEMBER 2004, WITH ABOUT 37K MILES. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 64K MILES AND YESTERDAY (MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2006) IS WHEN SHE TOOK A DIVE. I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A 1200 MILE TRIP EARLY MONDAY MORNING. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, I STARTED ON AN ERRAND; BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE ABOUT 100 YARDS TO THE ENTRANCE/EXIT OF OUR SUBDIVISION. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A BUSY INTERSECTION AND DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO GET OUT. I SAW A SMALL OPENING IN THE TRAFFIC AND I GAVE THE ACCELERATOR A PRETTY GOOD PUSH.......AND ALMOST NOTHING HAPPENED. I JUST STARTED CREEPING ALONG AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. ON INCLINES IT WAS EVEN WORSE. THE FIRST WARNING WAS "REDUCED PERFORMANCE." I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. AT THAT POINT I WAS WONDERING HOW TO GET OFF THIS BUSY ROAD AND TAKE A LESS TRAVELED ONE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I GOT OFF THE BUSY ROAD AND DOWN THE NEXT HILL, BUT NOT UP. THE ENGINE WAS BARELY RUNNING AND PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. NEXT I BACKED/COASTED DOWN THE HILL AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, ENGINE STILL SORT OF RUNNING. I DECIDED TO TRY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART, BUT EVENTUALLY WOULD WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DID THIS A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES - START/ SHUT DOWN AND AFTER A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN FINE. I HEADED FOR MY USUAL REPAIR SHOP (FRANKLIN AUTOMOTIVE) AND THEY GOT ABOUT 12 THROTTLE BODY ERRORS AND SAID I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER - ROYAL VOLVO. I AM IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT THERE. THE DIAGNOSTIC CLEARED ERROR MESSAGES. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON AND A "SERVICE ENGINE URGENT" MESSAGE WAS PRESENT ALONG WITH ONE OTHER MESSAGE THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER. ROYAL VOLVO UPDATED THE ETM SOFTWARE, AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AS PART OF SERVICE CAMPAIGN 155. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THIS SHOULD FIX THE ETM PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICE OR NEED ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. ALL THIS WAS LISTED UNDER A VOLVO RECALL AND THERE WERE NO CHARGES. *NM

BOTH FRONT SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THIS CREATED A TRAFFIC HAZARD WHEN THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 2 YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL-PAVED, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 9 DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL-PAVED SIDE STREET. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLAT BED TRUCK TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE PART WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *JB

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 HAVE A 2001 VOLVO V70 XC WAGON. THE CAR WAS REVVING HIGH FOR A WHILE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. ABOUT A MONTH OR SO LATER THE ETM FAILED. I WAS BEING LEFT STRANDED AT FREEWAY OFF RAMPS, AND GREEN LIGHTS WHEN THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DIE. IT'S A MIRACLE I WASN'T REAR-ENDED! AFTER A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE ETM WARRANTY, (THEY ONLY CLEANED THE ETM THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT-SAYING IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH!), A MONTH HAS PASSED AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED! THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A $5300 ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT AS IT IS UNREPAIRABLE! I TOOK IT TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 70,000 MILES HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ETM WOULDN'T ALLOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER DO WHATEVER IT IS A TORQUE CONVERTER DOES, AND THAT CAUSED THE OIL TO HEAT UP AND THEN THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HE SAID THERE IS NO ONE AROUND WHO WILL TOUCH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TO USE A DEALER TO REPLACE IT. I AM COMPLETELY DEVASTATED AND CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS A LEMON. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS, AND I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD CONTACT ME ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES I HAVE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TEST MY CAR! I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ETMS AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSION FAILURES. PLEASE HELP!*JB

ETM FAILED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC LAST YEAR. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED VOLVO IS NOT RECALLING BUT WILL COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR THE ETM REPAIRS. GO TO THE VOLVO WEBSITE AND E-MAIL THEM WITH REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND THEY WILL INSTRUCT WHERE TO SEND RECEIPTS FOR REPAIRS. THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY SENDING LETTERS BUT I DID NOT GET ONE NOR WAS I CONTACTED BY THE DEALER WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. I HAVE HAD MANY EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS WITH MY V70 2001 XC BEFORE AND AFTER IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY SHOULD RECALL AS ETM IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WHY NOT?? CLASS ACTION SUIT ANYONE? I WILL NEVER BUY A VOLVO AGAIN. *JB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "REDUCED POWER MODE" ON OUR 2001 VOLVO XC70 NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN DEC '05 AND FEB '06. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO GO OVER 15 MPH UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT-OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE PULLING OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO A MAJOR ROAD, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHILE ATTEMPTING A PASSING MANEUVER ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 60 MPH. IN ALL SITUATIONS, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT SOMEONE WAS NOT RIGHT BEHIND US (MY WIFE AND 2 SMALL CHILDREN) WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM), BUT STATED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT IMMEDIATELY, THE "PROCEDURE" CALLED FOR CLEANING THE ETM AND DOWNLOADING NEW SOFTWARE. ONLY AFTER THIS PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED AND THAT THE EVENT RECURRED (STORING A CODE IN MEMORY), WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO REPLACE THE ETM. I PICKED UP THE CAR THE SAME NIGHT AND AGAIN, WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FAMILIAR "REDUCED POWER MODE" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. I DO NOT SEE WHY IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR REPEATED FAILURE, THAT VOLVO WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COMPONENT IMMEDIATELY, SINCE THEY ARE EQUATED WITH VEHICLE "SAFETY". THE ETM WILL NOW BE REPLACED, BUT I CANNOT SAY THAT I WILL BE ANY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH DRIVING OUR XC70. *NM