1999 VOLVO C70 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

THE CAR REDUCED THE SPEED AND NOW IT STOPPED RUNNING BECAUSE THE ETM IS NOT WORKING. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER IN OCTOBER 2013 AND THEREFORE I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY STARTED FROM THE DAY THE FIRST CAR WAS BOUGHT WHICH WAS AUGUST 25, 1999 BUT IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE FROM THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED WITH THE ETM THAT CAUSED VOLVO TO RECALL AND BUY THE CARS BACK. VOLVO MADE APPROXIMATELY 300,000 CARS AND REPAIRED AND BOUGHT BACK AROUND 165,000 CARS. THIS MEANS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY VOLVO THAT THE CAR I CURRENTLY OWN THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. AS I SEE IT THEY NEGLECTED TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAR CAN CAUSE MY FAMILY TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE REGIONAL MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE FIXED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND THE PARTS. THEY ARE OFFERING TO GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS BUT I FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCOUNTS FOR LABOR AND PARTS INDICATE THAT VOLVO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE PROBLEMS OF THE CAR BUT ALSO THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I ASK TO SPEAK TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER AND I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WAS NOT ALLOWED. I LEFT A MESSAGE TO HIM TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY REDUCED SPEED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000....UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIMP MODE AFFECTS THE BREAKING SYSTEM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. UPDATED 06/505/2013 *JS

ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILURE BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED IT IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKING MODULE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE IDLING AT STOP SIGNS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE MODULE. IN 2002 AND ON JULY 25, 2005 THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ON JANUARY 20, 2005 THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE IT HAD WEAKENED. ALL THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.

WHILE REMOVING A CHILD CAR SEAT THE SEAT BELT BUTTON FELL OFF, THUS THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED COMPLETELY AND WAS COMPLETELY RETRACTED FORCING THE SEAT IN THE DECLINED POSITION AND PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN THIS POSITION. NOW THE SEAT IS UNUSABLE AS A CHILD SEAT OR ANY TYPE OF SEAT UNTIL A DEALER REPAIR. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CAR WITH A CHILD SEAT. ON A LONG TRIP WITH CHILDREN THIS PUTS THE CHILDREN AT GREAT RISK AND CREATES AN ILLEGAL DRIVING CONDITION. EVEN WITH THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY I WAS CHARGED $56. *NM

ETM FAILED IN CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME AT 115,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, PREVIOUSLY REPLACED SEPTEMBER 2003 AT 64,000 MILES. DRIVING FROM OHIO TO PA FOR THANKSGIVING ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER THANKSGIVING DINNER WENT TO GO HOME AND MY VOLVO C70 QUIT ACCELERATING WHILE ENTERING A 4 LANE HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRY RAMP. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND TRAFFIC WAS EASILY ABLE TO PASS TO THE LEFT UNTIL I COASTED OFF TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IDLING BUT DID NOT HAVE POWER TO GO UP SMALL GRADE. SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, THROTTLE RESPONSE RESUMED AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. DEALER REPLACED ETM MODULE UNDER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM ON 12/2/2005. I DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR SURGED UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY ONCE AND TWICE. THEY HAVE DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THESE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND WAS GETTING WORSE. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AT HIS EXPENSE. *AK

THE THROTTLE BODY HAS FAILED IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HWY. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND WAS CLEANED 2 - 3 TIMES. AT THIS TIME I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OVER 15 MPH. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS SITTING. I AM GUESSING AT THE DAY IT STATED. *NM

DT:THE PROBLEM BEGAN LAST YEAR WHILE DRIVING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH, THE OWNER FELT TUGGING AND HESITATION. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON TO WARN OWNER OF A PROBLEM. THE CAR EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER UNTIL THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE WENT UP TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE PROBLEM HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, AND GOT WORSE WITH TIME. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES, THEN OWNER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER NOTIFIED OWNER HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ( ETM). THE FAULT CODES THAT SHOWED ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM 9150 AND 914F). THE OWNER DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE AND THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THEN ABOUT 9 MONTHS LATER, THE OWNER EXPERIENCED THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING/COMING ON TO THE OFF RAMP, AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THE OWNER TRIED TO SPEED UP. THERE WAS A FEELING OF COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT 3000 RPMS. THE OWNER PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THERE WAS NO POWER AFTER 3000 RPMS. THERE WAS A FEELING OF THE CAR HAVING ONLY ONE GEAR. THE OWNER COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT WAS FINE FOR A WHILE. THE PROBLEM IS STAYING THE SAME NOW, NOT GETTING WORSE. THE OWNER WISHED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, BUT COULD NOT AFFORD IT. THE OWNER HAS SPOKEN WITH VOLVO, WHO WON'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY SAY THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 VOLVO C70 AND I AM EXPERIENCING MY CAR TRYING TO PUSH ITSELF AND THE RPM IDLING VERY FAST AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO SHUT OFF. I SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ALREADY ABOUT MY SONS S60 AND MY S80, WHICH ARE HAVE THE SAME TROUBLES AS MY S80. THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE I THINK IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. LUCKILY MY CAR HASN'T TURN OFF ON ME YET, BUT ONE TIME GETTING OUT OF MY GARAGE THE CAR STALLED. PLEASE GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED OR RECALLED. THANKS. *NM

THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE OR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1999 VOLVO C70. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON GALLATIN RD IN TN , A BUSY 4 LANE BUSINESS DISTRICT, WHEN MY VOLVO C70 LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST INTO A CHURCH PARKING LOT - I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF THE INCIDENT UNTIL I SAW A SIMILAR STORY REPORTED ON YAHOO NEWS. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS WORKING FINE NOW (2 YRS LATER), BUT HAD THIS BEEN A BUSY HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAFFIC PROBLEM. *NM

ON 12/31/2004 WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE ETM DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME, AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT, I COULD NOT CALL MY LOCAL GARAGE. ON MONDAY I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD THE "ERROR CODE OF DEATH", THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY VOLVO GARAGE. THEY HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE TB PROBLEMS. I HAD IT TOWED TO SMC, INC. WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ETM UNIT FAILED AND IT WAS MY FAULT FOR "USING CHEAP GAS" AND "FAILING TO SERVICE THE AIR CLEANERS". SINCE I ALWAYS BURN THE BEST FUEL AVAILABLE, AND ALWAYS GO TO THE DEALER GARAGE FOR ALL MY MAINTENANCE, I KNEW THAT WAS BOGUS. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AS WAS A GASKET. I WAS OUTRAGED, AND EXPRESSED THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND CHALLENGED HIS ACCUSATION. I EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE MAGNETI MORELLI ETM MODULES WHICH IS COMMON IN ALL 1999-2001 70-SERIES ENGINES ARE ALL STARTING TO FAIL. DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE ARE ALL USING "CHEAP GAS AND FAILING REGULAR MAINTENANCE"? NO, IT MEANS THAT THEIR LOUSY DESIGN USES METAL WIPERS AGAINST A THIN-FILM POLY RHEOSTAT, GUARANTEED TO RUB THRU WITHIN 30-60K MILES. IF THIS HAPPENS IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A REMOTE WINTER HIGHWAY, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. I WAS TOLD THAT VOLVO'S "LEGENDARY SAFETY" ONLY APPLIES TO CRASH TESTS, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGNS AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES. JUST THIS WEEKEND A STRANDED MOTORIST WAS PLOWED DOWN BY A SEMI-TRUCK ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY. *JB

WHILE DRIVINGTHE DASHBOARD WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY BECOME LOOSE AND BOUNCED UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK

THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACCELERATING. THE ETS LIGHT IS ON. THE ETS MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE IS STILL POOR. *AK

THE VEHICLES ABS LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF. THE ABS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SC

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. SO I GOT OUT THE FACTORY JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LIFT UP THE CAR. THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR ARE "SCISSOR-TYPE" AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE. SO, THE CAR WAS LIFTED ON ONE SIDE AND I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT TIRE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE JACK GAVE WAY AND THE CAR CAME DOWN. LUCKILY THE FRONT TIRE WAS HALFWAY IN THE WHEEL-WELL, SO THE CAR JUST SETTLED ON THE TIRE WITH THE ROTOR PUSHING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE RIM (I NOTICED SCRATCHES INSIDE THE RIM AFTER I REMOVED THE TIRE). WELL, I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE JACK AND SAW THAT THE BIG, LONG SCREW BROKE IN HALF. I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT THE JACK VOLVO GIVES OUT WITH THEIR CARS WOULD SIMPLY BREAK, ESPECIALLY IF EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROPERLY. THE CAR WAS EMPTY, SO WEIGHT COULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THERE WAS SOME LOWER BODY PANEL DAMAGE FROM THE JACK WHEN IT BROKE. ALSO, MY FINGERS GOT BRUISED AND SCRATCHED UP A BIT FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CAR FALLING ON THE FRONT TIRE THAT I WAS REMOVING AT THE TIME. *NLM

1 injured

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ETS LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SOON AFTERWARD THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO HESITATE. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP, GET IT OUT AND THEN WHEN SHE GET IN THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO HESITATE. SHE SAYS NOW THERE IS A RINGING SOUND THAT COMES ON ABOUT EVERY 8 SECONDS. TS

MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO VOLVO'S RECOMMENDATIONS. VOLVO DEALER BALANCED AND ROTATED MY TIRES AT 15,000 MILES AND INDICATED THEY WERE FINE. AL 16,000 MILES THE TWO REAR TIRES (WHICH WERE IN THE FRON UNTIL THE 15,000 MILE SERVICE) STARTED DISINTEGRATING AT 16,000 MILES (THE STEEL CORDS STARTED COMING OUT). THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL! I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT VOLVO NUMEROUS TIMES (THE DEALER AND VOLVO'S 800 CUSTOMER SERVICENUMBER) AND VOLVO IS IGNORING MY CALLS. I SAW OTHER VOLVO C70 CARS AT THE DEALER WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THEY ONLY HAD 12,000 MILES!. CAR TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS! HAVE YOU RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM VOLVO C70 OWNERS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: P22550R16)

ORIGINAL PIRELLI P6000 TIRES THAT WERE ON VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO BLOW OUTS DUE TO POSSIBLE FLAW IN MANUFACTURING, FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 1,099 MILES. *MJS

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND IT WAS RESET. THE SECOND TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CO2 SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME WAS THE SAME DAY IT WAS REPAIRED FOR THE 2ND TIME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 20 MILES LATER. THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION & FUEL INJECTION FAULT TRACING WAS FOUND FAULTY. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW METER WAS FAULTY & HAD TO BE REPLACED, WE'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER WHICH HAS A CONSTANT TICKING SOUND THAT THEY CLAIM IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAD TO ADJUSTED AND THE DASHBOARD ALSO HAS HAD TO BE REMOUNTED 3 TIMES. THIS CAR HAS BEEN TIED UP AT THE DEALER FOR 40 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT KEEPS COMING ON AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THIS. *AK