1999 VOLVO V70XC Recalls, Complaints & Safety

KEY IGNITION IS FAILING WILL OFTEN NOT START THEN AFTER MOVING KEY AROUND IN IGNITION TO FIND THE PERFECT POSITION THE CAR WILL START

MY VOLVO V70 WAS ON A TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC BEFORE RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CAR HAD 59,800 MILES. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO AN OIL GASKET DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD IN WAINSCOTT, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

Fire

THE CAR WENT INTO A "LIMP HOME MODE" AS I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSING SEVERAL CARS TO HAVE TO SWERVE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THE 99 & 00 ( WHICH I OWN BOTH ) MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THE PART. I CARRIED THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY TO INSTALL A SOFTWARE UPDATE, NOT TO REPLACE THE PART ITSELF. WELL, THEY DID THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND ABOUT HALF WAY HOME, 5 MILES OR LESS, THE ETC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WENT INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN, BARELY MAKING IT HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE MODULE ITSELF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL ????? THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $1200-$1300 TO REPLACE. THIS IS EXTREMELY WRONG AND DANGEROUS. AS MUCH AS I CAN GATHER FROM READING COMPLAINTS ON VOLVO FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE AT LEAST 2004 AND HAS AFFECTED ABOUT 200,000 CARS. IS THERE NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS MATTER ?? PLEASE ADVISE.. PS. THE VIN ON MY 2000 V70 XC IS [XXX] , HAS 145,000 MILES AND HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1999 MODEL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSING IT TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

MY 1999 V70R WITH 122,000 MILES HAS HAD THE MOST PROBLEMS OF ANY VOLVO I HAVE OWNED IN 44 YEARS; HEATER CORE, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE, STEERING RACK, WHEEL BEARINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, PARKING BRAKE FAILURE, BRAKE LINES AND HOSES, AND NOW? THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED COMPLETELY AFTER A 105,000 MILE CHECKUP BY THE DEALER SHOWED NO ISSUES. 2 MONTHS LATER - WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR AND BUCKS LIKE A HORSE. WHY DO I READ ABOUT MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT SEE NO ACTION - RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT OR FIX FROM VOLVO? *TR

1999 VOLVO XC V70. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE THE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS CONCERNING THE ETM COMPONENTS. *JB

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO V70XC, SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR WENT INTO WHAT'S CALLED LIMP HOME MODE. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2006 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED VOLVO TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A THROTTLE MODULE, THE SAME REASON FOR THE RECALL IN 2006. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND NEW SOFTWARE INSTALLED AND NOW THE CARD RUNS GOOD. SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW MODULE, $900 SINCE THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED ON THE INITIAL RECALL? *TR

FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ASSEMBLY CAUSING VERY POOR DRIVABLE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEVERE THAT THE CAR CAN NOT SAFELY BE DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT A RISK OF ACCIDENT. BRIEF CHRONOLOGY: I HAVE A VERY EARLY PRODUCTION 1999 VOLVO V70XC. IT HAD DRIVABLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. NEVER WAS FIXED. (SUPPOSEDLY) REPLACED ETM THE FIRST TIME IN ~ 2004, USING PART WHOSE DESIGN WAS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY. LATER DID SOFTWARE UPDATE (CAMPAIGN 155). DRIVABLE IMPROVED SLIGHTLY, BUT WAS NEVER CORRECT. REPLACEMENT MODULE IS NOW FAILING. CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. ENGINE RUNS POORLY, RPM LIMITED TO < 2000, ALWAYS IN "LIMP HOME MODE". YOU ARE AWARE (I BELIEVE) THAT THERE IS A RECALL/REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY FOR THIS PART. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS THE SAME DESIGN FLAW AS THE ORIGINAL. (I AM ALREADY ON A "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED MODULE). VOLVO IS PRETENDING TO HONOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHILE EITHER: 1) CHANGING THE MODULE'S SOFTWARE TO POSTPONE OR HIDE THE ACTUAL (MECHANICAL) FAILURE MECHANISM. 2) REPLACING A FAILED MODULE WITH ONE HAVING THE SAME FLAWED DESIGN WHICH HAS THE SAME POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE AS BEFORE. THIS RESULTS IN A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BEING QUITE LIKELY TO OCCUR TO A CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF IN THE FUTURE. WORSE YET, THIS IS OCCURRING JUST AS A NUMBER OF THE VEHICLES ARE NEARING THE END OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE END RESULT OF THIS IS THEY LEAVE A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM UNSOLVED, AND DUCK THE ACTUAL PROBLEM BY USING A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO GET THE CUSTOMER JUST PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IN CONCLUSION, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO SUPPLY UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE PARTS UNDER THE GUISE OF HAVING PROVIDED A SAFE, RELIABLE, AND WARRANTED REPAIR. THEY NEED TO BE FORCED TO: ISSUE A FULL RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES USING THE CURRENT ETM DESIGN, ANNOUNCE A FULL RECALL FOR ALL CARS USING THIS DESIGN, AND SUPPLY ONLY A RE-DESIGNED ETM AS PART OF ALL FUTURE REPAIRS. *TR

ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT 115K MILES IN AUGUST 2007 FOR A COST OF $1,000 DUE TO MALFUNCTION INDICATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF MECHANIC. IS THIS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 VOLVO V70? *TR

1. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ETM. 2. CAR HAS ROUGH IDLE, STALLS, SURGES IN TRAFFIC. 3. REPLACING THE ETM. FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR

REAR BRAKE ROTORS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. WE HAD THEM REPLACED IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AND THEY ARE WORN DOWN NOW, DEC 2008. *TR

DRIVING ON FREEWAY 65 MILES PER HOUR, VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE POWER, ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. TRIED SEVERAL RESTARTS TO SEE IF ENGINE WILL RUN NORMALLY, AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, STARTED CAR, ENG RAN NORMAL, ETS AND CEL LIGHT STILL ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS VOLVO USED W/ 120K MILES. I SAW RECORDS OF MAJOR WORK DONE AT THE DEALER JUST PREVIOUS TO 100,000 AND FIGURED IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 100K. AT 131K, IT BEGAN CONSTANTLY STALLING AND LUNGING. I DID A TINY BIT OF RESEARCH AND LEARNED OF THE RECALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME 200 TO DO NOTHING OTHER THAN READ THE CODES AND TELL ME THE ETM SOFTWARE HAD ALREADY BEEN UPDATED, AND THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS BAD. I REPLACED THE MAFS TO NO CHANGE. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 VOLVO V70XC WITH 114000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 65 MPH THE ETS LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE SPEED. THE CONTACT PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SPEED WENT DOWN TO 35 MPH, THEN THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

1999 VOLVO V70XC'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86, 000 MILES. *TS

THE ABS/TRAC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN GO OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND THE ORANGE ARROW STARTS BLINKING. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT IS BLINKING, THE CAR SHIFTS TO WINTER MODE AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE ABS MODULE AND COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE OVER $1000. I HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE REPLACED LAST YEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE A POOR DESIGN, AS I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS ON VOLVOS. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA CONTACT VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS HAZARDOUS ABS AND ACCELERATION SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY SLOWED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 15MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THERE WAS NO BRAKE INTERFERENCE TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO WILL BE INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. *AK

CAR WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION MARCH 27, 2006. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. I HAD TO PURCHASE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT A TOTAL COST OF $4004.04. THIS REPRESENTS 20% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE NOT INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS "CHECKED OUT" AT 82,000 MILES WITH NO APPARENT ISSUES. THIS WAS THE ENDING MILEAGE FORTHE EXTENDING WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 89,330 MILES. *JB

THE CAR OUT OF NOWHERE JUST STOPPED MOVING. THE CAR DID NOT DIE JUST NO POWER. AFTER HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON I LEARNED OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IN MOST VOLVOS FROM 99 - 01. *JB

ETS WARNING. PRIOR TO THIS LACK OF PERFORMANCE AND POWER. SOON AFTER PURCHASE IT HAD OCCURRED AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING, DRIVERS WINDOW WAS LOWERED AND THEN WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN FOR 20 MILES WITH WINDOW OPEN IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL IT WAS IN A SHELTERED LOCATION AND BY MULTIPLE FORCING ATTEMPTS, THE WINDOW RAISED. THE REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *NM

ELECTRONIC 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 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 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 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 DRIVE A LITTLE BETTER, IT CONTINUED TO JERK AND SPUTTER. *JB

ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS WORK SPORADICALLY. SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVES THE CAR. SOMETIMES CANNOT ADJUST SEATS. PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING CAR. *NM

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

CHARRED BATTERY CABLE - COULD CAUSE FIRE. *NM

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED. REPAIR COST $1000. I'VE READ THAT THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON IN MY VEHICLE AND THAT VOLVO HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY. THE SPUTTERING THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A MERGE ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. THE NHTSA AND VOLVO SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR FURTHER EXPENSE AND INJURY TO FORCE A RECALL. *NM

MY 1999 VOLVO V70XC HAD BEEN PERFORMING SLUGGISHLY, WITH INCONSISTENT POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN UNDER MANUAL CONTROL OR CRUISE. I HAD AN INTERMITTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP ON 8/16/05 WHERE THEY REPLACED THE AIR MASS METER AND EVAP VALVE FOR THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. AFTER THIS SERVICE THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLE REMAINED THE SAME. ON OCTOBER 1, 2005 I HAD A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENT. WHILE MERGING ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY MY VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND LOST POWER. THE ENGINE ALL BUT DIED AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER. MY MERGING AND FAILURE TO ACCELERATE CAUSED A VERY CLOSE CALL WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER, STOPPED MY ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND RESTARTED AS PROSCRIBED IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL. THE VEHICLE DROVE AS IT DID PREVIOUS TO THE INCIDENT FOR ANOTHER HOUR. I DID NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK. TAKING IT FOR A DRIVE ON OCTOBER 9TH IT AGAIN DROVE FINE INITIALLY, BUT I HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE AFTER A FEW MILES. AGAIN THE ENGINE LOST NEARLY ALL POWER AND WOULD STALL AT IDLE. TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, WAITING, AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM THIS TIME. AFTER A FEW STOPS AND RESTARTS I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY HOUSE WITHOUT A TOW. I CALLED THE VOLVO DEALER WHERE I HAD THE WORK DONE IN AUGUST. AFTER HEARING OF THE SYMPTOMS AND THE PREVIOUS WORK THEY INFORMED ME QUITE QUICKLY THAT THE REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE ETM MODULE AND THE COST WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1000. THE SPEED AT WHICH THEY REPLIED MADE ME THINK IS WAS A COMMON, OR AT LEAST KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I SPOKE WITH A NON-DEALER VOLVO SPECIALIST MECHANIC (SWEDISH CAR SPECIALISTS OF SCHAUMBURG, IL) WHO SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR. ALSO A FEW INTERNET WEBSITES HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, WITH ONE, HTTP://WWW.VEXEDVOLVO.ORG GOING INT GREAT DETAIL.*JB

MILEAGE APPROX 115,000 WHEN PURCHASED NOW 120,000 WITHIN 8 MONTHS. HARDLY HARD USE. FAILURE OF ECM AND O2 SENSORS, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE SECOND WITHIN 1000 MILES AND 1 MONTH OF FIRST REPAIR. CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE, IF RESTARTED MIGHT STALL AND GENERALLY BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NO WARNING OF FAILURE. VOLVO DEALERSHIPS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM AND OFFERED IMMEDIATE AND CORRECT DIAGNOSIS PRIOR TO CHECKING THE COMPUTER CODES, WITHOUT NEEDING MUCH INVESTIGATION. 2 DEALERS WORKED ON THE CAR ONE DON BAYER IN WASHINGTON AND INDEPENDENCE VOLVO IN CHARLOTTE. INSTRUCTED INDEPENDENCE VOLVO DEALER TO MAKE CAR SAFE AND ROADWORTHY. UPLOADED FAULTS AND DOWNLOADED ONTO VEHICLE, NEW SOFTWARE. WITHIN 1 MONTH NEW SYMPTOMS APPEAR. AT VARIOUS TIMES THESE LIGHTS SHOW AND RESET ABS WARNING, ENGINE WARNING, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING, SPEEDO FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE WARNING (EVEN THOUGH SERVICE IS JUST CARRIED OUT).SYMPTOMS INCLUDE LACK OF THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN PULLING AWAY, WHEN SPEEDO FAILS. NO WARNING OF CHANGE IN STATUS MEANS THIS HAPPENS DURING TURNING MANEUVERS WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR LETHAL CONSEQUENCES. CHECKING VARIOUS SOURCES NOTE THAT ABS MODULE FAILURE IS COMMON MAKING THE CAR POTENTIALLY UNSAFE IN EMERGENCY, NOT ONLY FOR BRAKING BUT DURING ACCELERATION AS THE CARS ABILITY TO PULL AT ITS NORMAL RATE IS VASTLY REDUCED, ADDING THROTTLE DOES NOTHING, BUT IF THE SYSTEM TURNS BACK ON AGAIN NO WARNING, THE SPEEDOMETER JUST COMES BACK TO LIFE ) THIS CAN CAUSE UNNEEDED FIERCE ACCELERATION. I NOTED ONE DEATH ON THE HIGHWAY OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO APPEARED TO ACCELERATE OFF THE ROAD DURING A BENIGN MANEUVER AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ON/OFF SPEEDOMETER/ABS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE RATHER THAN THE ECM CURRENTLY THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. *NM

JUST DRIVING ALONG AND THE ETS LIGHT WENT ON. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ETM MODULE, FOR $1500. THE CAR HAD 73,760 MILES, AND THE UNIT IS THE EXACT SAME AS THE ONE THEY REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO EXPECT THIS ONE TO LAST THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME, MAYBE MORE, MAYBE LESS. *JB

I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH DRIVABILITY WITH MY 1999 VOLVO V70. WARNING LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND OFF AND ERRATIC DRIVING PERFORMANCE WERE EXPERIENCED. THEN THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DRIVABILITY WORSENED TO THE POINT OF FEARING GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OR HIGHWAY. SAFETY SEEMS TO BE COMPROMISED BY THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF THE CARS PERFORMANCE. IN SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER IT WAS CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND THERE WERE NO ALTERNATIVES AS THIS COULD ONLY BE REPAIRED THROUGH THE DEALER. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED. THIS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT. THIS PROBLEM COMPROMISES SAFETY. AND WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR AND LACK OF ALTERNATIVES MEASURES, THIS FEELS LIKE A MANUFACTURER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CUSTOMER. LASTLY, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THIS FAULTY COMPONENT WITH ANOTHER FAULTY COMPONENT. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WILL REMAIN AND I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO MORE PROBLEMS. *JB

1999 VOLVO V70 XC DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#10131400. WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ETS LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. *SC

I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM A DEALER THAT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED. I WAS QUOTED APPROX 900 FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PART AND THEREFORE I THINK NHTSA SHOULD FORCE THE QUESTION TO VOLVO AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS PART WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND/OR WHY DO SO MANY OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER WANTED THE ETM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONSUMERS REQUEST, BECAUSE THE PART HAD NOT FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A DRINK WAS SPILLED IN IT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THAT THEORY. THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AFTER SHOWING SIGNS OF BEING WEAK, HOWEVER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. UPDATED 12/14/05. *JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1999 VOLVO V70 HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED. THE CAR HAD ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON BEFORE THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STOP GIVING ANY INFORMATION AT ALL FROM THE DASH. THERE WAS AN ARROW IN THE DASH THAT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND IT COST HER $904.00 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE. *AK

INITIALLY, I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD SURGE UPON ACCELERATION IN 1ST GEAR. SOMETIMES, MAYBE 40% OF THE TIME, I WOULD START OFF FROM A STOP, BUT THE CAR WOULD HESITATE BEFORE GOING. ALSO, THE CAR WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY WHEN FIRST STARTED, AND WOULD 'SHUTTER' WHEN TURNED OFF. ONCE, I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND REMOVED THE KEY, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPUTTER ROUGHLY UNTIL I RESTARTED IT. IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY MY MECHANIC TO USE A FUEL TREATMENT, AND USE PREMIUM GAS WITH DETERGENTS. I DID THIS, AND NOTHING CHANGED. RECENTLY, AS THESE SYMPTOMS WORSENED, THE "ETS" LIGHT BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON IN MY CAR. THE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON AND OFF FOR 3 WEEKS AND I CALLED MY MECHANIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC, WHO UPON CHECKING THE COMPUTER CODES, FOUND THAT THE ETS LIGHT WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY UNIT. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BY THE DEALER DUE TO THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING NECESSARY FOR PROPER INSTALLATION. ON SEPT 20, 2005 , I HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE UNIT REPLACED BY THE VOLVO DEALER AT A COST OF $1016.33. *NM