THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED IN MY CAR AND ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC AND ALL OVER THE INTERNET THE MODULES CONTINUALLY BREAK AND COST AROUND 700 DOLLARS TO REPAIR EACH TIME. WHEN THIS MODULE DOES NOT WORK IS CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH STEERING POWER, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING (WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT AND CAUSES CAR TO STALL), BRAKE FAILURE WARNINGS, AND NO ABS. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHILE DRIVING, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS ONE SYSTEM NOT WORKING OR MORE.
1999 Volvo S80 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1999 record →
DT: CONTACT STATES: ON 7-8-05 WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE CONSUMER HEARD A SPUTTERING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURST OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE FUEL PIPE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER., WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
FAILURE OF ETM IN 1999 VOLVO S80T6 CAUSE NEAR COLLISION WHEN THE CAR STOPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING AT 45 MPH.CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT A COST OF $1439.16
WHILE DRIVING, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER/ACCELERATION IN MY VEHICLE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT COULD NOT RESTART IT. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP. DIAGNOSIS - REPLACE THROTTLE BODY AND DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE (ETM). BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS PAST THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPARIS SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT SPECIFICALLY LIST THESE DEFECTS . . . $815 PARTS AND LABOR. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR 3 MONTHS LATER, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS IN 2002 WHICH VOLVO DIAGNOSED AS A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE; HOWEVER I HAVE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO START MY CAR, BUT WITH SOME TROUBLE. NON-WARRANTY REPAIRS ARE COVERED FOR ONLY 1 YEAR. I CALLED THE WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF THEY COULD HELP ME OUT. THE WARRANTY COMPANY KNEW OF THE DEFECT FROM PREVIOUS OTHER COMPLAINTS, AND THEY TOLD ME TO TRY TO WORK OUT A DEAL WITH VOLVO (WHICH DIDN'T HAPPEN). ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2002, I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO VOLVO BECAUSE MY ENGINE FLUCTUATED WHILE IDLING. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED AS THE IDLE SURGED. VOLVO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN IGNITION COIL FAILURE. PARTS AND LABOR COST ME $250. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2002 (5 DAYS LATER) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I REQUESTED A FUEL FILTER CHECK/REPLACEMENT, BUT VOLVO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. THE CHECKED AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS HAPPENED, OF COURSE, JUST 2 MONTHS BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE BODY. I'VE SPENT OVER $1000 FOR MIS-
MY 1999 VOVLO S80 ENGINE BEGAN SURGING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE IDLE WOULD BOUNCE UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF FROM 500 - 1500RPM. THE CAR FINALY SET DHECK ENGINE CODES THAT INDICATED THAT THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD FAILED. REPLACING MAF CORRECTED THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE CAR HAS BEEN SHOWING SIGNS OF THE SAME FAILURE AGAIN. FIRST MAF UNIT WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 28, 2003 WITH 63,935 MILES, NOW AT 104,380 THE SAME ISSUES HAVE BEGUN TO RE-APPEAR. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE CURRENT DESIGN OF THE 1999 S80 MAF HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT LIMITS ITS USEFUL LIFE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A MAF SENSOR BEFORE NOW I AM LOOKING AT A RE-OCCURANCE ON THE SAME VEHICLE.
PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE IDLE OF THE CAR WOULD SURGE UP AND DOWN AT AN IDLE BETWEEN 500-1500 RPM'S. TRYING TO PARK THE CAR THE CAR WOULD JUMP FORWARD AT EACH SURGE. A COUPLE OF TIMES AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR DIED ON HER, ONE TIME AROUND A CORNER AND SHE COULD HARDLY STEER. THE CAR WOULD ONLY SURGE IF THE FOOT WAS OFF THE THROTTLE, THEREFORE IT WOULD STALL AS YOU TRIED TO CORNER OR WENT TO HIT THE BRAKE. ANOTHER TIME IT STALLED WAS IN A TRAFFIC SLOW DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. THE PART FINALLY FAILED ONE DAY WHEN THE CAR JUST WOULD NOT START. WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL. TWO MORE TIMES AFTER THE TC WAS REPLACED THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE AGAIN. AT THOSE TIMES AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE I BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME PART THAT WAS REPLACED THERE WAS NO CHARGE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE PARTS. ONE MORE TIME THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AND I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ONCE AGAIN THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE TC AND TOLD ME THAT THE FLAME TRAP WAS THE CAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEY WANTED ANOTHER $1000 TO REPLACE THAT PART I DECIDED I WOULD DO IT MYSELF. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TC ANYMORE. AFTER I REPLACED THE FLAME TRAP, WHICH THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, 6 MONTHS LATER THE CAR STARTED AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALL AVER AGAIN. THAT'S WHERE I AM AT NOW. ORIGINALLY WHEN THE CAR DIED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER IT COST ME $139
DT:VEHICKE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK
INITIAL PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. AFTER STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, VEHICLE WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE TO 20 MPH. ONLY AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE FOR 5-10 MINUTES WOULD VEHICLE RESUME NORMAL PERFORMANCE - THEN WOULD REPEAT PROBLEM AFTER RUNNING A FEW MINUTES. DEALER SERVICE HAS REPLACED A COMPUTER MODULE WHICH CONTROLS THIS FUNCTION. I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN VOLVOS. MINE IS A 1999 S80. *JB
RE:1999, S-80,T-6 VOLVO. SAW AN AP ARTICLE IN MY LOCAL PAPER TODAY RE COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION. I EXPERIENCED VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE SAME PROBLEMS CITED IN THE ARTICLE. NAMELY STALL W/O WARNING, FROM A STOP,STEP ON GAS AND BARELY WOULD MOVE(LIKE SLIPPING CLUTCH ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION) , HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS WHERE I FELT VULNERABLE AND UNSAFE IN TRAFFIC, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ETC. SOUNDS VERY MUCH LIKE THESE OTHER COMPLAINTS. AT SAME TIME I HAD LOTS OF INCORRECT "READOUTS" ON DASH PANEL. I COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS ALL COULD BE RELATED TO THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH WAS REPLACED AT COST OF $825.00. OLD PART WAS NOT GIVEN BACK TO ME. OF NOTE IS THAT DURING THE SAME REPAIR A BELT WAS REPLACED WHICH THEY DID GIVE BACK TO ME, BUT NOT THE MODULE. MILEAGE WAS ONLY 61,376. THIS MODULE DID SOLVE THE PROBLEM HOWEVER I AM NOW GETTING ANOTHER GOOFY READOUT THAT DEALER SAYS COULD BE A DEFECTIVE MODULE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 61779. I DID NOT THINK THAT FAILURES OF THIS TYPE SHOULD OCCUR AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. AT THE TIME I ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS AND WAS TOLD NO. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND II DO SUSPICION THAT A DEFECT EXISTS. *JB
DT;VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER, AND OPERATED ON REDUCED SPEED. PCV FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
DT:VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER AND DIED. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED CAR OFF ROAD SAFELY. ENGINE RESTARTED. BROUGHT CAR TO VOLVO DEALER WHO COULD NOT IDENTIFY ANY PROBLEM. *NM
CAR IS STALLING AND IDLING IRREGULARLY. *JB
1999 VOLVO S80 T6, SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED WHEN DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, WITH SUDDEN PARTIAL AND AT TIMES COMPLETE STALL W/OUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES, TWICE I HAD TO BE TOWED. EXTENSIVE WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE ETM BY TWO VERY GOOD VOLVO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND IS A MYSTERY AS TO WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING - I NEED THIS CAR TO WORK!! *JB
MY 1999 S-80 VOLVO LOST POWER TEMPORARILY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. SEVERAL OF THE CARS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED AND BRAKE SERVICE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY TYPE MESSAGES. THE VOLVO DEALER JUST REPLACE THE ABS MODULE AND SEVERAL COIL PACKETS AND SPARK PLUGS. A COUPLE OF OLD PARTS WERE LEFT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE PARTS ARE. *JB
1999 VOLVO S80-T6 HAS HAD A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS LATEST EVENT THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. WAS ABLE TO GET CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. TRANSPORTED VEHICLE 150 MILES TO DEALER. BECAUSE WE HAD HAD SO MAY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE - $3000.00 WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD CULMINATING IN THIS EVENT, THE DEALER GAVE US THE PARTS AND LABOR ($1500.00 IN THIS CASE.) *JB
1999 VOLVO S80 T6-MULTIPLE FAILURES OF ETM (5 FAILURES, REPLACED 4 ETMS TOTAL). CAR WOULD GO INTO "LIMP HOME MODE", "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD GO ON. VERY DANGEROUS AND FRUSTRATING. THE ETM ALSO HAS FAILED ON WIFE'S 2001 V70 XC ONE TIME AROUND 80K MILES. I NO LONGER OWN THE S80; TOO UNRELIABLE, A COMPLETE JOKE GIVENS VOLVO'S REPUTATION FOR SAFETY!*JB
I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S80 WHICH I DRIVE FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES. ON AUGUST 17, 2004 THE VEHICLE STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. WOULD BARELY RUN, EVEN WITH FULL THROTTLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO OF LOUISVILLE, KY. THEY REPLACED THROTTLE BODY . APPROX. 2 WEEKS LATER, HAD SAME OCCURRENCE. CAR STALLED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER, CENTURY VOLVO HUNTSVILLE, AL. THEY EXAMINED IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING FOR THEM. THEY KEPT VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TRYING TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. I HAD A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE AGAIN APPROX. 5 DAYS LATER. INSTEAD OF HAVING VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN, THE SERVICE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR MIGHT "RESET" IF LEFT FOR 2-3 HOURS. I LEFT CAR ON ROADSIDE OVERNIGHT AND HAD MY WIFE COME PICK ME UP. THE NEXT DAY I WENT BACK AND THE CAR DROVE FINE. I HAD ANOTHER OCCURRENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON OCTOBER 26, 2004. VEHICLE TOWED TO ROYAL VOLVO IN BIRMINGHAM. BY THE TIME THEY EXAMINED IT, VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MALFUNCTIONING. THEY KEPT IT RUNNING UNDER LOAD FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THERE WERE NO COMPUTER FAULT CODES FOUND THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME INFORMATION THAT CENTRURY VOLVO HAD FOUND AND ADVISED ME OF EARLIER. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH A LOT OF CONCERN THROUGH THE WINTER. IT WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAD ANOTHER OCCURRENCE IN MAY 2005. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME BY ALLOWING THE CAR TO SIT FOR 20-30 MINUTES AND THEN IT WOULD DRIVE FOR A SHORT DISTANCE BEFO
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING OF ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED CAR SAFELY OFF ROAD. CAR RESTARTED. BROUGHT CAR TO VOLVO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *NM
DT: CONSUMER STATED HE IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HAS TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMBINATION UNIT OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS A MASSIVE LEAK. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT IS CAUSED BY STRESS FROM THE FUEL LINE. WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE OVER TIME IT WILL CAUSE THIS CRACK. THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB
DT: CONSUMER STATES HE IS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HAS TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMBINATION UNIT OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAS A MASSIVE LEAK. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY THAT IS CAUSED BY THE STRESS FROM THE FUEL LINE. WITH ENOUGH PRESSURE OVER TIME IT WILL CAUSE THIS CRACK. THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB
ETM PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AFTER SURGING ENGINE AT IDLE AND THEN ENGINE FAILURE. WE PAID $850 TO REPLACE THIS AND NOW 13 MONTHS AND 13000 MILES LATER THE NEW PART HAS ALSO FAILED. THEY WILL NOT COVER THE PART BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER 12 MONTHS SINCE REPAIR. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN SPENDING ANOTHER (NOW $950) FOR ANOTHER ETM THAT IS DESTINED TO FAIL AGAIN RISKING ACCIDENT/DEATH FOR MY FAMILY DEPENDING ON WHEN "IT DECIDES" TO FAIL.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. SHE SAYS THAT SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER VOLVO MANUFACTURER. VOLVO SAID THAT BECAUSE SHE BOUGHT IT USED FROM A INDEPENDENT DEALER AND OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE. SHE SAYS THAT HER ABS BRAKES KEEP FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WORK AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING HOSE BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. THE PRIOR OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD TOLD THE INDEPENDENT DEALER THAT HE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE HE OWNED IT. *TT
AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT TWO WEEK PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND NO MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. THE FRONT AND DASH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON 4/29/05. NO IMPACT AT TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AS DRIVER WAS READING MESSAGE, AND AIR BAG DEPLOYED. SPEED WAS 20 MPH. THERE WILL BE INVOICES, POLICE REPORT.*AK
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN A PARKING LOT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CONSUMER FELT LIKE SHE HIT A POT HOLE. CONSUMER THEN GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BECAME DETACHED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP FOR REPAIR.*AK
VOLVO S80 T6 1999. DEFECTIVE ETM (THROTTLE MODULE OR THROTTLE UNIT). THIS MODULE FAILED AT ONLY 64,000 MILES AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER VOLVO WARRANTY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOSY EVERY OWNER OF THIS MODEL YEAR. I'M ASKING FOR VOLVO TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST (PARTS AND LABOR). THE FAILURE OF THIS UNIT COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY AND/OR DEATH AS THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL DIE AT ANY SPEED AND ANYWHERE WITHOUT NOTICE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACEMENT COST IS OVER $1000.
WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THE FRONT TIRES RUBBED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE . THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY RUNNING, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, MY HUSBAND GOT OUT TO RETRIEVE AN ITEM IN THE HOUSE & SHUT THE DOOR, ALL DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE FUMES/SMOKE FROM THE AIRBAGS BURNED MY THROAT, I HAVE HAD THROAT DISCOMFORT FOR 5 DAYS. THE COST TO PUT THE CAR BACK TOGETHER IN WORKING ORDER IS $3000. ONE PERSON AT VOLVO SERVICE IN THOUSAND OAKS, CA. SAID THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED BUT OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAVE TO PAY THE $3000 IF I WANT IT REPAIRED. *NM
WHILE DRIVING A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT. CONSUMER NOTICED A LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED REPLACED. *AK
LID TO GAS TANK FELL OFF. SINCE THIS HAPPENED TO MINE I HAVE SEEN 4 OTHER S80 VOLVOS MISSING THE LIT TO THE GAS TANK.*AK
FUEL PUMP CRACK CAUSING GAS TO BE SPRAYED ON UNDERSIDE OF AUTO WHEN IGNITION IS ON. GAS FUMES IN GARAGE FOLLOWING PARKING OF AUTO. MAJOR RISK OF FIRE/EXPLOSION POSSIBLE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. AUTO IS FIVE + YEARS OLD WITH 37,100 MILES. VOLVO DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT CHARGE OF $592. *JB
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THERE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALER DOSE NOT HAVE ON THE REPAIR (CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY) *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB
AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER RUNNING OVER MANHOLE COVER ON RTE 4 WEST ON MONDAY SEP 20, 2004 APPROXIMATELY 7:20 AM EST. ROADWORK IN PROCESS ON RTE 4 TRAVELLING APPROX 15-20 MILES PER HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC, AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: THE 1999 IS HARD TO START AND HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE IT STARTS, AND WE ALSO SMELL GAS WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR (BY THE FUEL FILLER).*AK I TOOK THE CAR TO UNION PARK SPENT $300. THINKING IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO UNION PARK AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE OFF THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP PRIMES THE LINE. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE THIS SUCKS IN AIR AND PREVENTS THE GAS FROM GOING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, THEN THE FUMES EXIT OUT THE VENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VENT TUBE IS NOT A REPLACEABLE PART AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW GAS TANK WITH VENT TUBE AT THE COST OF $1,081.30. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY VOLVO. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THIS AS A TWO PIECE UNIT AND THE TUBE CAN BE REPLACED AT A LOWER EXPENSE, LESS THAN $150.00. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM; IF SOME ONE WAS SMOKING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR A FIRE COULD START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE NATIONAL DOT SAFETY BOARD. FRONT END PARTS, STEARING I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END PARTS, BALL JOINTS REPLACED, UPPER STRUT BUSHING REPLACED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THE SWAY BAR LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $192.04, I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE SPENT $3000. TO FIX ITEMS WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN WITH NORMAL DRIVING USAGE. I ALWAYS BO
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN WON'T START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED, A PIPE ON THE FUEL RAIL BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1200. CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL TANK/FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL RAIL WAS JUST ONE UNIT. *AK
REPLACE MAIN COMPUTER AFTER COMPUTER REGISTERED "URGENT, BRAKE FAILURE" CODE AND VOLVO DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY CODE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHILE UP SHIFTING...GETTING EXTREMELY BAD. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION (AT 80,000M) FAILED BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER SERVICED PROPERLY. I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECEIPTS...ALL DONE AT VOLVO DEALERSHIPS THROUGH 50K WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID, MY GM TRANSMISSION, UNLIKE EARLIER VOLVO TRANSMISSION NEEDS MORE SERVICING THAN A VOLVO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT MY "TRANSMISSION FILTER HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED!!!!"*AK CONTACTED VOLVO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY BASICALLY LAUGHED AT ME. I AM THINKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR 2K THE COST OF MY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. PRESIDENT OF CARS SUGGESTED THAT WAS A VIABLE OPTION. *TR
AFTER THE DEFECTIVE DIP STICK WAS REPAIRED, CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *PH DURING A 65K MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A MALFUNCTIONING DIP STICK WHICH SPLATTERED OIL. THE PART WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR COVERED IN OIL. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TEMPORARY DIPSTICK REPAIR FAILED. *SC *JB
VEHICLE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYES: ABS SYSTEM FAILURE/SERVICING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE POWER STEERING SERVICE EMISSIONS CONTROL SERVICE ALSO, THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT/FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INOP HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT COMMANDED ETC. INCIDENT DATE--THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP . *AK
DEALERSHIP PERFORMED INSPECTION ON VEHICLE AND A NUMBER OF DEFECTS WAS SEEN. ONE PARTICULAR DEFECT WAS THE STEERING BOX. CONSUMER HAVE BEEN FROM ONE DEALER TO ANOTHER BUT NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE STEERING RACK TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE.*JB
AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
COMPLAINT ABOUT VOLVO'S ATTITUDE AND REFUSAL TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR A FAULTY DIPSTICK AND THE REFUSAL TO REIMBURSE THE $50.00 DOLLARS DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR VEHICLE. *PH *MR
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT OR PROVIDE ANY VEHICLE DECELERATION. RPM GOES TO 750 WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS BUT VEHICLE SPEED REMAINS SAME AND ONLY COASTS O SLOW DOWN
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS. THE MECHANIC IS WAITING FOR A STEERING ROD. . NETMET VOLVO 153-20 HILLSIDE AVE. JAMAICA NEW YORK 11432 ***************718 523 5858 TONY JOHNSON(SERVICE MANAGER). *NM
CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND LOW SPEEDS, APPARENTLY VOLVO KNOWS THAT THERE IS A BAD COMPUTER CHIP IN MANY OF THE CARS BUT DOES NOT ADMIT TO IT BECAUSE IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE THE CHIP. I FOUND THIS OUT FROM ANOTHER VOLVO DRIVER!
I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET OUT OF TIME WHICH CAUSED ALL THE INTAKE VALVES TO BE BE BENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO OF AMERICA. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BELT WAS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 60,000 MILES , THE CAR WAS STILL OUT OF WARRANTY AND SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE IT FROM THE VOLVO DEALER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. I AGAIN CONTACTED VOLVO AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT SINCE THE BELT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 30000 MILES THAT THERE WAS AN IMPLIED WARRENTY AND VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST WEEK AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR AND THE REPUTATION OF VOLVO, THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS EARLY POINT IN THE CAR'S LIFE. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ANY CONSIDERATION IN THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED WITH US A BIT, BUT NOT THE DISTRIBUTORS. PEOPLE I HAVE CHATTED WITH ARE AMAZED THAT VOLVO HAS BEEN SO UNRESPONSIVE. MY HUSBAND IS READY TO SELL IT AND BUY A BMW!
MY 1999 VOLVO S-80 T-6 SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. SERVICING DOES NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT, SO I HAVE BEGUN TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE LIGHT. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS PROPERLY FOR 20,000 THEN BEGINS TO OSCILLATE UPAND DOWN BY 200-300 RMPS AT IDLE. THIS SEEMS MINOR, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SLOWED TO IDLE AND THEN SPED UP JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP. THE HIGHER RPM CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE INTO THE INTERSECTION. IF ANOTHER CAR HAD BEEN APPROACHING, IT WOULD HAVE STRUCK MY CAR. I ASKED MY WIFE (THIS IS HER PRIMARY CAR)IF SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE SAID SHE HAD SEVERAL TIMES. I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT MANY VOLVO OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME RPM AND ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME NEAR ACCIDENT I DID, BUT I MUST ASSUME THEY HAVE. HAVE YOU RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS VOLVO BEEN NOTIFIED? I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM. THE WORDS ON THE INTERNET TELL ME THEY ARE MISTAKEN. SOME ONE COULD GET KILLED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. *AK
RACK AND PINION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE--VOLVO SAYS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE, PART IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. NO ONE AT VOLVO WILL GIVE ME REASONABLE RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. TOTALLY UNCOOPERATIVE.
THE FRONT, PASSENGER WINDOW ACTUATOR "BROKE" APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT, DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR IS NOW BROKEN. NEITHER OF THESE WINDOWS RECEIVED EXCESSIVE USE OR ABUSE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO JUST "BREAK" WITH NORMAL USAGE.*AK
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1999 Volvo S80 → · Every S80 year → · How the figures are calculated →