2001 Volvo V70 complaints

ETM CLEANED & ADJUSTED AT 48,474 MILES FOR STALLING AND ENGINE SURGING: 10/13/03 ETM REPLACED FOR STALLING; 4/13/05 ENGINE SURGING DIAGNOSED AS ETM AT 79,386, 4/27/05 SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CORRECT SURGING, DID NOT HELP. 5/26/05 ETM REPLACED FOR SURGING IDLE AND TRANS BANGING INTO GEAR, ALSO SOFTWARE UPDATED; 4/24/06 ETM SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR ENGINE SURGING AND BEING IN LIMP HOME MODE TWICE [S.MCH FROM E-MAIL]

DT*: WHILE BRAKING THE CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING ILLUMINATES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V051000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - THE RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK, ONLY THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WORKED. *NM

WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES I GET A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD TO CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS, WHEN I CHECK, I GET THE WARNING WHENEVER THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, AND ONLY THE CENTER DOES. IF I PRESS MULTIPLE TIMES THEY MAY WORK. I FOUND A SIMILAR RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL, I HAVE THE 2001 MODEL THE NUMBER IS 04V051000. *NM

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILED ON 2001 VOLVO V70 T5 AT 75,400 MILES. FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT ARE COMMON DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF ETM. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS AS MY WIFE WAS MERGING WITH TRAFFIC ONTO FREEWAY. FROM 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND REDUCED SPEED TO 20 MPH IN TRAFFIC!. MY WIFE CREPT OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *NM

FAILURE OF "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM)". LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING OR OTHER INDICATION IMMANENT FAILURE. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" WHICH PROVIDES ENOUGH POWER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER ATTEMPTS TO KEEP A FIXED, SOMEWHAT ABOVE IDLE, THROTTLE SETTING, RELEASING THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESULT IN ENGINE BRAKING AS NORMAL FOR A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. NEITHER SITUATION, LOSS OF POWER OR LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, IS ACCEPTABLE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER NEARLY RESULTED IN MY BEING REAR ENDED, LUCKILY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME REACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE IN THE ETM IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB

I RECENTLY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PCV SYSTEM HAD BECOME CLOGGED AS A RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ETM. WHEN THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT FIND ANY COMPUTER CODES RELATED TO THE ETM SO THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE PCV BY THE FAULTY ETM UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THEY CLEAN OR REPLACE THE ETM THEY SERVICE THE PCV AS PART OF THE REPAIR THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT UNTIL THE ETM FAILS COMPLETELY THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE PCV PROBLEM UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB

2001 V70 DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND CLUNKED IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STABILIZER MOTOR MOUNT WAS FAULTY. *TS THE THROTTLE BODY, CAM SHAFT SENSOR AND VACUUM BOOST SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRAVELING 30- 40 MPH THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY. ALSO WHILE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING DIFFERENT ERROR CODES ILLUMINATE IN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS WERE RAN ON THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MODULE. ALL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ARE DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY MODULE FAILING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL CLEAN THE MODULE BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

MY WIFE WAS ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHEN OUR 2001 V-70 BEGAN MISSING AND LOSING POWER. BY THE TIME SHE LIMPED HOME TO THE NEXT OFF RAMP, SHE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AN HOUR, IN TRAFFIC MOVING NEARLY 60 MILES AN HOUR. OBVIOUSLY, THIS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY WIFE AND OTHER TRAVELERS. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, CALABASAS VOLVO, AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS PEDAL LINKAGE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY $300 (COPY ENCLOSED), AND THAT THE ETM WOULD BE CLEANED. I HAD ALREADY FOUND INFORMATION ON THE WEB THAT SHOWED CLEANING WAS INEFFECTIVE, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUED SAFETY RISK. IN FACT, THE INFORMATION ON THE WEB EXPLAINED THAT VOLVO HAS AGREED TO AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 200,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS. I, FRANKLY, WAS STUNNED THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW AND COMMIT TO SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR REPLACEMENTS FOR THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE AT VOLVO DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THE ETM FAILURE COULD CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH OF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND OCCUPANTS. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND URGED THEM TO REPLACE THE ETM. TO MY ABSOLUTE SURPRISE, THEY EXPLAINED THAT VOLVO HAS DIRECTED DEALERS TO CLEAN FIRST, REPLACE LATER, ALTHOUGH THEY AGREED THAT THE ETM WOULD PROBABLY FAIL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NOW MY WIFE IS MUCH NICE

I HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DIPPED BEAMS IN MY 2001 VOLVO V70 T5. I SEE AN ERROR REPORT ON THE DASH: BULB FAILURE. DIPPED BEAMS. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BULBS. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE LEADING TO LOSS OF LOW BEAMS. VOLVO SERVICE MANAGERS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. AM I THE ONLY PERSON TO REPORT THIS DEFECT? IT STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO IN THE WINTER OF 2003 BUT IS NOW MORE REGULAR BUT NOT ALWAYS. *NM

WARMED UP CAR FOR 2 MINUTES; DROVE 2 MILES TO DRUG STORE--LET ENGINE IDLE WHILE WIFE IN THE STORE; DROVE .1 MILE AND ENGINE BEGAN ACTING VERY ERRATIC! SPUTTERING AND STALLING AND NO ENGINE POWER CAR DIED INTO PARKING LOT; VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC IN MIDTOWN ALLOWED ME LIMP CAR TO DROP FAMILY AT TRANSIT STATION AND LEFT VOLVO AT OFFICE .3 MILES AWAY; AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION CAR RAN OK--CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS STILL ON + TWO URGENT ERROR MESSAGES. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE ETM DESPITE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THE THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

REFERENCE 10143655 FOR SECOND ETM REPLACEMENT, FIRST REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES, WAS STALLING , HESITATING, ROUGH ID. E. HARD TO START AFTER STALLS. SMCH *AK

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO V70 T5. THIS CAR HAS THE HIGH FAILURE RATE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE COMPONENT. DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN PASSING LANE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE WINDOW ON THE DASH FLASHED "PERFORMANCE REDUCED" THIS OCCURRED DURING WHILE PASSING A SEMI WITH OTHER CARS FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND IN A CARAVAN. IT WAS IN POURING RAIN WITH WATER FROM THE SEMI SPLASHING OVER THE WINDSHIELD. NEEDLESSTOSAY, THIS WAS A NERVOUS MOMENT WHEN POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OFF TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP WHERE THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING WHILE IDLING. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING MADE THE PROBLEM DISAPPEAR. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER, I'M GETTING "PERFORMANCE REDUCED" MESSAGE NEARLY EVERY DAY. FINALLY TRACE IT DOWN TO THE ETM INTERNAL FAULT USING A OBDII READER I PURCHASED TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. VOLVO DEALER CONFIRMED THE FINDING AND REPLACED THE ETM. *NM

2001 VOLVO V70 BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. *TS *NM *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***

2001 VOLVO V70 - TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THIS VEHICLE, IT LOST ACCELERATION AND STARTED TO REDUCE POWER, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE STALLING. CAUGHT BETWEEN TRUCKS AND CARS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 - 75 MPH. I FELT HOPELESS TO HELP MYSELF, FEARING I WOULD BE KILLED BY TRAFFIC. *NM

VOLVO, 2001 V70 - VIN [XXX] THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE. SINCE PURCHASED NEW, CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES LEADING TO VARIOUS UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS INCLUDING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND ENGINE FAILURE (INCLUDING LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS). MANUFACTURER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED UNUSUAL NATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE QUALITY DEFECTS - CONCERNED THAT CAR MUST BE TAKEN OFF ROAD TO AVOID SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED. THE ENGINE IDLE DROPPED, AND SURGED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SURGED AND THEN LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START BACK. THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE FOURTH ATTEMPT. THE ETM WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, BUT NOW THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. *AK AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON I-695 NEAR BALTIMORE EXPERIENCED SIX EPISODES OF SUDDEN DECELERATION ,AND A ALMOST STALLING. ALSO, WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A DUMP TRUCK ON ONE OCCASION ,AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION BY AN 18-WHEELER BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD CROSS SLOWLY THROUGH LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION, DURING TWO OF THESE UNPLANNED STOPS, THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND THE CONTACT BLOCKED A LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD READ REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN A FEW TIMES, NOTED A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND THE SAME MESSAGE. THEN , TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES ,AND INSTEAD OF THE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE WARNING RECEIVED A NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIR SERVICE OR SOME SIMILAR MESSAGE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HE DROVE A FEW MILES AT 60-65 MPH, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. THIS WHOLE EPISODE REPEATED BY ITSELF 5 TIMES DURING 50 MILES DRIVE. THE CONTACT MADE IT HOME SAFELY WITH THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THESE PROBLEMS WERE EXACTLY THOSE DOCUMENTED WITH THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE (ETM) IN MOST 1999-2001 VOLVOS. HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL DEALER, AND HE WILL BE CHARGED THE USUAL $1000-$1200 TO REPLACE THE ETM MODULE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPLACEMENT MODULE WAS NOT BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL MODULE. *AK

CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. DROVE CAR ADDITIONAL 15 MINUTES TO GET HOME. FOLLOWED ON-DASH & OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS TO GET CHECKED AT EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. CAR BROKE DOWN NEXT DAY ON WAY TO MECHANIC. CAR BUCKED AND SURGED, DECELERATING AND ACCULTURATING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CEL CAME ON. DISPLAY READ "PERFORMANCE REDUCED". COULD GO NO FASTER THAN 20-25 MPH. IN NO POSITION TO STOP VEHICLE. ON BUSY ROAD WITH NO USABLE SHOULDER. CAR REQUIRED TOWING. ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS (OBD) SAID THERMOSTAT WAS BAD, BUT MECHANIC SUSPECTED FAILED ETM. HE SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CAR. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE. USED APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES MORE. CAR BROKE DOWN ON WAY HOME, STRANDING ME IN INTERSECTION. SAME ISSUE. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE. SHUT IT OFF. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO MECHANIC. THIS TIME OBD REPORTED TELL-TALE CODES FOR FAILED ETM. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED AT TOTAL COST OF $1200. I PHONED STILLMAN VOLVO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY WIDESPREAD, WELL-KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING ETM ON 2001 VOLVOS. I CALLED VOLVO AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A NHTSA INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AND THAT THEY HOPED TO HAVE A RESOLUTION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE REPRESENTATIVE, HOWEVER, TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD GET ANY COST ASSISTANCE FROM VOLVO OR MY VOLVO DEALERSHIP SINCE I HAD THE WORK DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER WHILE ACCELERATING AND WOULD ONLY GO 15 MPH. HE WOULD COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED DAILY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE THROTTLE BOX WAS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT COME BACK SINCE THE REPAIRS. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE FOLLOWING WARNING COMES ON THE DASH BOARD "PERFORMANCE REDUCTION". CAR STARTS TO SHUDDER, SLOWS DOWN AND DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING VOLVO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE DEFECT. *TS UPDATED 11/7/2005 - WHILE DRIVING THE PERFORMANCE REDUCED LIGHT AND SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER AGREE TO REPLACED THE THROTTLE FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DURING INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN FOUND THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND UPPER SPRING SEAT BROKEN. THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKED DUE TO A FAULTY HOSE CLAMP. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AFTER PLACING IT INTO GEAR. SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES, BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK. SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A POLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD A COMPUTER PROBLEM AND THE PASSENGER DOOR, WINDOW AND TURN SIGNAL WERE INOPERATIVE. THESE PROBLEMS WERE FIXED BY THE DEALER. *NM

I HAVE VOLVO V70 T5 WAGON WITH REDUCED PERFORMANCE AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND REDUCTION OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON TRAFFIC AND I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE ENTERING THE GARAGE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLIMATE CONTROL IN THE CAR STOPPED WORKING. MY DEALER ED SCHMIDT VOLVO IN PERRYSBURG,OHIO NOW SAIDS THAT I NEED TO REPLACE MY THROOTTLE MODULE ($1300) AND THE PROCESSOR FOR THE CLIMATE CONTROL ($1400). THE VEHICLE IS ONLY THREE THOUSAND MILES BEYOND WARRANTY. I HAVE A DANGEROUS LEMON IN MY HANDS AND THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO. I THANK GOD THAT MY YOUNG CHILDREN WHERE NOT NEAR THE GARAGE WHEN THE CAR ACCELEARTED OUT OF CONTROL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. *NM

DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING A MESSAGE APPEARED THAT READ ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED WHICH INTERNALLY MADE THE CRUISE CONTROL FAIL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VOLVO, AND ALSO A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE .THE VEHICLE REPAIRS WILL BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT HAVING THIS REPAIR MADE COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE LURCHING FORWARD AT ANY SPEED OR IT COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT AT ANY TIME. HE IS CURRENTLY NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THIS TIME.*AK UPDATED 11/30/2005 - VOLVO COVER THE COST OF THE NEW PART AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART TO 200000 MILES OR 10 YEARS. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE COMPUTER SHOWED REDUCED PERFORMANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC ,AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.*AK

INITIALLY NOTICED ERRATIC ACCELERATION, THEN MY WIFE WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY LOST ACCELERATION AND SHE WAS HIT BEHIND BY A PICKUP TRUCK. THE DASH READOUT SHOWED THE MESSAGE "PERFORMANCE REDUCED". OUR INSURANCE PAID FOR THE $2600 IN DAMAGES. OUR VOLVO MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND SAID THAT THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS YEAR MODEL. *NM

ON 14 OCT 05 AS I TURNED OFF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN RICHMOND, VA MY 2001 VOLVO V70 T-5 BEGAN RUNNING REALLY ROUGH AND A RED WARNING TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED AND I RECEIVED A MESSAGE WARNING ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. IT CLEARED AFTER I STOPPED AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HALF WAY TO CHARLOTTESVILLE BEFORE IT STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AGAIN. IT CONTINUED TO CYCLE BETWEEN NORMAL OPERATION AND ROUGH RUNNING UNTIL I REACHED THE VOLVO DEALER IN CHARLOTTESVILLE. ON 18 OCT 05, THE DEALER, VOLVO OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND REPLACED IT AT A COST OF $916.32. I LOOKED ON THE WEB TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT AN ETM IS AND DISCOVERED THE CASE AGAINST VOLVO CONCERNING ETM FAILURES. THIS IS A USED CAR THAT I PURCHASED IN OCT04 SO I HAVE NO WAY OF TELLING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. *JB

SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED THERE HAVE BEEN ROUGH START AND ROUGH IDLE ISSUES AND ACCELERATION ISSUES. THE ISSUES WERE RAISED TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS ALL WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE DEALER HAS NOW IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS A FAILURE IN THE ETM AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED LIT. DEALER QUOTES REPAIR COSTS OF $1,100. *NM

FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED CLEANING AND THE MECHANIC FEARS IT WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL, AS HE IS SEEING THEM FAIL AT HIGH RATES AT HIS VOLVO GARAGE. CAR WAS SURGING AND STALLING AT STOPS, AND JUST STALLING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. *NM

DT: THE CALLER SAID ON JULY 19, 2005 AFTER DRIVING TWO HOURS THE REDUCED PERFORMANCE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND HAD NO ACCELERATION. THE CALLER SAID THE REDUCED PERFORMANCE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME. SHE GOT VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED. THE CALLER JUST WANTED TO LET NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CALLER SAID DEALER WAS VERY NICE ABOUT THE REPAIR WORK. *AK *NM

DT: 2001 VOLVO V70 ALL WHEEL DRIVE CROSS-COUNTRY THE THROTTLE MODULE FAILED AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT VOLVO MODELS 1999- 2001, AND BETWEEN 40,000-60000 MILES THE THROTTLE MODULE HAS TO BE REPLACED ON ALL THOSE VEHICLES. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE T WA SOWED OVER 100 MILES TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE THROTTLE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ALSO, SAID THAT IF A RECALL EVER CAME OUT IN THE FUTURE ON THE 2001 VOLVOS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THE CONSUMER WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS. *AK

ABS MODULE SHOWS INTERMITTENT ERRORS. WHEN ABS MODULE HAS ERRORS THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. DEALER SUGGESTS THAT IT BE REPLACED AT MY COST OF $915.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH) THE VOLVO V70 T5 LOST POWER AND BEGAN RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH. CAR HAD TO BE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. ON THE DASH, THE INDICATOR PANEL STATED PERFORMANCE REDUCED. AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING, CAR BEGAN TO RUN FINE AGAIN ONLY TO HAPPEN AGAIN A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD. CAR HAD TO BE LIMPED TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACE THE ENGINE THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) AT COST OF $1032.00. *JB

1) NORMAL DRIVING 65 MPH WESTBOUND ON I-25/I-40 INTERSECTION, PASSING A SEMI-TRUCK ON THE LEFT. 2)ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, CAR SLOWED TO 20 MPH, SWERVED TO AVOID ALL TRAFFIC DUE TO SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF SPEED 3)TOWED TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED ELECTRONIC BRAKE SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY, AND HAD TO BUY NEW CODING FOR COMPUTER:$1300 REPAIR COST. OLD PARTS AT CORROLEY VOLVO, ALBUQUERQUE, NM. *NM

VOLVO V70 2001 WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES ON ITS ON TO EXCESSIVE SPEEDS AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO EITHER BRAKING OR TURNING OFF CRUISE CONTROL. *NM

FOR SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO FAILURE, ENGINE TORQUE WOULD FLUCTUATE AT STEADY HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ON. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT AFFECT THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE VISIBLY, I COULD FEEL IT IN THE SEAT OF MY PANTS. AFTER GETTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY (IN A BAD DETROIT NEIGHBORHOOD AND IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION), THE ENGINE FAILED TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AND THE INFORMATION DISPLAY INDICATED "PERFORMANCE REDUCED." I PROCEEDED FIVE MILES TO MY HOME AT NO MORE THAN 10-20 MPH WHICH WAS ALL THE CAR COULD MUSTER. THE CAR RESTARTED NORMALLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND ASSOCIATED GASKETS ALONG WITH A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR APPROX. $1062 *JB

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, DECELERATION AND ACCELERATIONS WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. MUST TURNOFF VEHICLE AND ATTEMPT TO RE-START. DOESN'T ALWAYS RESTART IMMEDIATELY. *NM

WE PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO V70 2.4T WAGON 12-16-01 FROM THE DEALER, WHO HAD USED IT AS A LOANER VEHICLE. THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE THROTTLE CONTROL. FOR ABOUT A MONTH IT WOULD FEEL AS IF A PLUG WAS BAD OR A FUEL LINE CLOGGED WHEN DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED. IT WASN'T AT FIRST NOTICEABLE DURING ACCELERATION. THEN A "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH. FINALLY, ON 8-20-05, THE CAR STALLED ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER IN RENO TO GET IT REPAIRED. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANAGED TO PULL OFF THE ROAD OUT OF TRAFFIC. JUST A MATTER OF TIMING AND THIS PROBLEM COULD WELL HAVE BEEN DEADLY. IT RESTARTED AND WE MADE IT INTO THE DEALER. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND THE PVC SYSTEM CLEANED, AS THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE PROBLEM CAUSED IT TO NEED CLEANING. THE TOTAL BILL WAS $1,336.49. I FEEL VOLVO HAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE, AND JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, WHICH MUST BE ONLY A FRACTION OF THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT CAUSES DEATHS ON THE HIGHWAY IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. *JB

I WAS DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. I GOT A "REDUCED PERFORMANCE" WARNING, AND MY SPEED REDUCED GRADUALLY. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND HE STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM EVENTHOUGH I HAD HEARD OF IT HAPPENING TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS ON THE NEWS BROADCAST. THIS IS UNSAFE AND HOW CAN MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

MY 2001 VOLVO V70 SPONTANEOUSLY LOST POWER AND DIED. I WAS STRANDED FAR FROM HOME WITH MY DAUGHTER ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP, SEVERAL MONTHS LATER ON A ROAD TRIP, AGAIN FAR FROM HOME, MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED COUGHING AND LOSING POWER, ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, PUTTING ME AND MY PASSENGERS AT RISK. I WAS ABLE TO CRIPPLE IT ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND RELATED COMPUTER MODULE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT IT COULD POSSIBLE HAPPEN AGAIN. I LIVE IN A REMOTE AREA AND NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEPEND ON MY CAR. I CANNOT BE STRANDED ON THE OPEN ROAD AT ANY HOUR AND IN ANY WEATHER. *JB

SEE EXISTING NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE05041 FOR THIS FAILURE TYPE (1) DROVE THROUGH PUDDLE (2) "ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED" LIGHT; LOSS OF POWER (LIMP-HOME MODE) (3) FAILED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED (TOTAL COST $1106.82); FAILED MODULE IS AVAILABLE ALTHOUGH I TOOK IT APART TO FIND PROBLEM - WORN-THROUGH BUTTERFLY VALVE POSITION SENSOR AS DESCRIBED AT HTTP://VEXEDVOLVO.ORG/. *JB

AT ABOUT 8,000 MILES, MY 2001 (PURCHASED SUMMER 2002) VOLVO V70 SUDDENLY STOPPED WHEN I SLOWED DOWN ON A ROAD NEAR MY HOME. THE CAR RESTARTED, BUT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PICK-UP AS BEFORE. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE CAR INTO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE MECHANISM NEEDED CLEANING. AFTER THIS WAS DONE, THE CAR SEEMED FINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON A DIFFERENCE STRETCH OF ROAD. THE SEEMED WEAKER THAN BEFORE AND IT TOOK LONGER TO RESTART. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AGAIN DIAGNOSED A DIRTY THROTTLE, CLEANED IT, AND RETURNED IT TO ME. THE CAR SEEMED NORMAL UNTIL ABOUT 24,000 MILES, WHEN I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THIS TIME, I TRIED MANY TIMES TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT ULTIMATELY HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. IT WAS TOWED TO VOLVO, WHERE THEY TOLD IT WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM AGAIN. AFTER CLEANING, IT APPEARED NORMAL. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES, BUT I TAKE IT IN EVERY THREE MONTHS TO GET THE THROTTLE MECHANISM CLEANED AS A PRECAUTION. *JB

I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A HESITATION FOR APPX SIX MONTHS, JUST WONDERING WHEN THE CAR WOULD FINALLY FAIL AND WHERE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME ON LIMP MODE TWICE. I'D TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME TO LOOK AT THE CAR. THE FOURTH TIME THE CAR PUT OUT AN ETM CODE AND THEY REPLACED THE ETM. *NM

DT: VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER AND HESITATED. THROTTLE BODY MODULE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *AK *NM

DT: CONTACT OWNED 2001 A VOLVO. HE COMPLAINED ABOUT THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE WITH WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE TRANSMISSION. CURFRENTLY, THEY TOLD HIM THAT IT WA STHE THROTTLE BODY. TO REPLACE IT WOULD COST CONSUMER $800.00. HE ENDED UP PAYING $250.00 FOR THROTTLE BODY REPLACEMENT. WHEN HE DROVE THE CAR HOME IT SURGED BETWEEN SHIFTS CHANGES. HE CALLED THE DEALER BACK AND INFORMED THEM IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. THEY SAID A TECHNICIAN NEEDED TO RIDE AROUND WITH HIM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT.*AK *JB

ENGINE THROTTLE MODULE ON 2001 VOLVO, MODEL V70, IS DEFECTIVE. ENGINE RPM SURGES BACK AND FORTH AND CAR SOMETIMES STALLS. TODAY, SEPT. 7, 2005, RPM INCREASED DRAMATICALLY BY SEVERAL THOUSAND FOR NO REASON. TOOK TO VOLVO 1 WEEK AGO AND THEY WANTED 834.00 + TAX TO FIX. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES. PART IS DEFECTIVE.*JB

THE 2001 VOLVO V70 WOULD SURGE AND THEN STALL OR HESITATE DURING CITY DRIVING AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE. THE CAR WOULD RESTART MOST OF THE TIME, BUT THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE, OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB

DT: 2001 VOLVO STATION WAGON V70. VEHICLE STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH. THROTTLE BODY SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *AK THE UPPER ENGINE MOUNT BROKE AND OIL LEAKED FROM THE TURBO RETURN LINE SEALS. *NM