NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
16 reportsClear category filter143,600 miles · Mar 15, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
CAR EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER, STALLING, SPUTTERING AND HESITATION WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED DOWN. SAN LUIS OBISPO SMITH VOLVO AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES TO EXPLAIN THIS. CHECKED TIMING SENSORS, FUEL PRESSURE, RPM CAM SIGNALS, ETH SYSTEM, AIR FLOW METER, MAP SENSOR. ALL CHECKED OUT OK, DEALER SAID ALL SIGNS POINT…
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CAR EXPERIENCES LOSS OF POWER, STALLING, SPUTTERING AND HESITATION WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED DOWN. SAN LUIS OBISPO SMITH VOLVO AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY CODES TO EXPLAIN THIS. CHECKED TIMING SENSORS, FUEL PRESSURE, RPM CAM SIGNALS, ETH SYSTEM, AIR FLOW METER, MAP SENSOR. ALL CHECKED OUT OK, DEALER SAID ALL SIGNS POINT TO ETA FAILING. CAR STALLS AND LOSES POWER ABRUPTLY, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT ANYMORE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR MODELS UP TO 2002, THIS 2003 S60 NON TURBO MANUAL SEEMS TO EXHIBIT THE FLAWS OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451841
125,000 miles · May 25, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
COMPLIANT 1: I HAVE A 2003 S60 VOLVO. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES DARK AND ALL INSTRUMENTS STOP WORKING. THIS INCLUDES ALL GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, RPM, FUEL, TEMP AND BLINKERS. THEY ALL GO TO ZERO AND PANEL TURNS BLACK AND COMPLETELY OFF. THE EXTERIOR BLINKERS DO STILL WORK. WHEN THE PANEL IS WORKING I RECEIVE VARIOUS MESSAGES …
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COMPLIANT 1: I HAVE A 2003 S60 VOLVO. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES DARK AND ALL INSTRUMENTS STOP WORKING. THIS INCLUDES ALL GAUGES, SPEEDOMETER, RPM, FUEL, TEMP AND BLINKERS. THEY ALL GO TO ZERO AND PANEL TURNS BLACK AND COMPLETELY OFF. THE EXTERIOR BLINKERS DO STILL WORK. WHEN THE PANEL IS WORKING I RECEIVE VARIOUS MESSAGES SUCH AS SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT, BRAKE FAILURE, AND STOP IMMEDIATELY NO OIL PRESSURE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT'S THE DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE WHICH COSTS $1300 TO REPLACE. MY MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM IN THIS CAR. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY VOLVO'S OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL IN WHICH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS ARE OCCURING. I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S A RECURRING PROBLEM. COMPLIANT 2: I'M ALSO EXPERIENCING AN ENGINE STALL PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE CAR WILL STALL AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME WHEN MAKING A TURN. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS AS WELL AND FOUND THAT IT'S A REOCCURRING PROBLEM AS WELL. APPARENTLY THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT AN INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THIS CAUSES ENGINE MISFIRES AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHEN IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THIS ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10403455
135,000 miles · Sep 25, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. JUST TODAY (9/25/10), MY 2003 VOLVO S60 BEGAN TO IRREGULARLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. WHILE I'M SLOWING DOWN, IT DOWNSHIFTS BY IT SELF, AND JUST DIES, AND WHILE I'M SLOWING DOWN, THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE DASH ARE NOT LIT, AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG, BU…
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I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AND REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. JUST TODAY (9/25/10), MY 2003 VOLVO S60 BEGAN TO IRREGULARLY STALL WHILE DRIVING. WHILE I'M SLOWING DOWN, IT DOWNSHIFTS BY IT SELF, AND JUST DIES, AND WHILE I'M SLOWING DOWN, THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE DASH ARE NOT LIT, AS IF NOTHING IS WRONG, BUT WHEN COME TO A COMPLETE STOP ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH ARE LIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THEN COMES ON, IT WASN'T ON BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN TO TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. THE CAR STALL, YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING AND YOU ARE DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 10 TIME WHILE I WAS DRIVING TODAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10357503
101,000 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2003 S60 VOLVO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CAR WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED WOULD QUICKLY DROP TO 10 MPH AND THE MESSAGE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE DISPLAYED. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST THAT SPEED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE QUICK DROP IN SPEED MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I TOO…
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I HAVE A 2003 S60 VOLVO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CAR WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED WOULD QUICKLY DROP TO 10 MPH AND THE MESSAGE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE DISPLAYED. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST THAT SPEED. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE QUICK DROP IN SPEED MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THE CAR NEEDS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM REPLACED. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OLDER MODELS AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. MY MODEL IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, HOWEVER; IT IS EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN THE CAR REACHES 100,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351687
40,000 miles · May 18, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN LIMP MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AS IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN LIMP MODE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE 2003 S60 WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
NHTSA ODI #10269023
94,000 miles · Feb 10, 2009
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
ON 12 DEC, 2008, MY 2003 VOLVO S60 STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I PULLED TO SAFETY (VEHICLE WAS IN "LIMP HOME" MODE) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (PARK PLACE VOLVO). SINCE THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND PRESENTED NO CODES, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND GIVEN …
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ON 12 DEC, 2008, MY 2003 VOLVO S60 STALLED WITH NO WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. I PULLED TO SAFETY (VEHICLE WAS IN "LIMP HOME" MODE) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (PARK PLACE VOLVO). SINCE THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP AND PRESENTED NO CODES, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND GIVEN A BILL FOR $418 (FOR TOW AND DIAGNOSTIC CHECK). APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER, VEHICLE PRESENTED SAME PROBLEM; IT STALLED, WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING... CREATING A GREAT SAFETY RISK FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN TO SAME DEALERSHIP, AND SINCE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT BACK UP WITH NO CODES, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM ON EITHER OCCASION. HOWEVER, TO APPEASE ME, DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE ACCELERATOR PEDAL...VEHICLE STILL PRESENTS SAME STALLING ISSUE, AND INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AS IT IS OBVIOUS, FROM THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, THAT THIS IS A MASS DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258205
50,000 miles · Jul 31, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THE MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND THE MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 07V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10197939
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A VOLVO S60 AND IT HAS STALLED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE TO FIX MY PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185021
59,000 miles · Oct 16, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S 60 THAT HAS BEGUN STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY. THE CAR DIES AFTER IT HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IT JUST STOPS ON THE INTERSTATE OR AT A STOP LIGHT, IN INTERSECTIONS, ETC. IT TAKES BETWEEN 10 AND 30 SECONDS BEFORE …
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I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO S 60 THAT HAS BEGUN STALLING OUT WHILE DRIVING. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SIMILAR TO OTHER CAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED RECENTLY. THE CAR DIES AFTER IT HAS REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURES. IT JUST STOPS ON THE INTERSTATE OR AT A STOP LIGHT, IN INTERSECTIONS, ETC. IT TAKES BETWEEN 10 AND 30 SECONDS BEFORE IT CAN BE RESTARTED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD BE AN RECURRING UNREPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10171000
36,500 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
DURING NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, MY 2003 VOLVO S-60 SEDANS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DANGEROUS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE ORIGINAL DEALER, WARREN HENRY VOLVO, AND VOLVO NORTH AMERICA, WERE BOT…
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DURING NORMAL CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, MY 2003 VOLVO S-60 SEDANS ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SUDDENLY FAILS WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DANGEROUS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE ORIGINAL DEALER, WARREN HENRY VOLVO, AND VOLVO NORTH AMERICA, WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE VOLVOS HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE AND REPAIR ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. TO DATE, THE 2003 VOLVO S-60 EXHIBITS THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEMS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10131136
Official recalls
6Sep 30, 2021
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
Nov 4, 2020
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.
Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Dec 18, 2009
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Jun 5, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: MISFIRE MAY OCCUR DURING DRIVING THAT, IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE ENGINE TORQUE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Aug 1, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗