NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
199 reportsMileage unknown · Sep 10, 2005
Electrical System
FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) ON 1999 VOLVO S80 T6 ON A REPLACEMENT PART. CAR HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES ON OPEN HIGHWAY RESULT IN A SEVERE SAFETY SITUATION. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ONLY 43,000 DESPITE BEING A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL ETM WAS DETERMINED FAULTY AND A REPLACEMENT UNIT WAS PUT IN ON SEPTEMBER…
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FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) ON 1999 VOLVO S80 T6 ON A REPLACEMENT PART. CAR HAS STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES ON OPEN HIGHWAY RESULT IN A SEVERE SAFETY SITUATION. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS ONLY 43,000 DESPITE BEING A 6 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE ORIGINAL ETM WAS DETERMINED FAULTY AND A REPLACEMENT UNIT WAS PUT IN ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2002. INDEPENDENT VOLVO REPAIR DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT UNIT HAS FAILED AGAIN DESPITE ONLY HAVING 17,000 MILES PUT ON THE CAR SINCE BEING REPLACED IN 2002. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10136070
84,000 miles · Sep 8, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 20-25 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND SURGED ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS THE VEHICLE'S SECOND OWNER. THE FIRST OWNER EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THE PROBLEMS WAS FIRST NOTICED ON 05/01/2005. *AK *MR
NHTSA ODI #10135870
139,000 miles · Sep 5, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FEELS LIKE IT STALLS OUT OR SUDDENLY RUNS OUT OF GAS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10135330
165,992 miles · Sep 1, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
1999 VOLVO S80; THROTTLE UNEXPECTEDLY STOPPED OPERATING AND VEHICLE WENT INTO A "LIMP HOME MODE". VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS REVEALED A FAULTY THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE (TCM). THE TCM WAS REPLACED AND NEW SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED. OLD PARTS WERE NOT PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10135135
54,000 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
MY 1999 VOLVO S80 SIMPLY DECIDED TO STALL WHILE I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. A MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH THAT STATED THAT I NEEDED AN URGENT SERVICE VISIT FOR MY EMISSION SYSTEM. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $1,000 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. A SECOND DEFECT OF THIS CAR IS A LEAK…
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MY 1999 VOLVO S80 SIMPLY DECIDED TO STALL WHILE I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. A MESSAGE CAME ON THE DASH THAT STATED THAT I NEEDED AN URGENT SERVICE VISIT FOR MY EMISSION SYSTEM. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $1,000 TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. A SECOND DEFECT OF THIS CAR IS A LEAKING FUEL SENDER ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS A FIRE HAZARD. ABOUT $700 TO REPAIR. I EMAILED AND CALLED VOLVO REGARDING BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. THEY HAVE NEVER RESPONDED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10134981
85,000 miles · Aug 30, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
MONTHS PRIOR TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT , AT MY COST, 1999 VOLVO S80T (@85K MILES) ENGINE IDLE SURGING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY OCCURRED, REQUIRING RESTARTING CAR WHEN IT STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEW THROTTLE(GAS PEDAL) WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. LASTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTE…
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MONTHS PRIOR TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDING REPLACEMENT , AT MY COST, 1999 VOLVO S80T (@85K MILES) ENGINE IDLE SURGING AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS RANDOMLY OCCURRED, REQUIRING RESTARTING CAR WHEN IT STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NEW THROTTLE(GAS PEDAL) WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE PROBLEM. LASTLY, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATED BEYOND 20 MPH(LIMP HOME MODE) AND VOLVO DEALER REPLACED ETM TO RESOLVE PROBLEM. ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE, THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED(UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY) BECAUSE A MULTITUDE OF WARNING LIGHTS WERE OCCURRING (ABS, BRAKES, POWER STEERING). WHILE I'M LISTING FAILURES, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED(UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134845
60 miles · Aug 30, 2005
Electrical System
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE ENGINE HAS LOST SPEED AND ENGINE HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP ONCE AND IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR POSSIBLY THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN CABIN THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS FOLLOWED MY A …
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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE ENGINE HAS LOST SPEED AND ENGINE HAS STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP ONCE AND IS ONCE AGAIN IN THE SHOP FOR POSSIBLY THE SAME PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY 3 CHILDREN IN CABIN THERE WAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS FOLLOWED MY A SUDDEN ENGINE SHUTDOWN TODAY. I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND BLESSED I WASN'T HIT FROM THE BACK THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY DISASTROUS TO MY FAMILY.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10134829
78,000 miles · Aug 26, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIFT SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE INDICATOR LIGHT READ FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. THE CAR SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED, BUT HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME ACCELER…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIFT SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE INDICATOR LIGHT READ FAILURE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME. THE CAR SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED, BUT HAD DEVELOPED THE SAME ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. MY SON-IN-LAW, A MECHANIC, BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND UNDERSTANDS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLES (VOLVO). I HAVE NOT AS YET HAD THE MODULE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134327
79,000 miles · Aug 26, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train
DT : WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP UP AND DROP DOWN, IT LOOSES POWER WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. THIS STARTED ON JULY 31, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A VOLVO MECHANIC ,AND COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THOUGHT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR INTAKES. *AK THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODUL…
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DT : WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE TACHOMETER WILL JUMP UP AND DROP DOWN, IT LOOSES POWER WHEN TRYING TO INCREASE SPEED. THIS STARTED ON JULY 31, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A VOLVO MECHANIC ,AND COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THOUGHT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AIR INTAKES. *AK THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10131007
88,000 miles · Aug 25, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. RECENTLY WHEN IDLING, THE ENGINE RPM'S HAVE SURGED FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1400 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CURRENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THE ENGINE SURGES FROM ABOUT 700 TO AP…
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THE ENGINE DIED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. RECENTLY WHEN IDLING, THE ENGINE RPM'S HAVE SURGED FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1400 WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CURRENTLY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK OR NEUTRAL THE ENGINE SURGES FROM ABOUT 700 TO APPROXIMATELY 1000. WHEN I CONTACTED A LOCAL VOLVO DEALER SERVICE PERSON, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS HAS BEEN A FREQUENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10134206
Official recalls
4Nov 15, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Sep 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Apr 7, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN ELECTRIC COOLING FANS COULD BE INADEQUATE IN A HOT CLIMATE. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN COMPONENTS COULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE MELTING OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Aug 24, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OVER TIME, THE BALL JOINT BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL KING PIN AND THE SUSPENSION LINK ARM, CAN EXPERIENCE INCREASED LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT THE BALL JOINT'S DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA05021 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Dec 6, 2005 · Closed Dec 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
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