NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reportsMileage unknown · Oct 14, 2005
Electrical System
THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH VOLVO'S COMPUTERIZED THROTTLE (ETM, S80 1999-2001, E.G.) IS TO DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOMS. IT'S BLURRY LIKE A STOMACH DISORDER IF YOU DON'T FIND AN EXACT DESCRIPTION. IN MY CASE IT'S LIKE THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND YOU CAN'T COMPENSATE FAST ENOUGH BY GIVING MORE THROTTLE. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET CLUTCH AND THR…
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THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH VOLVO'S COMPUTERIZED THROTTLE (ETM, S80 1999-2001, E.G.) IS TO DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOMS. IT'S BLURRY LIKE A STOMACH DISORDER IF YOU DON'T FIND AN EXACT DESCRIPTION. IN MY CASE IT'S LIKE THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER AND YOU CAN'T COMPENSATE FAST ENOUGH BY GIVING MORE THROTTLE. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET CLUTCH AND THROTTLE NO MATTER WHAT. NOW, IF YOU TAKE IT REALLY SLOWLY SO THE COMPUTER MANAGES TO REACT, IT'S NO PROBLEM BUT IF YOU ARE THE SLIGHTEST TO HASTY .... RESULTS: ENGINE STOPS, SOMETIMES ON CRITICAL SPOTS AND CHANGING OF GEAR LIKE A NEW DRIVER. I'VE BEEN ON A VOLVO GARAGE TO DISCUSS THE MATTER AND I'VE BEEN TREATED LIKE AN IDIOT. I KNOW I'M RIGHT AND THEY KNOW THEY'RE WRONG. IT'S TIME TO PUT PRESSURE ON VOLVO AND MAKE THEM CORRECT THEIR MISTAKE. IF NOT, IN THE FUTURE, CHOOSE ANOTHER CAR! I'M SAYING THIS ALTHOUGH I'M SWEDISH!*JB
NHTSA ODI #10139649
135,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainSuspension
3 INDEPENDENT ISSUES: THROTTLE MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SURGES FORWARD, PARTICULARLY DURING IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY LOOSES POWER, PRESENTING THE DRIVING PERFORMANC…
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3 INDEPENDENT ISSUES: THROTTLE MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SURGES FORWARD, PARTICULARLY DURING IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY LOOSES POWER, PRESENTING THE DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF A "SLIPPING" TRANSMISSION, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, AND POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. FRONT SUSPENSION - "KNOCKING" NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENT(S), CAUSING LACK OF DRIVING CONFIDENCE AND CONCERNS OF DRIVING SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE. ALL 3 OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WIDELY REPORTED AS CHRONIC DESIGN, PERFORMANCE, SAFETY AND RELIABILITY ISSUES FOR THE SAME MODEL YEARS BY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. IN NEWER MODEL YEARS, VOLVO HAS MADE MANUFACTURING CHANGES TO ADDRESS THESE RECOGNIZED ISSUES, BUT HAS NOT AS YET SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED AND RESPONDED TO THESE SAFETY ISSUES. FURTHER, THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA BY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138949
77,203 miles · Oct 1, 2005
Electrical System
2000 S80 VOLVO T6, HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC NINE TIMES, INCLUDING A SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KEEP IT FOR A WEEK, TRYING TO SEE IF THE CAR WILL STALL FOR THEM. WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALER, WILL IT TAKE A DEA…
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2000 S80 VOLVO T6, HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC NINE TIMES, INCLUDING A SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD CAR TOWED TO OUR DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY KEEP IT FOR A WEEK, TRYING TO SEE IF THE CAR WILL STALL FOR THEM. WE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE DEALER, WILL IT TAKE A DEATH BEFORE THERE IS ANY ACTION. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP US? *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138309
50,000 miles · Sep 30, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT: THGE CONTACT STATED THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER COMPUTER IS BAD ON 2000 VOLVO S-80. A . THE VEHICLE STALLS/DIES, AND LOSES POWER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10138258
28,506 miles · Sep 29, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132472
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2005
Electrical System
I OWN A VOLVO S80 AND HAVE SEEN SOME PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED BY HTTP://VEXEDVOLVO.ORG/. STALLING ON A HIGHWAY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH MY STALLS USUALLY DON''T CAUSE THE CAR TO TOTALLY STOP. I RECENTLY CONTACTED VOLVO SINCE I FEEL THAT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION IS UNSAFE. THEY NEVER RESPOND…
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I OWN A VOLVO S80 AND HAVE SEEN SOME PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO THOSE DESCRIBED BY HTTP://VEXEDVOLVO.ORG/. STALLING ON A HIGHWAY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ALTHOUGH MY STALLS USUALLY DON''T CAUSE THE CAR TO TOTALLY STOP. I RECENTLY CONTACTED VOLVO SINCE I FEEL THAT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION IS UNSAFE. THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST, WHICH WAS FOR A REPLACEMENT PART, THAT I WOULD PAY FOR, THAT WOULDN'T FAIL OVER TIME. I HAVE SENT THEM TWO EMAILS SO FAR WITH NO RESULTS. I AM A 9-YEAR VOLVO OWNER AND BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE IGNORED I FEE L VOLVO HAS GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO MAKE THEIR CARS SAFE AND RELIABLE. IF I CAN HELP WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE CAR HAS 88000 MILES ON IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138044
105,000 miles · Sep 28, 2005
Electrical System
SURGING ENGINE RPM NOTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPED. SEEMS TO BE WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONER OUR SAFETY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENGINE OVERPOWERING THE BRAKES. DEALER SAYS IT IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND NOTED IT IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR AS WELL AS A SAFETY AND RELIABILITY CONCERN…
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SURGING ENGINE RPM NOTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPED. SEEMS TO BE WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONER OUR SAFETY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ENGINE OVERPOWERING THE BRAKES. DEALER SAYS IT IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AND NOTED IT IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR AS WELL AS A SAFETY AND RELIABILITY CONCERN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138034
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2005
Fuel System, Other
VOLVO 2000 S-80 2.9 105,000 MILES 1. STALLING, LACK OF ACCELERATION, HESITATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AROUND TOWN 2. COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ENGINE AT SPEED ON ROUTE 95 DURING RUSH HOUR 3. THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED AT A COST $1200.00 TASCA VOLVO STATED I REPLACE DOZENS OF THESE. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DO…
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VOLVO 2000 S-80 2.9 105,000 MILES 1. STALLING, LACK OF ACCELERATION, HESITATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AROUND TOWN 2. COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF ENGINE AT SPEED ON ROUTE 95 DURING RUSH HOUR 3. THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED AT A COST $1200.00 TASCA VOLVO STATED I REPLACE DOZENS OF THESE. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND DOES NOTHING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10137929
101,189 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPHICLE STALLED/HESITATED, AND OPERATED AT REDUCED SPEED OF 20 MPH. THE THROTTLE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10137611
55,000 miles · Sep 23, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY AND IS USUALLY IN THE FAILURE MODE. ABS BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. A NEW MODULE IS REQUIRED AT A QUOTED PRICE OF $950 FROM VOLVO DEALER. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS AND ONGOING PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10137392
Official recalls
4Nov 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.
Nov 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.
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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