Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

318 reports

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000

Suspension

THE RIGHT FRONT BALL BEARING BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND STEERING ABILITY. *ET

NHTSA ODI #556361

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2000

Suspension

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SEE ODI NUMBER 726533 FOR PREVIOUS REPORT. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, NOW 4 OCCURRENCES: THRUMMING SOUND THAT GETS LOUDER AND TRANSITIONS INTO SIGNIFICANT RAPID VIBRATION OF ENTIRE CAR. CONDITIONS AT LATEST OCCURRENCE: DRY PAVEMENT, AIR CONDITIONER ON, DASH THERMOMETER READING 82F, STEADY 67MPH, TWO PEOPLE IN CAR. ADDITIONAL DATA: PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL NO CHANGE; VARIED RPM (STILL IN NEUTRAL) NO CHANGE; TURNED OFF ENGINE NO CHANGE. RESTARTED ENGINE NO CHANGE; THEN STOPPED. VIBRATION DISAPPEARED AS SPEED DROPPED (BELIEVE ABOUT LOW 20S OR TEENS). RAN HANDS OVER WHEELS AND TIRES: APPEARED NORMAL WITH NO BUMPS OR EXCESSIVE HEAT. PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR WHEN I RESUMED DRIVING. COMMENTS: IVE HAD AN ONGOING COMPLAINT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT A VIBRATION IN THE RANGE 60 TO 75MPH. THE VIBRATION FEELS LIKE A WHEEL BALANCE PROBLEM DESPITE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT RE-BALANCING. THE APPEARANCE OF THE THRUMMING SOUND AND ASSOCIATED SEVERE VIBRATION RESEMBLES A REINFORCING RESONANCE DEVELOPING FROM THE BASIC VIBRATION.

NHTSA ODI #730234

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2000

Visibility

REFLECTION FROM DASHBOARD ONTO WINDSHIELD CAUSES IMAGE THAT IMPAIRS VISION DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726684

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2000

Suspension

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INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, 2 OCCURRENCES. CONDITIONS AT LATEST OCCURRENCE: DRY PAVEMENT, AIR CONDITIONER ON, STEADY 65MPH, TWO PEOPLE IN CAR. SYMPTOMS: NOTICED HUMMING SOUND THAT GOT LOUDER AND TRANSITIONED INTO SIGNIFICANT RAPID VIBRATION OF ENTIRE CAR. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED (NOT OSCILLATED) 1/32 TO 1/16 INCH. TRIED ACCELERATING, VERY SLUGGISH RESPONSE AND WHEN CAR DOWNSHIFTED VIBRATION DID NOT CHANGE. APPLIED BRAKES AND EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED VIBRATION ESPECIALLY IN FRONT END AND PEDAL. VIBRATION WAS NOT PULSATING LIKE ANTILOCK BRAKES BUT RATHER LIKE WHEELS OSCILLATING. STOPPED AND INSPECTED WHEELS AND TIRES-APPEARED NORMAL. PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR WHEN I RESUMED DRIVING. DEALER CHECKED CAR AND DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #726533

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2000

Visibility

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RESIDENCE SHOWN IS IN NY WHERE I AM CURRENTLY LOCATED AND CAN BE CONTACTED.; I AM FLORIDA HOMEOWNER AT 6366 PEBBLE CREEK WAY,,BOYNTON BEACH,FL 33437 DURING WINTER MONTHS. CAR COLOR IS METALLIC MOONDUST WITH INTERIOR COLOR "SAND". REFLECTIVE GLARE ON WINDHIELD FROM DASH IS CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD. DRIVING IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT OR DAPPLED SHADE/SUN IS IMPOSSIBLE. HAVE HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 5 MPH ON INTERSTATE, OR EVEN STOP AT TIMES, BECAUSE OF TOTAL INABILITY TO SEE. MFR REPRESENTATIVE PAT SACUS AT EXEC OFFICES (1 2017674737 EXT 1976) ROCKLEIGH,NJ INDICATES THEY CAN,AND WILL, DO NOTHING DESPITE ACKNOWLEDGING THE POSSIBLE SERIOUS SAFETY IMPICATIONS. IN TWENTY OR MORE CARS I HAVE OWNED, HAVE NEVER HAD SUCH A SEVERE SAFETY CONCERN IN NEED OF CORRECTION. SUN GLASSES DO NOT HELP, NOR DOES PLACING A PIECE OF DARK CLOTH ON DASHBOARD. ACCORDING TO MS SACUS, ALL PREVIOUS VOLVOS HAD BLACK(ONLY) DASH BOARDS, BUT COLORS WERE INSTALLED IN RESPONSE TO CONSUMER DESIRES. PRESUMABLY, THE PROBL;EM EXISTS ONLY WITH THE LIGHTER COLORS, BUT THERE IS NO QUESTION IN MY MIND THAT A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT AWAITS. SIMILARLY, AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS ON THE DASH BOARD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DARK BACKGROUND AND L.E.D. LIGHTING IS ALMOST INVISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT (ALTHOUGH FINE AT NIGHT). IN ORDER TO READ ITEMS ON DASH SUCH AS RADIO STATION IN TUNE OR , MESSAGE BOARD, EYES MUST BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD AND ONE MUST ACTUALLY BEND DOWN TO LOOK AT THE PANEL CLOSELY IN ORDER TO SEE WHEN IN BRIGHT LIGHT. A HAZARD INDEED, BUT ONE I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH....I JUST DO NOT TRY TO READ RADIO STATION INFO. I URGE TESTING OF THIS AUTO (IN THE COLOR AND DASH COLOR SPECIFIED)WHILE DRIVING INTO BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. HOWEVER, I URGE YOUR TESTER TO DRIVE SLOWLY!! ALSO, PLEASE TEST IN DAPPLED BRIGHT SUN/SHADE; OR DRIVE FROM SUNLIGHT INTO A DARKENED GARAGE. ONE IS ALMOST TOTALLY BLIND. VOLVO HAS SHOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT WITH A QUALITY AUTOMOBILE THAT IS VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE IN DAYLIGHT SUNSHINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #726340

Mileage unknown · May 15, 2000

Seats

HEAD RESTRAINT IN FRONT SEATS ARE NOT REMOVABLE AND ARE MUCH TOO HIGH BLOCKING THE DRIVER FROM LOOKING AT HIS LEFT BLIND SPOT, I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WARRANATS A RECALL FOR NEW HEAD RESTRAINTS TO BE FITTED THAT ARE ABLE TO GO UP OR DOWN OR SMALLER ONES TO BE FITTED.

NHTSA ODI #722708

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000

Steering

STEERING WHEEL IS NOT SOLID. WHEN INITIALLY ACCELERATING THE WHEEL GIVES A VERY SCARY RECOIL. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, WITH ONLY 2200 MILES. THE DEALER FORCED ME TO WAIT 1.5 WEEKS TO HAVE THE SITUATION REPAIRED - I AM WORRIED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MALFUNCTION CAUSING ME AND MY FAMILY BODILY HARM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721689

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1999

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE BACKING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE (COLD ENGINE), THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS (FEET).

NHTSA ODI #713015

Official recalls

10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

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.

06V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control

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.

04V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

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.

00V238000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

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

EA05021 · 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.