IllustrationETS LIGHT COMES ON. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AT 71,000 MILES. MY CAR IS A 2000 VOLVO XC70. *JB
2000 Volvo V70XC
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V70XC years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
1125–50K
4050–75K
1975–100K
11100–150K
5150K+
88 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
103 reportsMY VOLVO 2000 V70XC STALLED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE LAST NIGHT DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC BUT NOT AFTER SEVERAL "SCREECHING" CLOSE CALLS. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN ROBUSTNESS ISSUE THAT VOL…
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MY VOLVO 2000 V70XC STALLED IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE INTERSTATE LAST NIGHT DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND MOVE OUT OF TRAFFIC BUT NOT AFTER SEVERAL "SCREECHING" CLOSE CALLS. IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN ROBUSTNESS ISSUE THAT VOLVO HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS. I HAVE REPLACED THE FAULTY UNIT AT A COST OF $985.00 DOLLARS BUT THEIR IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WILL NOT REOCCUR. NHTSA NEEDS TO DIRECT VOLVO/FORD TO REPLACE/REIMBURSE ALL EMT UNITS IN THE EFFECTED 1999 TO 2002 VOLVO'S TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE PERSONAL INJURIES OR DEATHS. IN ADDITION, VOLVO NEEDS TO REDESIGN A RETRO-FIT FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED MODEL YEARS TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. *JB
FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE ON A 2000 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY, BEVEL GEAR FAILURE IS LIKELY AS WELL, BOTH ARE FREQUENT FAILURES AMONG OWNERS. *NM
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. CAN NOT CONTROL SPEED IN CAR. FUEL CUTS IN AND OUT. VERY ERRATIC SPEEDS IN CAR. *JB
(1) NO WARNING AT ALL BEFORE THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. (2) WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN, CAR SUDDENLY FAILS TO REV ABOVE 1000 RPM EVEN WHEN GAS IS FLOORED. CAR WILL NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH, AND IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES TO GET THERE, SO IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TRIES TO STALL. ETS DASH LIGHT COMES ON. (3) ETM PART REPLACED AND REPROGR…
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(1) NO WARNING AT ALL BEFORE THIS FAILURE HAPPENED. (2) WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN, CAR SUDDENLY FAILS TO REV ABOVE 1000 RPM EVEN WHEN GAS IS FLOORED. CAR WILL NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH, AND IT TAKES A COUPLE MINUTES TO GET THERE, SO IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. TRIES TO STALL. ETS DASH LIGHT COMES ON. (3) ETM PART REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMING PERFORMED, HAD TO BE ONLY AT A DEALER, WAS WITHOUT CAR FOR 2 DAYS. I DON'T HAVE THE OLD PART. *JB
THE AUTOMOBILE IN QUESTION IS A 2000 VOLVO XC70. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. AT 97,731 MILES THE ETS FAILED. AT THE TIME I MADE A COMPLAINT TO BOTH THE DEALER AND TO VOLVO OF AMERICA AS IT DID NOT SEEM TO ME THIS PART SHOULD FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE AND AT THE COST OF $1,050.58. SINCE THIS TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ANTI-LOCK …
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THE AUTOMOBILE IN QUESTION IS A 2000 VOLVO XC70. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. AT 97,731 MILES THE ETS FAILED. AT THE TIME I MADE A COMPLAINT TO BOTH THE DEALER AND TO VOLVO OF AMERICA AS IT DID NOT SEEM TO ME THIS PART SHOULD FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE AND AT THE COST OF $1,050.58. SINCE THIS TIME, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BOX AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AT THE COST OF $2,900 (111,000 MILES). AGAIN I CONTACTED VOLVO OF AMERICA. BOTH TIMES I CALLED THE RESPONSE WAS "TOO BAD". I AM WRITING TO YOU AS I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A POSSIBLE RECALL OF THE ETS AND WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE ETS FAILURE. *NM
DT: 2000 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM
OUR 2000 VOLVO V70XC ETS LIGHT CAME WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD A TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF IN A BAD SPOT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WHEN IT DID THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH. AFTER A FEW MINUTES…
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OUR 2000 VOLVO V70XC ETS LIGHT CAME WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AND HAD A TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP AND PULL OVER AND SHUT CAR OFF IN A BAD SPOT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART AND WHEN IT DID THE ENGINE RAN VERY ROUGH. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME BUT WITH NOT MUCH FAITH IN MY CAR. THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL CARED FOR AND HAS LOW MILES. DEALER SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW ETM AND WILL COST UPWARDS OF $1000. *NM
ETM FAILED ON 2000 VOLVO V70XC. FIRST INTERMITTENTLY, THEN COMPLETELY LEFT MY WIFE AND GRANDKIDS STRANDED. LIMPED HOME EVENTUALLY. UNSAFE CONDITION, NO REAL WARNING OTHER THAT DASH LIGHT. NEEDED REPLACED/REPROGRAMMED AT OUR COST. 77,000 MILE ON CAR. *JB
THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) HAS FAILED TWICE ON MY 2000 VOLVO V70XC. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND WAS ABOUT 17K MILES AFTER THE FIRST. BOTH TIMES IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED. BOTH TIMES ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. BOTH TIMES MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER, RESTART, AND GET H…
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THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) HAS FAILED TWICE ON MY 2000 VOLVO V70XC. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE SECOND WAS ABOUT 17K MILES AFTER THE FIRST. BOTH TIMES IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED. BOTH TIMES ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. BOTH TIMES MANAGED TO GET TO SHOULDER, RESTART, AND GET HOME WITH CAR ALTERNATELY SURGING AND STALLING THE WHOLE WAY. BOTH TIMES HAD MY PRESCHOOL AGE TWINS IN THE CAR AND DIDN'T FEEL IT SAFE TO STOP ON THE SHOULDER TO WAIT FOR HELP. ALSO, WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING THEM HOME SAFETY (IN THEIR CAR SEATS). THEN HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. FIRST FAILURE - CAR MILEAGE WAS 41,222, REPAIR DATE WAS 6/25/03. QUOTE FROM ANNAPOLIS VOLVO SERVICE RECEIPT: "ETS LAMP COMES ON AND VEHICLE SURGES BADLY, ALMOST STALLED. INTERNAL FAULT INSPECTED AND FOUND CODES ECM903F/904D/9150/9160/904C. TESTED AND REPLACED ELEC. THROTTLE MODULE" THIS WORK WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND FAILURE - CAR MILEAGE WAS 58,611, REPAIR DATE WAS 3/15/05. QUOTE FROM ANNAPOLIS VOLVO SERVICE RECEIPT: "ETS LIGHT IS ON INTERNAL FAULT VOLVO GOODWILL WARRANTY-VOLVO TO PAY PARTS DEALER LABOR CHECKED AND RETRIEVE CODE-ECM 959F, 903F-TRACED AND FOUND INTERNAL FAULT IN ETM, REPLACED ETM, RELOAD SOFTWARE AND CLEAR CODES. *JB
Official recalls
206V441000 · 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.
04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. 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 ↗
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.