Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Steering complaints

5 reports

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134,000 miles · May 1, 2013

EngineService BrakesSteering

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I OWN A 2001 XC 70 VOLVO WHICH I JUST BOUGHT WITH 133900 MILES LAST FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INCLUDING A 3 MONTH OLD CALIFORNIA SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT. ON APRIL 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL STRETCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER, KICKED LIKE IT WANTED TO JUMP AHEAD OF ME, ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED, AND THE CAR STALLED AND SHUT DOWN RENDERING THE BRAKE AND STEERING SYSTEM INOPERABLE. I HAD NO MEANS TO CONTROL THE CAR AS IT ROLLED DOWN HILL. I ENGAGED THE REVERSE GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I CALLED DEALER RIGHT AWAY. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING MONDAY ON 04/29/2013. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TEST-DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST AND GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE INDICATING AN AIR INTAKE PROBLEM. HE ASKED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING SO HE CAN TEST DRIVE IT MORE AND FIND OUT MORE. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY. IT WAS DANGEROUS...LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, SO IMMEDIATELY I COASTED TO THE SIDE, WITH MY HAZARDS LIGHTS ON AND PULLED TO THE SIDE WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. IMAGINE DRIVING 80MPH ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, THE ENGINES KICK JUMPS, AND WITHOUT YOUR INPUT, ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE A HIGHER GEAR BUT THEN STALLS AND IMMEDIATELY SHUTS DOWN AND THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS.. THAT IS NOT SAFETY. AS I AWAIT FOR THE MECHANIC TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR THAT PASSES A SAFETY INSPECTION TEST SHOULD NOT BE ABRUPTLY SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND RENDER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND STEERING WHEEL INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510314

125,163 miles · Mar 10, 2013

Steering

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I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLVO CARS NORTH AMERICA DUE TO A LEAK AT THE HOSE AND MY POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. I STATED THE FOLLOWING: IS MY CAR ELIGIBLE FOR RECALL REPAIR OF POWER STEERING LEAK? MY POINTS OF REFERENCE ARE AUTOMD.COM AND HTTP://WWW.AUTOSAFETY.ORG/NODE/39837 POST FOR 2001 VOLVO V70 FAILING COMPONENT(S): 016000 STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, BULLETIN 229826 NHTSA: 10022614, ACTION NUMBER: 10022614, SERVICE BULLETIN #: 229826 ON 08/27/07. ALSO, UNDER A WARRANTY CLAIM - LABOR OP 64357-2, LABOR DESCRIPTION "RELPACE SUCTION HOSE, FLUID RESERVOIR, PS PUMP," WITH .4 HOURS LABOR. THEY RESPONDED AS SUCH, YET MY CAR IS EXPERIENCE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOM THAT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SAFETY ISSUE: WE HAVE RESEARCHED YOUR 2001 VOLVO XC70, VIN- XXXXX AND MAY CONFIRM THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS ON YOUR VEHICLE. YOUR VEHICLE WAS MARKED FOR TWO RECALLS WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, DETAILS LISTED BELOW. RECALL 141 FOR AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN; COMPLETED 09/01/05 AT RICKENBAUGH VOLVO. RECALL 155 FOR A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM; COMPLETED 01/17/07 AT RICKENBAUGH VOLVO. WE HOPE THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN HELPFUL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502248

140,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010

Power TrainSteering

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MY 2001 VOLVO XC V70 TRANSMISSION IS ALSO SLIPPING AND LURCHING. LATELY THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS, BUT WHEN IT SLIPS AND HESITATES WHILE PULLING ONTO A MAIN ROAD MY HEART SKIPS A BEAT HOPING I WON'T LOSE TRANSMISSION POWER WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT OF ANOTHER VEHICLES PATH. MY MECHANIC, WHO WORKS STRICTLY ON VOLVO AND SAABS, HAS TOLD ME HE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT REPAIRS OR ADJUSTMENTS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THAT CHANGES COULD POSSIBLY MAKE MATTERS WORSE (I.E., COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE). I WILL BE TRADING THIS CAR IN TO A DEALER IN NEXT WEEK OR TWO. FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN ON THIS FORUM, VOLVO IS NOT OWNING UP TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD POWER STEERING ISSUES SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING USED. LOTS OF NOISE IN FRONT AND AT PARKING SPEEDS, TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10319877

99,549 miles · Mar 15, 2007

SteeringCrash

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ATTEMPTING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 15/20 MPH AND HIT A GUARD RAIL THEN A SNOW BANK. UPON INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE POINTING INWARD. ORIGINAL SUSPECT WAS THE TIE RODS. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THE RACK/PINION HAD SEVERED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10185155

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001

Steering

DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE IS POOR. STEERING IN HIGHER SPEEDS 60 + MPH EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP VEHICLE IN ONE LANE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL VERY EASILY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #887045

Official recalls

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.

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.