2001 Volvo V70XC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION #EA05021 VOLVO V70XC 2001 PLACED INTO SERVICE ON JUNE 19, 2001. THE CAR DISPLAYS ALL SYMPTOMS OF ETM FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE NUMEROUS ONLINE FORUMS REGARDING THIS SUBJECT. THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, LUNGES FORWARD WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND IDLES ERRATICALLY AS IF I WERE APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL OVER AND OVER. I BELIEVE DYER AND DYER VOLVO IS ATTEMPTING TO "WAIT ME OUT" UNTIL THE 10 YEARS HAS PASSED FOR THE WARRANTY SINCE THERE IS ONLY TWO MONTHS LEFT ON THE CLOCK. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED AND TOOK IT TO DEALER ON THE VERY NEXT DAY WITH THESE COMPLAINTS. THEY INDICATED THAT THE CAR RECEIVED THE RECALL SERVICE "SOFTWARE UPDATE" IN 2006. THEY LIED TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ETM BUT ONLY AFTER I PAID THEM $600 TO CLEAN REPLACE THE PCV FLAME TRAP. THE TECHNICIAN [XXX] LITERALLY TOLD ME, THAT IF I WOULD PAY FOR THE FLAME TRAP REPLACEMENT, THEN HE COULD GET THE ETM REPLACED FOR FREE UNDER WARRANTY - THAT THIS "JUST HAD TO BE RULED OUT TO SATISFY VOLVO HQ." I NEXT TOOK THE CAR TO NORTHPOINT VOLVO AND THEY CLEANED THE INTAKE UNDER THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY BUT STILL REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ETM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE FLAME TRAP DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT ETM BUT THAT "VOLVO CORPORATE" WOULD NOT APPROVE A REPLACEMENT ETM - ONLY A CLEANING. AGAIN I BELIEVE I AM JUST BEING WAITED OUT. I ALSO HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT VOLVO-AUTHORIZED AND CERTIFIED SHOP (VOLVO OF GWINNETT) WHO HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE 100% CERTAIN THAT I HAVE A FAILED ETM BUT THAT VOLVO WILL NOT REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE WARRANTY WORK AT ALL - THAT THEY ONLY LET THEIR DEALERS DO THIS WORK TO MINIMIZE THE # OF REPLACEMENTS. EVERY DAY THIS CAR DISPLAYS THESE CHARACTERISTICS AND VOLVO REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CLEARLY FAULTY ETM. AM I GOING TO HAVE TO GET IN A FATAL ACCIDENT AND DIE BEFORE VOLVO DOES THE RIGHT THING? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE MY CAR LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY AND CALL VOLVO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE IT SAT FOR A MONTH BECAUSE THE PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DETERMINED. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME. ABOUT SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME EXPERIENCE OCCURRED, ONCE AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE "PROBLEM" WAS FIXED AGAIN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP FOR VARIOUS REASONS FOR YEARS. WHEN I WAS FINALLY FED UP WITH IT AND DECIDED TO SELL IT, IT NEEDED MORE ELECTRICAL WORK. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT A DEALERSHIP LISTENED TO THE PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR OVER THE YEARS AND FELT THAT IT WARRANTED A CALL TO THE VOLVO REP. I GAVE HIM ALL WORK ORDERS WHICH I HAVE FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF THE CAR. HE WAS TOLD BY THE VOLVO REP THAT SINCE ALL REPAIR WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT A VOLVO DEALERSHIP THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NORMAL WORK SUCH AS OIL CHANGES, ETC. WERE DONE BY A MECHANIC WHO ONLY WORKS ON SAABS AND VOLVOS. UPON LOOKING FOR THE NAMES OF VOLVO EXECS THAT I COULD WRITE A LETTER TO I STUMBLED ON A WEBSITE ABOUT VOLVO PROBLEMS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO HOLD THE COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MECHANICAL FAILURES OF ANY TYPE. I WROTE TO THE INDIVIDUAL WHO STARTED THE WEBSITE AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I SEND MY E-MAIL TO STEPHEN MCHENRY AT NHTSA WHICH I DID. AFTER TRYING FOR MANY DAYS TO DO SO AND FAILING TO CONNECT BECAUSE OF SOME PROBLEM WITH THE MESSAGE TRYING TO REACH MR. MCHENRY I JUST LET IT GO. WE NEED TO SELL THE CAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM IS HOW DO I SELL A CAR THAT NEEDS OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS OF WORK? I AM FORWARDING THE E-MAIL I TRIED TO SEND TO STEPHEN MCHENRY TO YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. WHAT CAN I DO? AM I TOO LATE IN REPORTING THIS? WHAT DO YOU ADVISE ME TO DO? THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. SUSAN K. LUXEM *TR

2001 VOLVO V70 XC CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WAS SHAKING**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO GET TO THE DEALER TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE HER 2 CHILDREN WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE REPAIRS BUT THE MECHANIC WHO ASSISTED THE CONSUMER IN GETTING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS REQUESTED $60 FOR HIS TIME IN THE MATTER. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE OUTPOCKET $60 PAID TO THE MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A COPY OF REPAIR INVOICE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS SURGING AND HESITATING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. A WEEK LATER, SHE DECIDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR HOSE. HOWEVER, THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. SHE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT TRIGGER THE WARNING LIGHT, THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE DAMAGED PART. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR HER VEHICLE. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 71,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

I PURCHASED A 2001 V70 XC IN NOVEMBER 2004, WITH ABOUT 37K MILES. IT NOW HAS ABOUT 64K MILES AND YESTERDAY (MONDAY, APRIL 3, 2006) IS WHEN SHE TOOK A DIVE. I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A 1200 MILE TRIP EARLY MONDAY MORNING. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, I STARTED ON AN ERRAND; BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DROVE ABOUT 100 YARDS TO THE ENTRANCE/EXIT OF OUR SUBDIVISION. THIS HAPPENS TO BE A BUSY INTERSECTION AND DIFFICULT AT TIMES TO GET OUT. I SAW A SMALL OPENING IN THE TRAFFIC AND I GAVE THE ACCELERATOR A PRETTY GOOD PUSH.......AND ALMOST NOTHING HAPPENED. I JUST STARTED CREEPING ALONG AT LESS THAN 20 MPH. ON INCLINES IT WAS EVEN WORSE. THE FIRST WARNING WAS "REDUCED PERFORMANCE." I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. AT THAT POINT I WAS WONDERING HOW TO GET OFF THIS BUSY ROAD AND TAKE A LESS TRAVELED ONE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I GOT OFF THE BUSY ROAD AND DOWN THE NEXT HILL, BUT NOT UP. THE ENGINE WAS BARELY RUNNING AND PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. NEXT I BACKED/COASTED DOWN THE HILL AND ONTO A SIDE STREET, ENGINE STILL SORT OF RUNNING. I DECIDED TO TRY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO RESTART, BUT EVENTUALLY WOULD WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I DID THIS A COUPLE OF MORE TIMES - START/ SHUT DOWN AND AFTER A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS, THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN FINE. I HEADED FOR MY USUAL REPAIR SHOP (FRANKLIN AUTOMOTIVE) AND THEY GOT ABOUT 12 THROTTLE BODY ERRORS AND SAID I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER - ROYAL VOLVO. I AM IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. I TOOK IT STRAIGHT THERE. THE DIAGNOSTIC CLEARED ERROR MESSAGES. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON AND A "SERVICE ENGINE URGENT" MESSAGE WAS PRESENT ALONG WITH ONE OTHER MESSAGE THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER. ROYAL VOLVO UPDATED THE ETM SOFTWARE, AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECM AS PART OF SERVICE CAMPAIGN 155. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THAT THIS SHOULD FIX THE ETM PROBLEM AND IT SHOULD NOT REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICE OR NEED ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. ALL THIS WAS LISTED UNDER A VOLVO RECALL AND THERE WERE NO CHARGES. *NM

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE WAS A ROUGH IDLE (VEHICLE WOULD SURGE TO 1100 RPM AND DROP TO 500 RPM) WHILE AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED TWICE WHILE IDLING IN PARK. I CONTACTED THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK THE DAY BEFORE I WAS TO DROP THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN AN INTERSECTION. THERE WAS A NEAR COLLISION DUE TO THE STALL. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE SHOULDER. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR IF IT WOULD DAMAGE THE VEHICLE IF I WOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. HE INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE A RECOMMENDATION. I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD TOW THE VEHICLE TO THEIR FACILITY. THEY REFERRED ME TO A PRIVATE TOWING COMPANY. THERE WAS NO ANSWER TO THE PHONE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN. I DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THE TRAFFIC TO SUBSIDE AND DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP USING SECONDARY ROADS. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE RUNNING BY PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND APPLYING THE GAS PEDAL TO KEEP THE IDLE HIGH WHENEVER I APPROACHED A STOP. WHEN I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE GAS PEDAL STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALTOGETHER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS AN EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT. THE GAS PEDAL RESUMED WORKING BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED MESSAGE CONTINUED. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP (APPROX. 7:30 P.M. '' BY THIS TIME THEY WERE CLOSED). THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VOLVO SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM). I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PART (10-YEARS, 200,000-MILE). THE SERVICE INCLUDED A CLEANING OF THE PART AND RELOADING OF SOFTWARE. AFTER LEARNING THIS, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM WAS TYPICAL TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL YOUR REPORTS WILL SOON SHOW AN INCREASE IN THE INJURIES. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO V70 XC WAGON. THE CAR WAS REVVING HIGH FOR A WHILE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. ABOUT A MONTH OR SO LATER THE ETM FAILED. I WAS BEING LEFT STRANDED AT FREEWAY OFF RAMPS, AND GREEN LIGHTS WHEN THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DIE. IT'S A MIRACLE I WASN'T REAR-ENDED! AFTER A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET THE DEALERSHIP TO HONOR THE ETM WARRANTY, (THEY ONLY CLEANED THE ETM THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT-SAYING IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH!), A MONTH HAS PASSED AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED! THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A $5300 ESTIMATE FOR REPLACEMENT AS IT IS UNREPAIRABLE! I TOOK IT TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ 70,000 MILES HAPPENED BECAUSE THE ETM WOULDN'T ALLOW THE TORQUE CONVERTER DO WHATEVER IT IS A TORQUE CONVERTER DOES, AND THAT CAUSED THE OIL TO HEAT UP AND THEN THE RESULTING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HE SAID THERE IS NO ONE AROUND WHO WILL TOUCH MY TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TO USE A DEALER TO REPLACE IT. I AM COMPLETELY DEVASTATED AND CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS A LEMON. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS, AND I'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT IF SOMEONE COULD CONTACT ME ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES I HAVE. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TEST MY CAR! I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ETMS AND THEN SUBSEQUENT TRANSMISSION FAILURES. PLEASE HELP!*JB

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "REDUCED POWER MODE" ON OUR 2001 VOLVO XC70 NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN DEC '05 AND FEB '06. THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO GO OVER 15 MPH UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT-OFF AND RESTARTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE PULLING OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO A MAJOR ROAD, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHILE ATTEMPTING A PASSING MANEUVER ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 60 MPH. IN ALL SITUATIONS, WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT SOMEONE WAS NOT RIGHT BEHIND US (MY WIFE AND 2 SMALL CHILDREN) WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AS THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IS VERY HIGH. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM), BUT STATED THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERING THIS COMPONENT. HOWEVER, INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT IMMEDIATELY, THE "PROCEDURE" CALLED FOR CLEANING THE ETM AND DOWNLOADING NEW SOFTWARE. ONLY AFTER THIS PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED AND THAT THE EVENT RECURRED (STORING A CODE IN MEMORY), WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO REPLACE THE ETM. I PICKED UP THE CAR THE SAME NIGHT AND AGAIN, WHEN PULLING OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FAMILIAR "REDUCED POWER MODE" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. I DO NOT SEE WHY IF THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR REPEATED FAILURE, THAT VOLVO WOULD NOT REPLACE THE COMPONENT IMMEDIATELY, SINCE THEY ARE EQUATED WITH VEHICLE "SAFETY". THE ETM WILL NOW BE REPLACED, BUT I CANNOT SAY THAT I WILL BE ANY MORE COMFORTABLE WITH DRIVING OUR XC70. *NM