1999 VOLVO V70XC Complaints

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED TWICE AT 8/1/03 68,000 MILES AND ON 9/8/05 AT 76,000 MILES. VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN MEDFORD, OREGON CHARGED OVER $800 EACH TIME TO REPAIR THE DEFECT.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS REGARDING 2 FAULTY THROTTLE MODULES (ETM) THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY VOLVO DEALERSHIPS FOR MY 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. THE FIRST/ORIGINAL ETM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH 58,635 MILES ON 22 MAY 03. 14 MONTHS AND 12,474 MILES LATER, THAT ETM FAILED AND I HAD TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED IRREGULAR AND ERRATIC ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION OF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATION PEDAL PRESSED, BUT STEADY. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE TWO ETM'S THAT WERE INSTALLED WERE BOTH MODEL# 8644347. THIS SHOWS EVIDENCE THAT VOLVO IS ONLY REPLACING A FAILED DEFECTIVE ETM WITH A NEW DEFECTIVE ETM. I URGE THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR THE SAFETY OF VOLVO DRIVERS WHO MIGHT GET INTO A FUTURE ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE PART. THANK YOU. *JB

DT: CONTACT STATES THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIS VEHICLE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING, HEADLIGHT: SWITCH, CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V504000. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY SAID THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO PHYSICAL DAMAGE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. *NM

SURGING, FOULING SPARK PLUGS, HESITATING, STALLING, CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND LOCKS UP. *NM

1) ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF STARTING CAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING, ETS STAYED ON. CAR BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SURGE, PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE AROUND 35-MPH AND 60-MPH. 2) ALL MOST COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING ON SIDE STREET, UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS VERY LITTLE RESPONSE. PARKED THE CAR OVER NIGHT ON SIDE OF ROAD. NEXT DAY IT WAS MORE RESPONSIVE, THOUGH STILL HAD THE ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON. 3) VOLVO DEALER REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. TOTAL COST $1300. I ASKED FOR THE OLD THROTTLE BODY, BUT WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS, AS THERE WAS A "CORE CHARGE" FROM VOLVO. WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF THERE EVENTUALLY WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART MY RECEIPT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

I OWN A 1999 VOLVO V70 XC. ON OCTOBER 27, 2005, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING BEGAN TO STALL. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR TO NO AVAIL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, STARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. ALTHOUGH IT APPEARED TO DRIVE A LITTLE BETTER, IT CONTINUED TO JERK AND SPUTTER. *JB

ABS CONTROL UNIT SPORADICALLY FAILS, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GO ON NOTIFYING DRIVER THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING. IF THE SYSTEM FAILS AT A CRITICAL TIME, COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *NM

TURBO RETURN LINES ARE LEAKING - RUBBER HOSES ARE STIFFENING FROM HEAT - SHOULDN'T THESE HAVE BEEN METAL LINES TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS A POLLUTION AND FIRE HAZARD. *NM

ELECTRIC FRONT SEATS WORK SPORADICALLY. SAFETY HAZARD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER DRIVES THE CAR. SOMETIMES CANNOT ADJUST SEATS. PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING CAR. *NM

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE LEFT MY FAMILY STRANDED. REPAIR COST $1000. I'VE READ THAT THIS ISSUE IS VERY COMMON IN MY VEHICLE AND THAT VOLVO HAS NOT MADE ANY ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY. THE SPUTTERING THAT LED UP TO THE FAILURE COULD HAVE EASILY RESULTED IN A MERGE ACCIDENT WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. THE NHTSA AND VOLVO SHOULD NOT WAIT FOR FURTHER EXPENSE AND INJURY TO FORCE A RECALL. *NM