Volvo V70 Complaints (2001)

221 consumer complaints on file.

#10156277April 26, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ETM CLEANED & ADJUSTED AT 48,474 MILES FOR STALLING AND ENGINE SURGING: 10/13/03 ETM REPLACED FOR STALLING; 4/13/05 ENGINE SURGING DIAGNOSED AS ETM AT 79,386, 4/27/05 SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CORRECT SURGING, DID NOT HELP. 5/26/05 ETM REPLACED FOR SURGING IDLE AND TRANS BANGING INTO GEAR, ALSO SOFTWARE UPDATED; 4/24/06 ETM SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR ENGINE SURGING AND BEING IN LIMP HOME MODE TWICE [S.MCH FROM E-MAIL]
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155358April 14, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
DT*: WHILE BRAKING THE CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS WARNING ILLUMINATES. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 04V051000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 5/10/2006 - THE RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK, ONLY THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT WORKED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155362April 14, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, SOMETIMES I GET A WARNING ON MY DASHBOARD TO CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS, WHEN I CHECK, I GET THE WARNING WHENEVER THE LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT UP, AND ONLY THE CENTER DOES. IF I PRESS MULTIPLE TIMES THEY MAY WORK. I FOUND A SIMILAR RECALL ON THE 2002 MODEL, I HAVE THE 2001 MODEL THE NUMBER IS 04V051000. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154317March 31, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILED ON 2001 VOLVO V70 T5 AT 75,400 MILES. FAILURES OF THIS COMPONENT ARE COMMON DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF ETM. VEHICLE GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. MOST RECENT FAILURE WAS AS MY WIFE WAS MERGING WITH TRAFFIC ONTO FREEWAY. FROM 55 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND REDUCED SPEED TO 20 MPH IN TRAFFIC!. MY WIFE CREPT OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153932March 28, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE OF "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM)". LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING OR OTHER INDICATION IMMANENT FAILURE. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" WHICH PROVIDES ENOUGH POWER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT COMPUTER ATTEMPTS TO KEEP A FIXED, SOMEWHAT ABOVE IDLE, THROTTLE SETTING, RELEASING THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESULT IN ENGINE BRAKING AS NORMAL FOR A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. NEITHER SITUATION, LOSS OF POWER OR LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, IS ACCEPTABLE AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER NEARLY RESULTED IN MY BEING REAR ENDED, LUCKILY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME REACTED QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW SOFTWARE IN THE ETM IN AN ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10153407March 22, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PCV SYSTEM HAD BECOME CLOGGED AS A RESULT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE ETM. WHEN THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT FIND ANY COMPUTER CODES RELATED TO THE ETM SO THEY ARE REFUSING TO COVER THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE PCV BY THE FAULTY ETM UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN THEY CLEAN OR REPLACE THE ETM THEY SERVICE THE PCV AS PART OF THE REPAIR THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT UNTIL THE ETM FAILS COMPLETELY THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE PCV PROBLEM UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150852February 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
2001 V70 DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND CLUNKED IN AND OUT OF GEAR. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STABILIZER MOTOR MOUNT WAS FAULTY. *TS THE THROTTLE BODY, CAM SHAFT SENSOR AND VACUUM BOOST SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149294February 2, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TRAVELING 30- 40 MPH THE VEHICLE IDLES ROUGHLY. ALSO WHILE STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE STARTED HAVING DIFFERENT ERROR CODES ILLUMINATE IN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES. AFTER DIAGNOSTICS WERE RAN ON THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY MODULE. ALL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE ARE DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY MODULE FAILING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL CLEAN THE MODULE BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147375January 10, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE WAS ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST FREEWAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, WHEN OUR 2001 V-70 BEGAN MISSING AND LOSING POWER. BY THE TIME SHE LIMPED HOME TO THE NEXT OFF RAMP, SHE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AN HOUR, IN TRAFFIC MOVING NEARLY 60 MILES AN HOUR. OBVIOUSLY, THIS CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY WIFE AND OTHER TRAVELERS. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE DEALER, CALABASAS VOLVO, AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR. AT THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE GAS PEDAL LINKAGE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY $300 (COPY ENCLOSED), AND THAT THE ETM WOULD BE CLEANED. I HAD ALREADY FOUND INFORMATION ON THE WEB THAT SHOWED CLEANING WAS INEFFECTIVE, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUED SAFETY RISK. IN FACT, THE INFORMATION ON THE WEB EXPLAINED THAT VOLVO HAS AGREED TO AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY ON THIS PART TO 200,000 MILES OR 10 YEARS. I, FRANKLY, WAS STUNNED THAT A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE SUCH A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW AND COMMIT TO SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR REPLACEMENTS FOR THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE CAR. IT APPEARS THAT SOMEONE AT VOLVO DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THE ETM FAILURE COULD CAUSE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH OF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR AND OCCUPANTS. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND URGED THEM TO REPLACE THE ETM. TO MY ABSOLUTE SURPRISE, THEY EXPLAINED THAT VOLVO HAS DIRECTED DEALERS TO CLEAN FIRST, REPLACE LATER, ALTHOUGH THEY AGREED THAT THE ETM WOULD PROBABLY FAIL WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. NOW MY WIFE IS MUCH NICER THAN ME, AND SINCE I HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CALABASAS VOLVO SERVICE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THEIR INCOMPETENCE WITH THE FAN RECALL, THEY CHOSE TO GIVE HER THE CAR BACK AFTER THE CLEANING AND SHE ACCEPTED IT. WITHIN TWO MILES, THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT IT HAD EARLIER IN THE DAY. IN OTHER WORDS, VOLVO POLICY HAS PLACED MY WIFE AND FAMILY AT RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146842January 3, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE DIPPED BEAMS IN MY 2001 VOLVO V70 T5. I SEE AN ERROR REPORT ON THE DASH: BULB FAILURE. DIPPED BEAMS. BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BULBS. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE LEADING TO LOSS OF LOW BEAMS. VOLVO SERVICE MANAGERS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSES THE PROBLEM. AM I THE ONLY PERSON TO REPORT THIS DEFECT? IT STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO IN THE WINTER OF 2003 BUT IS NOW MORE REGULAR BUT NOT ALWAYS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146698January 2, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WARMED UP CAR FOR 2 MINUTES; DROVE 2 MILES TO DRUG STORE--LET ENGINE IDLE WHILE WIFE IN THE STORE; DROVE .1 MILE AND ENGINE BEGAN ACTING VERY ERRATIC! SPUTTERING AND STALLING AND NO ENGINE POWER CAR DIED INTO PARKING LOT; VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC IN MIDTOWN ALLOWED ME LIMP CAR TO DROP FAMILY AT TRANSIT STATION AND LEFT VOLVO AT OFFICE .3 MILES AWAY; AFTER RETURNING FROM VACATION CAR RAN OK--CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS STILL ON + TWO URGENT ERROR MESSAGES. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE ETM DESPITE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146183December 27, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED. WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN OR AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THE THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146461December 22, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
REFERENCE 10143655 FOR SECOND ETM REPLACEMENT, FIRST REPLACED AT 42,000 MILES, WAS STALLING , HESITATING, ROUGH ID. E. HARD TO START AFTER STALLS. SMCH *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145873December 21, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO V70 T5. THIS CAR HAS THE HIGH FAILURE RATE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE COMPONENT. DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN PASSING LANE OF A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. THE MESSAGE WINDOW ON THE DASH FLASHED "PERFORMANCE REDUCED" THIS OCCURRED DURING WHILE PASSING A SEMI WITH OTHER CARS FOLLOWING CLOSELY BEHIND IN A CARAVAN. IT WAS IN POURING RAIN WITH WATER FROM THE SEMI SPLASHING OVER THE WINDSHIELD. NEEDLESSTOSAY, THIS WAS A NERVOUS MOMENT WHEN POWER WAS SUDDENLY LOST. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OFF TO THE NEXT EXIT RAMP WHERE THE ENGINE WAS SPUTTERING WHILE IDLING. SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING MADE THE PROBLEM DISAPPEAR. ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER, I'M GETTING "PERFORMANCE REDUCED" MESSAGE NEARLY EVERY DAY. FINALLY TRACE IT DOWN TO THE ETM INTERNAL FAULT USING A OBDII READER I PURCHASED TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM. VOLVO DEALER CONFIRMED THE FINDING AND REPLACED THE ETM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147519December 19, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 VOLVO V70 BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. *TS *NM *** NO ANSWER REQUIRED***
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145055December 13, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2001 VOLVO V70 - TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY IN THIS VEHICLE, IT LOST ACCELERATION AND STARTED TO REDUCE POWER, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE STALLING. CAUGHT BETWEEN TRUCKS AND CARS GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 - 75 MPH. I FELT HOPELESS TO HELP MYSELF, FEARING I WOULD BE KILLED BY TRAFFIC. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144472December 5, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VOLVO, 2001 V70 - VIN [XXX] THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE. SINCE PURCHASED NEW, CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE SYSTEM FAILURES LEADING TO VARIOUS UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS INCLUDING BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE AND ENGINE FAILURE (INCLUDING LOSS OF BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS). MANUFACTURER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED UNUSUAL NATURE OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE QUALITY DEFECTS - CONCERNED THAT CAR MUST BE TAKEN OFF ROAD TO AVOID SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143655November 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) FAILED. THE ENGINE IDLE DROPPED, AND SURGED UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT SURGED AND THEN LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT AND WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START BACK. THE VEHICLE STARTED AGAIN AFTER THE FOURTH ATTEMPT. THE ETM WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO, BUT NOW THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. *AK AFTER THE REPAIRS THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS. UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144237November 21, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON I-695 NEAR BALTIMORE EXPERIENCED SIX EPISODES OF SUDDEN DECELERATION ,AND A ALMOST STALLING. ALSO, WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A DUMP TRUCK ON ONE OCCASION ,AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION BY AN 18-WHEELER BEFORE THE CONTACT COULD CROSS SLOWLY THROUGH LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION, DURING TWO OF THESE UNPLANNED STOPS, THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND THE CONTACT BLOCKED A LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD READ REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN A FEW TIMES, NOTED A VERY ROUGH IDLE AND THE SAME MESSAGE. THEN , TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES ,AND INSTEAD OF THE REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE WARNING RECEIVED A NEEDED IMMEDIATE REPAIR SERVICE OR SOME SIMILAR MESSAGE, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HE DROVE A FEW MILES AT 60-65 MPH, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGH. THIS WHOLE EPISODE REPEATED BY ITSELF 5 TIMES DURING 50 MILES DRIVE. THE CONTACT MADE IT HOME SAFELY WITH THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. THESE PROBLEMS WERE EXACTLY THOSE DOCUMENTED WITH THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE (ETM) IN MOST 1999-2001 VOLVOS. HAS AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL DEALER, AND HE WILL BE CHARGED THE USUAL $1000-$1200 TO REPLACE THE ETM MODULE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REPLACEMENT MODULE WAS NOT BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL MODULE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143299November 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. DROVE CAR ADDITIONAL 15 MINUTES TO GET HOME. FOLLOWED ON-DASH & OWNER'S MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS TO GET CHECKED AT EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. CAR BROKE DOWN NEXT DAY ON WAY TO MECHANIC. CAR BUCKED AND SURGED, DECELERATING AND ACCULTURATING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CEL CAME ON. DISPLAY READ "PERFORMANCE REDUCED". COULD GO NO FASTER THAN 20-25 MPH. IN NO POSITION TO STOP VEHICLE. ON BUSY ROAD WITH NO USABLE SHOULDER. CAR REQUIRED TOWING. ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS (OBD) SAID THERMOSTAT WAS BAD, BUT MECHANIC SUSPECTED FAILED ETM. HE SAID THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH CAR. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. CAR WAS DRIVABLE. USED APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES MORE. CAR BROKE DOWN ON WAY HOME, STRANDING ME IN INTERSECTION. SAME ISSUE. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE. SHUT IT OFF. AFTER FIVE MINUTES, CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO MECHANIC. THIS TIME OBD REPORTED TELL-TALE CODES FOR FAILED ETM. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED AT TOTAL COST OF $1200. I PHONED STILLMAN VOLVO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY WIDESPREAD, WELL-KNOWN ISSUE REGARDING ETM ON 2001 VOLVOS. I CALLED VOLVO AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A NHTSA INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY AND THAT THEY HOPED TO HAVE A RESOLUTION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE REPRESENTATIVE, HOWEVER, TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD GET ANY COST ASSISTANCE FROM VOLVO OR MY VOLVO DEALERSHIP SINCE I HAD THE WORK DONE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON-LINE WITH OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. I NOW UNDERSTAND THAT VOLVO AMERICA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I AM UPSET REGARDING THEIR STATEMENT REGARDING INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. BUT I AM FURIOUS THAT THIS CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD RISK THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR PASSENGERS BY FAILING TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS ISSUE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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