Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 1713 | 02/24/2000 | 610432 | This bulletin mentions that several changes have been to the electrical system on some vehicles as well as different terminology used to describe the various production week changes. *tt | 04/28/2000 | |
| 1707 | 07/09/1999 | 608293 | Information pertaining to the transportation switch which disconnects the vehicle electrical system from the battery to minimize battery drain. *tt | 11/18/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | |||||
| 3202 | 05/09/2005 | 10016648 | Alternator charging problems. *sc | 09/26/2005 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 2823 | 08/17/2001 | 2823 | 626280 | Information regarding oscillating torque during acceleration. *yh | 12/13/2001 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 200000 | 1 | |
| While driving my 2000 volvo s80 about 20-25mph all the sudden lost power to all my gauges, dashboard lights, power windows, & power locks. the radio was the only device that was working. the following message was displayed srs-airbag service urgent. i have noticed a difference on my brake pedal that it does not respond as well as it use too there is a short delay when stepped on. before this incident i had noticed a clicking noise on the driver side when a came to a stop like a relay chattering & also the ac would come on when the car is turned off. at times the following message would appear frequently alarm needs servicing. i don't know what is causing this malfunctions but if its a manufacturing problem volvo should be liable on correcting the problem & provide us with a safe vehicle. *tr | |||
| 10/24/2012 | 200000 | ||
| While driving my 2000 volvo s80 about 20-25mph all the sudden lost power to all my gauges, dashboard lights, power windows, & power locks. the radio was the only device that was working. the following message was displayed srs-airbag service urgent. i have noticed a diffrence on my brake pedal that it does not respond as well as it use too there is a short delay when stepped on. before this incident i had noticed a clicking noise on the driver side when a came to a stop like a relay chattering & also the ac would come on when the car is turned off. at times the following message would appear frequently alarm needs servicing. i don't know what is causing this malfuncions but if its a manufacturing problem volvo should be liable on correcting the problem & provide us with a safe vehicle. | |||
| 03/04/2008 | 98000 | ||
| My 2000 s80 t6 stalls in traffic and loses power while driving. whenever i stop at a traffic light, i'll have to step harder on the accelerator in order to avoid the vehicle behind me from hitting my car.sometimes it jerks so bad i feel that engine may fall off.there's no engine light on or anything. i have called volvo and was told the problem is etm but has been replaced on my car according to their records. i have taken the car to the dealership and had different components tested out and fixed but that did not solve the problem. | |||
| 09/03/2011 | 131329 | ||
| I was driving along a busy street, when i came to a stop sign the brakes where hard to push, when i finally stopped the car, you could stll fill the car trying to move forward i took my foot of of the brakes and the car sped up on it's on reaching close to 40 mph again i was barely able to stop the car do to a stiff brake pedal. i put the car in park and shut it off, once i restarted the car it was sputtering and wouldn't idle correctly every time i put the car in gear it would shut off now i'm getting an eror message that says service engine system urgent | |||
| 04/21/2011 | 146600 | ||
| On april 21,2011 approximately 7:45am, my vehicle failed in accelerating power suddenly while driving. in addition, my vehicle jerk, skip, and shook uncontrollably. i had my car towed to my personal repair shop (reputable volvo service, inc.) my mechanic informed me after a diagnostic, that the throttle module needs to be replaced. he tells me that only the volvo dealer would be the only repair service to replace this part due to the software program that included. so, once again, the car was towed the authorize volvo dealer. the diagnostic here is the same, the throttle module needs to be replaced. there was a recall on this part, along with other parts. i was not informed about this through the dealer but through research of my own. the service manager tells me that i would have to contact volvo manufacturer to see rather they would honor the recall of the replacement of this part. i contact the manufacturer and spoke with mrs. marilyn and mrs. jan and i was told that this part was past the warranty but they would honor the software update for this part. also the engine cooling fan recall is still open but i have already had this part and labor done at my own expense due to the fact that i was not aware of the recalls. the throttle module is about $700.00, this does not include labor or another software program. for my total repair cost is $1185.00 and strongly feel that this is not fair because none of my parts were replaced through the recall. in other words i shouldn't have to pay for a part plus labor that was defective in production. i should be extended the same recall conditions that other volvo owners were able to received. volvo inc knows exactly what cars received their recall parts replacement and also which cars did not through their vin number. of course they would extend the software update program because it's less expensive. please assist me. thanks | |||
| 05/11/2009 | 125300 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. when the contact arrived home, she noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle. flames were present soon after. the fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. everything under the hood was melted. a firefighter stated that it appeared to be an electrical fire. a report was filed. there were no injuries. the contact stated that she will call volvo and file a claim. the failure mileage was 125,300. | |||
| 07/25/2008 | 78000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. while driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed smoke and pulled the vehicle off the road. he opened the hood and noticed flames. he was unsuccessful at extinguishing the fire and called the fire department, who stated that the cooling fan caused an electrical fire. the contact's mechanic informed him of a recall regarding the cooling fan. the vin and nhtsa campaign id number were unknown. the failure and current mileages were 78,000. | |||
| 06/01/2008 | 98000 | 1 | |
| As i understand it, the electronic throttle module (etm) on my 2000 volvo s80 is in the process of failing. two years ago, i had my vehicle serviced when it began surging forward when idling, even when i was braking. an etm software upgrade was done at that time and the etm was cleaned. now, just short of two years later, i am having exactly the same problem again. as i am coming to a stop, my vehicle will suddenly and unexpectedly surge forward, even when my foot is on the brake. i am petrified that i am going to strike the back of another vehicle before i can arrange to get my car in for service. further, when i put my car in park or use the ac system, my car comes to a near stall and just lurches all over the place. it simply cannot maintain an even idle when in park. last week, for the first time, i became aware of the november 2006 recall concerning etms. this led me to look at my old service records, since i was having the same frightening problem that i had two years ago. sure enough, there it was again - customer states at idle revs up and surges. i have already paid for this repair once. this is an extremely serious matter and my vehicle simply is not safe to drive. *tr | |||
| 10/01/2005 | 45000 | 1000 | 08/28/2003 |
| 1. following download of recall software performance has been vastly reduced and now only achieves 8.2 mpg. 2. the abs control module functions intermittently and usually in the failure mode. abs brakes do not function properly-replacement $950 3. while backing (cold engine), brakes fail to stop the car for several seconds (feet). 4. the vehicle stalls mostly on turns but on straight away. a. car now shuts off approx 6-8 times while driving, dangerous while driving at interstate/highway speeds. it surges forward and the lights (dash and headlights) fade - vehicle stalls with no power steering or power brakes. 5. cruise control fails | |||
| 10/25/2006 | 84900 | 100 | |
| Erratic throttle post 10 minutes of drive, much acceleration, not enough acceleration, hesitation, backfires lean. gets stuck 2nd gear. cel on. transmission service urgent warning message displayed. cruise control is lost and cannot be turned back on. obdii pcodes stored 10-29-2006 10:21:18.464 read stored dtc: p0756 dtc: p1171 dtc: p1181 dtc: p1618 10-29-2006 10:21:18.474 read stored dtc: p1184 10-29-2006 10:21:18.474 read stored dtc: p1174 the first code always displayed when the fault occurs. subsequent continued driving results in the second code pending or permanent. the remaining codes will be added in pairs. first dealer reports i have 18 codes but factory vadis indicates can only store 15 codes maximum. requested additional $300 to adjust fuel trims, check exhaust and intake leaks, check o2 sensors, work declined. second dealer reports needs complete transmission. no attempt to solve complaints by dealer, contacted volvo customer service and they declined to discuss problems, they declined any further involvement. car had salvage title 2+ years ago from minor accident which prematurely deployed air bags, repaired and returned to service. i am retired ase master mechanic, service manager, and sae member, this is not a transmission issue but caused by the erratic actions of the throttle body system and module. transmission passes all conventional tests. results stuck in gear can be corrected by cycling the ignition switch off and back on. this can be done by pulling to the side of the road and stopping to cycle the key or traffic permitting placing in neutral and restarting and then back to drive. no observed failures above 65 mph. tsb send wrong signals to network are translated as instructions resulting in poor fuel consumption, high emissions, abnormal wear and tear on transmission, ignition switch, starter, and related components for normal operation, plus a dangerous driving condition. *nm | |||
| 12/01/2004 | 49374 | 1 | 12/23/1999 |
| I want to add my documentation about the failure of the throttle module and subsequent lack of appropriate action. the unit in the 2000 volvo s80 failed to bring the car to a complete halt in traffic in december 2004. subsequent repairs to solve the problem were $845. if volvo sent out a notice for etm repair refunds last winter, i did not receive it despite living at the same address as when i purchased the vehicle in dec 1999. i also want to call your attention to the increasing problem with the dstc system as evidence by activity in the chat rooms. our vehicle shows a persistent dstc service message that the dealer claims can not be adequately diagnosed without first replacing the yaw sensor for $668. others with this problem have turned to buying and self installing rebuilt abs units which the nhtsa should be proactively seeking to understand. the cause of the abs unit failure? some claim it is the vibration and pounding from the entirely inadequate front end suspension and wheel system causing the electronic parts to fail. i can attest to the suspension problem having spent $1790 yesterday to replace front bushings, stabilizer links, struts and spring seats on a car with 64k miles. the front struts previously were replace in jan '04 at a cost of $726 when mileage was 40k. i've also had to replace the ball joints several times already. *jb | |||
| 07/09/2006 | 98050 | 2 | 06/10/2001 |
| Yr 2000 volvo s80 2.9l. two safety related complaints follow: 1. dash board (speedometer, tach, lights, etc), electric windows and door locks, and turn signals just stop working all at the same time! i have to unhook the battery to reset. common problem from looking at internet forums. 2. airbag malfunction light message comes on when the airbag has not deployed. this occurred after the mysterious electrical malfunction described above. the dealer wants a fee to reset and check the airbag function. this is also common from looking at internet forums. i think the dealers should be made to fix these problems free of charge. *jb | |||
| 06/13/2004 | 60104 | 1 | 04/28/2003 |
| June 13, 2004: car lost power on i-70 in ohio. time - 10:00 pm; conditions clear. vehicle dropped into limp home mode requiring that we drive in the breakdown lane to the nearest exit which was about 8 miles. vehicle speed was about 20 mph max. - a dangerous situation on an interstate at night since both debris, dead animals and highway construction barriers required temporarily leaving the breakdown lane. neither my wife nor i knew what was happening at the time. we were able to find a motel and had the car towed to the nearest volvo dealership for repairs the next day. car repairs included an etm, throttle body, the main control module (part #8601630), various diagnostic tests and software downloads. time constraints necessitated our returning to connecticut by the next day so we ended up leaving the car and obtaining a rental. the dealership finished the repairs and had the car driven to us a couple of days later. a good part of the repair costs were absorbed by volvo, however we did pay some. the reason for this complaint is concern for my wife's safety. she is the primary driver of this car, using it to commute to/from work on heavily traveled roads. we have since learned that these repairs do not permanently solve this problem. the car now has 95,000 miles on it - about 35, 000 more miles since the original failure. we are aware of volvo's 10 year/200,000 mile warranty on the etm, but volvo needs to find a permanent fix rather than risk my wife's or my safety. *jb | |||
| 01/03/2006 | 48000 | 100 | 11/15/2003 |
| I have been having problems with my 2000 volvo s80 hesitating as if it's not getting any gas when first beginning to drive it everyday. i have complained about this problem since purchasing this vehicle but the volvo repair shop have not been able to fix the problem and they say they do not know what the problem is. also my check engine light, stc light, and abs light keeps coming on. i have also noticed that when these lights come on my car becomes hard to steer sometimes. after checking into this problem i have found that many other volvo s80 's built around the same time as mine are having the same problems. i have complained about my car suspension making weird noises since having this vehicle and the volvo repair shop says they can not find any thing wrong but when enquiring with others who own volvo s80's, built around the same time as mine, many are saying they are having this problem also. the below information asks for an incident date but the problem with my 2000 volvo s80 hesitating and being hard to steer occur often probably over 100 times. *nm | |||
| 11/16/2005 | 81561 | 3 | 03/02/2000 |
| While driving in highway traffic, the car has a sudden loss of speed & steering & completely stalls. 1st time 3/17/04 throttle body control unit was replaced. 2nd time 11/26/05 mass air flow meter was replaced. both times was able to restart car after coasting to shoulder. one other time as well, date not noted. these are the same symptoms as reported under complaint pe05041 involving the electronic throttle control module (etm). *jb | |||
| 10/09/2005 | 60000 | 2 | 04/29/2003 |
| In july 2005, i noticed the car surging, particularly at highway speeds. it cut off, giving a message of reduced performance but no check engine message. the reduced performance message is not listed in the owner's manual. i was able to drive the car at about 5 mph to a turnoff point. i cut the car off to consult the owner's manual and it restarted without a problem. i attributed the problem to perhaps faulty gasoline. on oct. 9, the car abruptly cut off on the interstate, giving the same warning message but this time also displaying a check engine light. fortunately i was able to safely coast across two lanes of traffic to the emergency lane. when i took the car in for diagnostics (to an independent dealer), he said that the throttle body was bad and directed me to several web sites that discussed the problem and the class-action lawsuit in california. on oct. 17, john with volvo north america's customer care hotline said that the problem was probably not covered under my extended warranty because of the car's age. i pointed out that it has fewer than 60,000 miles. i asked him about a recall and he told me about the pending investigation by the nhtsa. i also asked him for nhtsa's telephone number, which he gave me. i have not taken the car to my local dealer yet. i am appalled that a company that prides itself on safety would allow people to drive their vehicles knowing that the cars might cut off at any time. *jb | |||
| 10/14/2005 | 100 | ||
| The major problem with volvo's computerized throttle (etm, s80 1999-2001, e.g.) is to describe the symptoms. it's blurry like a stomach disorder if you don't find an exact description. in my case it's like the engine looses power and you can't compensate fast enough by giving more throttle. it's impossible to meet clutch and throttle no matter what. now, if you take it really slowly so the computer manages to react, it's no problem but if you are the slightest to hasty .... results: engine stops, sometimes on critical spots and changing of gear like a new driver. i've been on a volvo garage to discuss the matter and i've been treated like an idiot. i know i'm right and they know they're wrong. it's time to put pressure on volvo and make them correct their mistake. if not, in the future, choose another car! i'm saying this although i'm swedish!*jb | |||
| 09/26/2005 | 77203 | 9 | 12/22/2002 |
| 2000 s80 volvo t6, has stalled in traffic nine times, including a sudden loss of speed and power steering while driving in highway traffic without warning. i have had car towed to our dealer several times, they keep it for a week, trying to see if the car will stall for them. we are frustrated with the dealer, will it take a death before there is any action. can you please help us? *nm | |||
| 09/26/2005 | 105000 | 75 | 05/26/2001 |
| Surging engine rpm noted on numerous occasions while stopped. seems to be when using air conditioner our safety concern is the possibility of the engine overpowering the brakes. dealer says it is the electronic throttle module and noted it is an on-going problem with this model car as well as a safety and reliability concern. *nm | |||
| 08/05/2005 | 92500 | 3 | 09/05/2004 |
| On three occasions (between jan. 2005 and aug. 2005), while driving my 2000 volvo s80 it has cut off on me. the first time i was pulling into a parking spot at a shopping center. while giving the car gas and pulling into the parking spot the car shut off on me. the second time i had coasted probably 20 feet and was going to pull into a driveway and when i gave the car gas it shut down on me. the third time i was stuck in traffic and i was giving it gas to move up a little and the car cut off. i am reporting this because i saw an article related to these occurrences in the greensboro news & record. *jb | |||
| 07/25/2005 | 92000 | 1 | 05/10/2005 |
| My 2000 s80 volvo has a defect with the emission control module it was losing power and idling very bad. because of this problem the cat converter and o2 sensors also miss functioned which cost over $4000 to repair after i got the car back 2 days later the emission message appeared again and the car is not running well. *nm | |||
| 10/17/2004 | 52000 | 5 | 12/10/1999 |
| 2000 volvo s80 t6; five times now the car has lost all power while traveling at speeds between 15 and 25 mph. the last time it happened was when i was turning left and the car lost power half way through the turn. *nm | |||
| 08/28/2005 | 64987 | 2 | |
| Throttle control car would surge uncontrollably while i was driving on the highway it would sometimes stall the car out and i had to pull over to restart the car i went to the dealer to have them install and new throttle body and electronic throttle module. *jb | |||
| 08/27/2005 | 88500 | 4 | 08/26/2005 |
| While traveling at interstate highway speed (65-75 mph), the engine began to surge violently, for no apparent reason. within seconds, the warning indicator illuminated and the message center displayed, stop safely and restart engine. after pulling onto the shoulder, the engine rpm fluctuated from 400-1000 rpm quickly. similar or more severe events occurred three more times that day. fortunately, no accident occurred as a result of stopping on the shoulder.*jb | |||
| 08/18/2005 | 69800 | 2 | 01/22/2000 |
| 2000 s80 volvo 2.9 is dangerous! suddenly when driving throttle dies, acted like throttle cable broke. then it came back! then it surged at a red light last week, and i had no foot on the gas! volvo said etm(?) needed cleaning / replacing . it was cleaned , still surges, i am afraid it will die on highway while going on an on ramp. *jb | |||
| 08/26/2005 | 83000 | 1 | 02/01/2005 |
| Dt: the contact stated 2000 volvo model s80 caught on fire on 8-26-05. the fire originated from under the hood. it completely destroyed the engine. he was not having any problems with the car prior to this. he was driving at 25-50 mph when the fire broke out. he saw smoke coming from the hood. the fire department was called and extinguished the fire. he was not the original owner he did not know if anything was replaced on the vehicle. the current owner did not report any problems with the car prior to this, such as stallingor surging the fire department and the police police departmentindicated t the fire was an electrical nature, but they were not absolutely sure.*ak | |||
| 05/01/2004 | 90000 | 8 | 06/01/2003 |
| Another complaint for the volvo s80 throttle module causing the car to lose all power on the freeway. i was fortunate that each time this occurred, i was in a position to get off the road safely. the situation could have been disastrous, however. i work in nashville where every route to work is undergoing road construction and does not have a shoulder to pull off on. had the etm failed in one of these locations, i would likely have been hit by other autos unable to avoid me. i had the part replaced for about $850 as volvo claimed that it was not a problem and refused to fix it. in addition to the faulty etm is the abs control unit for the airbags and traction control. according to what i've seen on volvo message boards (volvospy.com, swedespeed.com and brickboard.com), this part also seems to fail as frequently as the etm. mine is failing now and needs to be replaced or i can have it fixed at an independent shop - please check the following website for more information on this shop: http://home.earthlink.net/~vicrocha/ if the abs control unit fails in an accident, the airbags will not to deploy. if the traction control is not working, the car may not be able to avoid a dangerous situation which could result in an accident as well. the part can be made to be more dependable, according to information from the independent shop listed above. the incident date is not accurate. it occurred over a period of a couple of weeks a little over a year ago. i can check the date of repair to give you a more accurate date if you wish. thanks! | |||
| 04/21/2005 | 2 | ||
| 2000 volvo s80 -- defective throttle control module subject of preliminary evaluation pe05041 on april 20, 2005, while driving using cruise control at highway speeds the car would lose and regain power frequently. on april 21, 2005 while driving at approximately 35 miles per hour on a two lane road without a shoulder the car lost significant power and a variety of warning lights came on with instructions to turn off the engine. was able to restart the car with limited power and took it to the dealer. the problem was diagnosed as a faulty throttle module and replaced at a cost, paid 100% by me, of $919.16. subsequently, the cruise control occassionaly exhibits the same slight loss and resumption of power. while i was lucky in that i was able to turn into a driveway when nearly all power was lost, had there been traffic on the two lane road i was subject to being rearended. the frequency of this failure, which i understand to be the subject of a class action lawsuit in california contending there is a hidden warranty practice being conducted by volvo which at times pays for the expense and other times not, is worthy of your official evaluation. thank you. *jb | |||
| 04/15/2005 | 27928 | 1 | 06/21/2000 |
| Faulty electronic throttle control on 2000 volvo s80 t6 sedan. engine died on busy roadway, car towed to repair shop, repaired for $1,300.84. vehicle is out of warranty, but had only 27,928 miles on it at the time of the failure on 04-15-2005.*jb | |||
| 04/05/2005 | 64000 | 7 | 08/26/2004 |
| I would just like to add my concern to the list of individuals who experienced stalling condition with the volvo. we own a 2000 volvo model s-80 t-6. in april of this year we were experiencing stalling conditions with our car at slow speeds mainly after a few miles of driving after the first start of the day. the car was taken to the local dealership for troubleshooting and possible repair. after a week in the shop the vehicle was returned to us and we were advised that they could not duplicate any stalling. since then we have experienced a stall condition twice and again it was within the first few miles after the initial start of the day. the car always starts and performs satisfactory afterwards. it was not an everyday occurrence, but does make one uncertain about reliability. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 1 | 09/12/2003 | |
| I should have know that something was wrong with my used 2000 volvo s80 t6 two weeks after purchased it when the engine cut off on me while i was going through an intersection. i just thought that my car was still warming up and that is why the engine cut off. then a couple weeks later my automatic door locks would work intermittently so much so that i had to use my remote keyless entry just to unlock my doors while i am sitting inside my car! but this isn't the worst of it. while i am on my way to a hair appt in heavy los angeles traffic, my car starting stalling. i was doing 30 - 50 miles per hour going down the freeway and my car would just cut off. imagine if my 3 year daughter was in the car at the time. i couldn't believe that i was having engine problems with the highly recommended volvo. i couldn't believe it. i had to literally drive on the shoulder of the freeway just to keep giving my car power. i had never been so afraid while driving. i was upset and pissed off that my car was still considered safe to drive. all of these models should be taken off the streets. i eventually had the car towed to the volvo dealer and luckily i still had the extended warranty. the dealership told me that it was a faulty electronic throttle module and they replaced it. my car was working fine until two weeks ago when the same issue has started to occur with the automatic locks. i can't unlock the automatic locks from inside of my car, i have to use the remote keyless entry. i have to the conclusion that the car that i am driving in is a death trap and that i would really like to be reimbursed for all the headaches that this car has given me. volvo's motto is for life, i am starting to tell people, if you value your life, then don't purchase a volvo.*jb | |||
| 03/02/2005 | 90000 | 15 | 08/18/1999 |
| Volvo s80 nhtsa action number pe05041 saw that nhtsa recently opened an inquiry into issue of etm in volvos and wanted to add my car to list of complaints received. i had many incidents of car suddenly killing in rush hour traffic over the course of four or five months. fortunately i did not have an accident, but only due to extreme defensive driving: avoided rush hour, stayed to outside lanes, was able to coast to shoulder, etc. dealer was aware that etm was issue, but extended warranty refused to cover because error codes did not stay in car computer. once etm was replace earlier this year, car has been working fine. *jb | |||
| 07/26/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 08/28/2000 |
| 2000 volvo s80 stalling while driving several episodes, all at low speed the episode below was the last. *jb | |||
| 05/06/2005 | 82000 | 1 | 08/01/2001 |
| The vehicle would have small changes in speed over the course of several months the car began to lose power and then stall at speed between 50-75 mph. the car restarted but speed was inconsistent even with cruise control. dealer was contacted and they advised that is was probably the electronic throttle control module, this was without further inspection of the vehicle. the service work was done and so far the problem has been corrected. *nm | |||
| 01/06/2005 | 45000 | 6 | 10/04/2002 |
| Electronic throttle system the problem is not being handled responsibly and the dealers use intimidation and then bully their clients into paying for other services. they refuse to address this life threatening issue. they are withholding valuable information. i own both volvo s70 and s80 and they have shut down in highway traffic. *this is a direct quote i received from a master volvo mechanic when i posted a question concerning electronic throttle system. your ets light is a little more severe then that this is a very common problem the manufacture knows this and will not stand behind problem . however the problem is the throttle unit, it has a malfunction and needs to be replaced the dealer will probably tell you it needs a download,that is unfortunately only going to fix problem for a short while.. *nm | |||
| 05/19/2005 | 73900 | 6 | 04/23/2005 |
| Car has shut off 6-8 times while driving. the majority of times have been on the interstate in rush hour. the first few times this happened the car would surge and the lights inside would flicker before the reduced performance light came on and the car completely shut down. each time it has taken longer to get the car to start back up. the car would turn over and then immediately choke down. the last incident happened without warning while driving 80 on the interstate at 5:30pm on a weekday. now, the car will turn over, but will not stay cranked. i have made three payments on this car and have not driven it for two months for fear that i will be killed or stranded. | |||
| 03/03/2003 | 1 | ||
| Problems concerning volvos. mr the consumers vehicle has a sophisticated computer system in which only a volvo dealer can fix or in some cases it prevents mechanics from completing the work. *jb | |||
| 12/15/2004 | 62000 | 2 | 12/01/2000 |
| Vehicle stalled while driving. the consumer was able to restart the vehicle and pulled over to shut down the vehicle. consumer noticed that the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. the consumer drove it to the dealer, and the mechanic determined that the computer system, and other parts of engine needed to be replaced. *ak *jb | |||
| 11/02/2004 | 59000 | 1 | |
| Vehicle experienced engine surges at idle speed while at stop in intersections forcing sudden brake apllication to avoid collision. following approximately 2 weeks of similar sporadic episodes, all without any message indicators, vehicle would only travel 15 mph. throttle assembly replaced to rectify problem. serious risk of injury barely avoided! should be a recall as therre appear to be numerous defects reported.*ak | |||
| 10/14/2004 | 87576 | 2 | |
| At 70mph my car said reduced performance, and within 30 sec. my cruise control failed, the car reduced to 5mph, and there was no acceleration. i was in 5 lanes of rush hour traffic doing 70-80mph. an eighteen wheeler skidded approx. 50 feet in order to avoid hitting me. he then had to block off two lanes of traffic to assist me to the shoulder. my car would only coast. it was a near death experience for me. i'm thankful my children were not with me. after being turned off over night, my husband attempted to drive it to the volvo dealership. he experienced the same. we were told that it was due to a computer chip malfunction. a chip which controls the throttle, fuel-injection, and cruise control. wow! the service rep. we haven't seen anymore problems after replacing the chip. we asked why has this not been recalled. the rep. said there have to be so many accidents and fatalities reported, before they will recall it. this has left me very disturbed, and reluctant to ever drive a volvo again. i feel sure if it hadn't been for my quick use of the hazard lights, it could have been fatal. the truck driver also concurred. i do not want this to happen to anyone else. they may not be so lucky. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Vehicle is suffering from repeated or unexpected shutdowns of the ignition and electrical system causing the car to become inoperable at the most inopportune times. *la (attorney richard davis on behalf of client). *jb | |||
| 01/01/2001 | |||
| After first year consumer's vehicle began to experience electrical problems. while driving home all power was lost. dealer has been contacted for problem, but was unable to duplicate problem. vehicle currently not being driven. please provide further details.*ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 05/25/2004 | 3 | ||
| While driving approximately 20 mph and turning right car ompletely shut down. was able to pull over, placeed car in park and restarted. *ak | |||
| 09/19/2002 | 4 | 12/01/2001 | |
| All electrical power has been shut off to vehicle on 4 different occassions. the first time was while entering a right turn lane at a slow speed. all power equipment failed...no power brakes, no power steering, etc. i was able to restart the engine without difficulty after turning the ignition off (with the transmission in neutral) and starting in a normal fashion. this failure mode and resolution is typical. the second time, i was turning left across a fairly busy intersection. fortunately, i had enough momentum to continue without being hit by oncoming traffic. the third time was in an enclosed parking lot as i made a slow right turn to go up a ramp. the fourth time, and this one was unusual, i was travelling about 45 mph when all the failure lights came on for about 1 sec. fortunately, the power came on by itself. imagine the consequences of a total electrical failure at 40+ mph in traffic...no power to the brakes or steering. ts | |||
| 04/13/2001 | 2 | 10/01/1999 | |
| Engine and car completely shut down on 2 occasions (4/13/01 and 7/27/01). mass air flow sensor replaced initial instance and software updaed. ignition nd fuel injection fault tracing. unable to isolate cause second instance. intermittent communication fault at electronic throttle module. unable to duplicate problem. refuse pick-up of the car at royal volvo since very concerned about safety issues. have notified volvo customer services twice, volvo dealership, nhtsa, office of attorney general. thorough letter being sent to nhtsa, center for auto safety, and office of attorney general on 8/6/01. please thoroughly review the content. major concerns----have found at least 6 other instances of the same problem. will send all documentation in the express letter being sent. call if any questions and leave an 800 number for responses. urge you to please take note....this issue is broader than my own.*ak | |||
| 04/13/2001 | 05/01/2000 | ||
| Car lost all power, shut down during driving, alarm service came on. car has been repaired twice april 18, april 23 to april 27. not clear if car is safe to drive. *ak | |||
| Vehicle shuts down while driving and engine check light illuminates. volvo has been contacted. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 03/15/2006 | 126000 | 2 | 10/15/2004 |
| In oct 04, we purchased a volvo 2000 s80, vin yv1ts90d7y1066690. we were satisfied with the performance of the car for the most part. shortly after we purchased the volvo, the check engine light came on, and after having the codes check, the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. since the car was running smooth and w/agreement of my mechanic, i did not have the os replaced. in march 2006, another msg came on the msg ctr, urgent transmission service req'd. after having the problem check out, i was told the transmission needed to be completely overhauled. my transmission overhaul cost $1300. the problems with the transmission, according to transmission technician, was with the overdrive clutch hub and two shift solenoids were defective. after the repair the car was running great. another problem came up on the msg ctr, stating urgent engine service req'd. we had driven less than the 100 mi when another msg appeared. after checking w/my mechanic and another owner of a 2000 s80 volvo, who had experienced the same problem, it was determined we had a problem with the etm (elect throttle mod), which was a known issue with volvo. l. after more investigating, i found out that the warranty on the etm had been extended to 200,000 miles, my car had a little over 125,000 miles. i scheduled my car for repair at my local volvo dealership, tim marburger volvo of bristol, tn, for repair under a warranty problem. my car was repaired/upgraded to fix the issue with the etm. my volvo is currently running much better than it's run since we purchased the vehicle. once the msg came on regarding the engine needing service, the performance was marginal at best, fortunately we were not in a situation that could have caused an accident, that his happen in traffic, who knows what might have happened. it seems that volvo knows they have problems with the etm, why haven't they done something to notify their volvo owner of this problem??? this is provided for your info/action. *nm | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 11/23/2003 | 40000 | 1 | 06/15/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. while driving 35 mph, the contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. the vehicle burst into flames. the insurance agency and volvo investigators determined that the cause of failure was due to a short in the wire harness. the vehicle was destroyed. the current and failure mileages were 40,000. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 10/19/2005 | 80000 | 25 | 08/01/2003 |
| 2000 volvo s80 t6 on numerous occasions the vehicle would stall, even when driving at highway speeds. on several occasions while driving my children to school on the highway the vehicle stalled forcing me to cross 3-4 lanes of heavy traffic without the use of power steering or power brakes. the electronic throttle module was determined to be defective. this is a known defective part on 1999-2001 volvo s80's. there are even documented reports that the etm will fail on over 90% of all volvo s80's within this year range ('99-01). i have spent $900 to have this replaced. the state of california is filing a lawsuit against volvo over this part. i live in ky; therefore i don't believe that lawsuit will help me. i am asking volvo for full reimbursement to replace this part. it not only was a faulty design, but also potentially deadly part. there should have been a full recall on this part and volvo knew about this problem even before the release of the vehicle in '99. there is another know defective part on the same year volvo that is the abs module. i had to have that replaced for a cost of $1000. documented reports say the abs module will fail on 60% of those volvos. *jb | |||
| 12/25/2004 | 55438 | 1 | 03/24/2000 |
| Subject: engine compartment fire, result: total loss, ehicle: 2000, volvo, s80 2.9, vin: yv1ts94d4y1123678. shortly before 3:00pm my wife and i departed bridgeport, connecticut for the trip home to massachusetts. the first 7 or 8 minutes were local stop and go driving (maximum speed 25mph). at this point we entered the merritt parkway (eastbound entrance 48). we joined the right lane traffic flow, which varied between 55 and 60 mph. approximately 2 minutes later ? just before the merritt parkway eastbound entrance 49 or 50 the car engine lost power. i was able to coast the vehicle off the highway to the island between the highway and the on-ramp. it looked like steam was coming out from under the hood near the radiator. i look at the dashboard temperature gauge and was surprised to see it reading normal. i pulled the hood release lever inside the vehicle, got out of the vehicle, went to the front of the vehicle and attempted to release the hood safety latch which was so hot that my hand withdrew involuntarily. at this point i became aware that smoke was coming out from the front of the hood, not steam. i alerted my wife to get out of the car. she did, and after moving away from the vehicle, looked back and noticed flames coming out from under the front of the engine compartment. my wife and i witnessed two explosions, eminating from the engine compartment. the first explosion caught my attention because it was loud and shot flame and smoke about 15 feet into the air.*ak | |||