2000 Volvo S80: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed May 9, 2011 · Acceleration · 108,000 miles · RI

The car throttle is faulty. My car revs to high RPM when idle and at low speeds. It also is in limp mode. When this problem was found and recalled in 2006 I brought the car in for the software upgrade, but the car is still trying to lunge forward at low speeds and revving in idle. I was told by volvo customer care there was nothing they will do for the problem since the software had been upgraded even though the throttle is faulty.

Filed Oct 7, 2010 · Transmission · 122,500 miles · FL

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly surged forward lightly. The failure continued intermittently at any speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. A mechanic at a local repair shop also verified that the transmission needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 122,500 and the current mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Mar 26, 2010 · Acceleration · 80,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. The contact noticed that when the vehicle was at a stop, the rpms fluctuated up and down. The contact also noticed that when he did not have the brake pedal depressed to the floorboard, the vehicle would suddenly surge forward. He experienced the failure with what he assumed to be the transmission for a year before taking it to the dealership . The authorized dealer was informed about the failure but the contact was told that the repair costs would be at his expense. He called the manufacturer and was informed that because the vehicle was no longer under warranty, he would be responsible for repair costs. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who cleaned the throttle body. The contact noticed no problems until recently. However, the contact began experiencing the same failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000 and the current mileage was approximately 125,000. The consumer stated the vehicle has a defective throttle body that makes the vehicle have an erratic idle when stopped or going very slow. As a result, it would lunge forward. Updated 05/12/10.

Filed Aug 19, 2008 · Engine · 44,000 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo s80. Whenever the vehicle is at a stop, it will surge forward unless the contact applies a great amount of pressure on the brake pedal. Also, while driving at any speed, the engine will suddenly stall and shut off. The vehicle is able to be restarted immediately after the failure. The vehicle has been diagnosed by the dealer several times, but the failure still persists. The current mileage was 50,300 and failure mileage was 44,000.

Filed Jun 4, 2008 · Electrical · 98,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Nov 1, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · 91,522 miles · NH

In early jul 05, I experienced electronic throttle system (ets) problems with my 2000 volvo s80. Particularly concerning to me from a safety standpoint was that several times, including when I was in highway driving situations, the car on its own suddenly accelerated and decelerated, hesitated on acceleration or would not accelerate, and displayed engine stall symptoms. The computer indicated degraded engine performance (limp mode). I lined up a service appointment with lovering volvo of meredith. After lovering's first attempt at repairs, the car was still not operating normally and I took it back to the dealer a second time. I paid a total of $2,074.42 for repairs, $1,741.44 the first time and $332.98 during the second visit. In accordance with a june 2006 volvo letter, I took my s80 back to lovering for inspection and ets software upgrade. I submitted to volvo a claim for reimbursement for ets repairs. The advertising checking bureau (acb), which administers the ets warranty rebate program on behalf of volvo, sent me a check for $747.93 for the ets repairs. Acb said it was authorized to reimburse me only the $587.93 cost of electronic throttle body, electronic throttle module reload, and gasket, and associated $160.00 labor cost. Acb advised me to contact the volvo customer care center. A volvo customer care representative confirmed that acb had done as instructed and suggested that I take up the matter of the remaining repair costs with lovering. The lovering invoices, dated july 26, 2005 and august 8, 2005, indicate that a $295.65 portion of the initial $1,741.44 repair bill had to do with totally unrelated steering/suspension and engine mount repairs. Still questionable in my mind are the oxygen sensor repairs which added up to $897.86 and the subsequent mass air flow sensor repairs which came to $332.98. I suspect the problems are all ets-related and I am currently pursuing the matter with the dealership.

Filed Oct 12, 2006 · Suspension · 59,000 miles · PA

Purchased a 2000 volvo s80 in march of 2006, experience power loss with thing such as sunroof and windows, terrible glare from front windshield impairs vision, suspension- ball joints, axles, rods, strut bushings, struts, brake calipers, cv boots/joints, control arm, and tires have been replaced ... Still hear noise., engine surges at low speeds and when car is stopped- engine torque mount replaced, brake pedal has to be pressed completely before car stops-despite brake booster, and master cylinder being replaced. Abs module was replaced. Car drags (has a delay) when accelerating. Received updates and recalls performed. Fixed almost everything car surged forward into a trailer hook on the back of a parked car-cosmetic damage very expensive. Have been hoping that the repairs will come to an end...first car ever purchased and have almost spent 1/2 of its blue book value in repairs. Seeking explanations, reimbursements, and national awareness. Love the appearance, wish it wasn't so many defects.

Filed Oct 10, 2006 · Fuel system · 65,000 miles · MA

In july I was traveling in traffic at idle speed when my car started to surge then stalled. I was able to restart it, however I had to keep one foot on the gas and the other on the brake to keep it running. I was able to limp it home using this method to keep the rpms up. When the codes were read it said the 4 oxygen sensors were out of range. I tuned up the car, cleaned the throttle body and oxygen sensors and reset the codes. (65,000 miles) after this the car seemed alright until around 79,000 miles. My wife and I were on rte. 1a on the maine coast in traffic . While going around a sharp curve the car stalled. I lost control of my steering and brakes and the car nearly went over the cliff into the ocean. I was able to get it under control and the car restarted with the idle surging. I limped the car home using the gas and brake method. At intersections if I let the car idle the car would surge forward then stall. My mechanic read the codes and told me the map sensor and o2 sensors were bad and replaced them. This seemed to work for a while, however the car reverted back to the same problems. I finally called gallo volvo who had serviced my car under warranty until 60,000 miles and the service manager told me that this was a known problem covered under a hidden recall. Once a customer complained they could fix it. I brought my car to them and they reprogrammed the computer to "repair" the problem. My car no longer stalls, however it surges and hesitates upon acceleration nearly causing people to hit me in traffic. I am still trying to resolve this problem after over $1800 dollars in expenses, multiple near accidents and numerous hours of my time.

Filed Aug 19, 2005 · Fuel system, Suspension · 67,800 miles · PA

Shortly after buying a volvo 80, I noticed that the car would surge periodically. I was told that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. After reading up on this, it sounded like a waste of money so I am stuck with a $40+k car that has a sizable defect. The surging is so bad that if you don't hold the brake pedal hard the car will surge forward ie at red lights. Nothing was done to correct this failure. I am the second owner. Also I had to replace a ball joint on this car after a recalled ball joint was installed at my cost. The dealer said the recall was only a bolt and not the whole joint but I verified that the previous owner had both ball joints replaced via a volvo recall. I believe the recalled joint was defective like the original one. No accidents occured but it put my steering way out of whack and needed an alignment. (all at my cost)

Filed Aug 2, 2005 · Acceleration · MD

Dt: the vehicle cut off. When getting ready to park the vehicle lunged forward. Did the same thing when sitting at a light if let ting up from the brakes. The engine revved. When turning steering wheel to make a left or right hand turns its wa shard to get it to go back forward. This started back in 2000 but it became worse.

Filed Dec 1, 2004 · Engine · 62,780 miles · NJ

Shortly after my vehicle's 60k mile service, I noticed slight hesitation while crusing around 60 miles per hour on highway. Once I experience the hesitation, the enginer service light would come on then the "engine system service urgent" message would come on as well. When the hesitation starts, I would feel as if I no longer have the full control of the gas throttle as it does not respond at all. Eg. When I take off my foot off the gas pedal, I would feel a sudden surge in vehicle acceleration! While waiting to get the car serviced by my dealed to take a look at the problem, the warning lights would come and go. Finally, during my trip to get my car serviced, the gas throttle stop responding thus the car cruised to a full stop. I was able to restart the car after about 15 minutes and continue with my journey. Later I was told that I need to replace the whole throttle body in order to fix this problem. My concern is why this problem was not detected during my "major" tuneup service about 3 weeks prior insetad,I had to make a separate trip to the dealership and potentially get into a very dangerous situation while traveling at high speed then to lose the control over the vehicle's gas throttle where it may suddenly accelerate or decelerate.