1999 Volvo V70: sudden loss of power

Filed Aug 3, 2006 · Engine · 188,500 miles · CA

I am writing because my car has lost power without warning. I have experienced this several times, fortunately none in life threatening situations like pulling onto a busy road or freeway. The dealer reloaded the software, but the ets light came back on within a few days. I took it back to the dealer, they kept it a week, test drove it for some time and said there was nothing else they could do. I asked the volvo service manager, greg, at turner volvo in sacramento whether volvo knows what the root cause of the problem and whether this software fixes it. He said that it fixes the problem in 95% of the cases. He refused to answer whether the specific problem that causes the loss of power has been addressed by the software they recently loaded and whether it is corrected in my particular vehicle. Since I have driven this car over 180,000 miles with only recent problems, this is indeed a rare occurrence. My concern is that neither greg at turner volvo (916)488-2400. Or frank at volvo customer care 800‑458‑1552 x 1981, seems to be willing to state that the defect that causes the power loss problem has been eliminated from my car. I asked frank whether volvo was willing to put in writing that the root cause of the problem has been identified and eliminated from my vehicle, and frank said he did not know whether volvo is willing to do that. I have opened a formal complaint with volvo and am awaiting their response.

Filed Aug 3, 2006 · Electrical, Fuel system · 112,641 miles · VA

1. Vehicle "sputtered", engine would rev with no change in pressure on gas pedal, followed by nearly complete loss of power and near engine cut off. 2. No complete failure, as soon as symptoms began, it was taken to a dealer 3. Volvo dealer and repair shop determined the failure was ECM code 903c, 91a7: "throttle internal fault". Replaced electronic throttle module. Old part is not available. 15 mar 2005 - 1. Same symptoms; car was unable to maintain highway speed of 60 MPH. 2. Engine stalled once before going to dealer repair but started back up without problem. 3. Exact failure codes not provided, but was determined to be "engine control module fault". Electronic throttle module was replaced. Covered by volvo parts warranty. Old part is not available.

Filed Nov 18, 2005 · Acceleration · MA

1999 volvo v70 wagon. Vehicle stalled/lost power and died while driving due to electronic throttle module (etm) failure. The etm was replaced.

Filed Oct 6, 2005 · Acceleration · 88,367 miles · CT

Dt: while driving vehicle lost power and died on the highway. Caller said the electric throttle system warning light came on when the vehicle lost power. He was able to get the vehicle restarted but it would not idle right and could not be driven. Vehicle was towed to dealer who determined that the electric throttle neede to be replaced. Manufacturer said sometimes these things failed. *ak

Filed Oct 4, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · 88,600 miles · GA

Dt: while driving on 09/10/2005 the vehicle hesitated/lost power and died. Also ets light appeared. In addition, brakes were not holding. This started in 2002.

Filed Sep 26, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · 38,000 miles · CT

I've had numerous electronic problems with my volvo v70 since I bought it in 1998. The vehicle has been brought back to the volvo repair dealer for many repairs (I have organized documents of all the repair orders) clearly identified as "lost of power" while driving. Mostly on small roads and only once on an interstate. Originally started under warranty, I was told that the same problem was not covered outside of warranty when I spoke with the president of volvo north america's secretary. I have had many parts replaced trying to correct the situation including two electronic throttle control units (totaling three if you include the one that came with the car). "loss of power", "stalling at traffic lights", "hesitation when pressing on accelerator", an other comments are all documented in the volvo repair shop repair orders. The problems continued until throughout my ownership of the car. I finally gave up and sold it june 05. The repairs that volvo did to my v70 would work for a while and then the lights would soon come back on. I'd put up with it for a while until the car started to become to dangerous to drive (hesitation) and then I'd bring it in for repair. Volvo tried different solutions and told me that the computer codes indicated different repairs, but to me it was always the same symptoms. I would be glad to share the entire book of repair orders over the 7 years (and 167,000 miles) that I owned the car. Again they were always done at a certified volvo dealership.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 56,840 miles · CT

The volvo began to sporadically lose power and stall. I called the volvo dealer and made an appointment after it stalled while cornering and my wife had almost lost control of the vehicle. On 9/23/04 the vehicle was towed to volvo. They checked for codes, battery cables, fuel and ignition and battery and found nothing wrong. They replaced a relay. Total cost was $173.15. The problem was still present and I had the vehicle towed back in on 11/16/04. They then diagnosed the problem as a faulty throttle unit. They replaced it and performed a software reload. The cost of that service was $ 1077.14. The vehicle has not stalled since.

Filed Aug 28, 2005 · Electrical · 78,000 miles · NY

1999 volvo v-70 lost all power went into limp home mode approx 25 MPH w/o warning . This occurred on an interstate with heavy traffic. Emt cleaned problem still occurring making for a very unsafe and dangerous and conditions.

Filed Aug 25, 2005 · Engine · 90,000 miles · NY

Dt: vehicle stalled/died, and lost power due to throttle body failure.

Filed Aug 25, 2005 · Electrical · 100,000 miles · CA

Problems with my 1999 volvo v70 incident 5/10/05 1. Events leading up to the failure. My car experienced a falter then rough idle and drastically reduced power. In addition the check engine light went on. 2. The car seemed to recover and I was able to make it home. 3. I took my car into my repair shop and had the problem diagnosed. I was told the fault codes registered in the cars computer indicated there was a failing evaporator purge valve along with bad electronic throttle module (etm). The repair cost me $1,070.00. Incident 5/24/05 1.after a little over 3 months my car has experienced the same symptoms. Falter then rough idle and drastically reduced power. In addition the check engine light went on. 2.I plan to have the car analyzed by the same repair shop that did the previous $1,070.00 worth of work. 3.resolution pending investigation based on the research I have done this issue seems similar to action number: pe05041 that is currently being investigated by the federal safety agency. The federal safety agency action number : pe05041 the federal safety agency recall campaign number : n/a make : volvo model: v70 manufacturer : volvo cars of n.a. Llc. Year : 2001 component : vehicle speed control date investigation opened : july 26, 2005 date investigation closed : open summary: the office of defects investigation (odi) has received one hundred and thirty-one (131) consumer complaints alleging a variety of concerns resulting from failure of the electronic throttle control module (etm) in the subject vehicles, including a sudden loss of speed and steering assist when driving in highway traffic and sudden and complete stall without warning. In some instances, it has been reported that the vehicles would restart, and in some cases the vehicles were towed. Some consumers allege that after having the etm replaced the new component failed in a similar manner.

Filed Aug 13, 2005 · Electrical · 99,675 miles · GA

I was driving south on I-85 in duluth, ga. This stretch of metro atlanta interstate has six lanes in either direction and traffic was flowing at speeds of around 75 MPH. The ets light came on when we were in the far left (fast) lane, the car began losing power. I moved to the right as best I could and got off at the next exit. By the time I got to the exit ramp, the car was skipping and missing badly. My daughter looked up ets in the owner's manual and, based on what the manual said, I cut the car off and waited a few minutes for it to reset. I cranked it back up and we limped the rest of the way home. Since then I have only started it once, but it was running rough so I did not go anywhere. Considering what we have learned about etm failures since this happened and the amount of traffic in atlanta, I have been scared to drive it. Having to cross five lanes of fast-moving traffic in a car rapidly losing power is not a safe situation.

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Engine, Fuel system · 104,400 miles · NC

Malfunctioning of the electronic throttle system (ets) on my 1999 volvo v70 station wagon caused me to lose power or stall completely while driving. It happened several times prior to having the ets replaced. It occurred for me at low speeds and in light traffic allowing me to get off the road. I was able to restart the engine after a short time interval. It could have been a major safety hazard if I had this failure at highway speeds and in traffic. This occurred several months ago and has been repaired at my expense, but on reading an associated press article today on an investigation of this problem by the federal safety agency, I am submitting this as another instance of the problem being investigated. *nm the air conditioning compressor and power windows had to be replaced. Currently, the check engine light is on.