2001 Volvo V70: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 3, 2007 · Transmission · 70,000 miles · FL

I am the original owner of a 2001 volvo v70 station wagon with 88,000 miles on it. It has received its regularly scheduled servicing. I have brought this vehicle back to the dealer numerous times, once while under an extended warranty and now while it is no longer under extended warranty service. The reason was to have them check and repair the slipping transmission. The slip occurs between 1st & 2nd, and 2nd & 3rd. This is about the 20-40mph range. When it slips, the tran sometimes revs up to 4,000 and the engine just revs up for a few seconds, (in a stalling-like fashion) then the transmission grabs with a hard slam/audible clunking noise. I have told the dealer that this is very dangerous as it leaves you in an "out-of-control" state. They dealer can find no codes on the transmission to document the problem, but does agree that the slippage occurs. They have done s/w updates to make it shift better. We just spent $1500.00 on making the problem go away, but yet it is still there. The transmission has been slipping since before the last extended warranty servicing, but has recently become very much escalated since even coming out of service. I don't know how they could even have sent us home in this car with my family in it. It immediately went back for repair the next day after the $1500 servicing. No accidents yet, but I fear driving it at all, since the slip could result in total loss of power to the wheels while the automatic transmission shifts from 1st to 2nd gear. I have told the service technicians at volvo of this concern, but they have not resolved the problem. Their advice is to purchase a new car on trade-in or spend $5,000 on a new transmission. This should not be happening to a car driving only on city streets for less than 45 minutes at a time and at only 88,000 miles. I firmly believe the problem is a potentially deadly one in that it could happen to anyone at anytime and anywhere in stop and go traffic.

Filed Nov 21, 2006 · Engine · 83,500 miles · MD

2001 volvo v70 surges while underway, surges and stalls at idle, goes into reduced performance mode (20 MPH or less). Car runs normally when cold (up to 1 mile after starting in morning), then begins to surge and fail. Need to pull over to shoulder, stop engine for 3 minutes, and restart. If engine is stopped for less than 3 minutes, it restarts in 20 MPH mode. This has happened daily for 2 weeks. Independent mechanic replaced ignition coil based on obd code, but problem recurred the next day. Have appointment with volvo service department 11/22/06.

Filed Aug 15, 2006 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

I own a 2001 volvo v70 .. And have had repeated experiences with the vehicle either stalling while in gear and / or "surging" forward while at a stop with the brake pedal depressed ... The vehicle has been brought to an authorized volvo repair shop and to the dealer for these problems a minimum of 4 times upon the return of my vehicle to me the vehicle exhibited the same problems .. The most recent event having taken place on 08.08.06 at this most recent incident I had my two granddaughters in my vehicle and I believe that this event put all our lives in danger .. This is definitely a safety issue / hazard ! I placed a call to the dealership only to be given the "run-around" from jon, tony, and gloria ... Jon burnham suggested that I let them have my vehicle to drive until the "problem" is duplicated .. Gloria masterly said I should not take my car to my local volvo approved repair shop ... That I should have it towed to them, instead both thru asc at no charge ... And at my expense numerous times> tony rivas told me that he had to make a call and that he would get back to me ... No one got back to me ... Nor has anyone issues with the magnate marelli etm and am appalled at the devil may care attitude that volvo is taking towards this whole affair I bought volvo because of their reputation for safety ! I am now afraid to drive my car ... And am receiving no assistance from any volvo advisors or representatives I am nearly 80 years old .. And would hate to lose what years I do have left to an avoidable problem which may very well take my life

Filed May 7, 2006 · Acceleration · 67,276 miles · NC

On the way to an appointment my wife was driving our volvo v70 t5 on a major highway when suddenly the car lost power and a message stating "performance reduction" was visible on the console. The car felt like it was about to stall at any minute and was only able to be driven at 20 MPH. She was able to pull the car over to the hard shoulder but as she was about to enter a section where road works had removed any hard shoulder she decided to stop and call for help. We arranged for a tow truck to pick the car up and take it to our nearest volvo dealer. When we arrived there and explained what had happened the first question asked by the service rep was "have you had the etm recall performed ?" I stated that we were not aware of any recall and had not received any letter from volvo of north america. 2 days latter once the car had been diagnosed by the dealer it was discovered that it had been caused by an etm/ECM failure. The replacement part number was 30785453. I also spoke with volvo of north america and was informed that there was no recall but a warranty extension on that particular part. I asked why I had not received a letter yet concerning it and was informed that they we still in the process of sending them out. Since then I have discover evidence that the letter was available since november 2005.

Filed Apr 26, 2006 · Acceleration · OR

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]

Filed Jan 2, 2006 · Acceleration · GA

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.

Filed Dec 27, 2005 · Acceleration · NJ

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.

Filed Dec 22, 2005 · Acceleration · 42,000 miles · OH

Reference 10143655 for second etm replacement, first replaced at 42,000 miles, was stalling , hesitating, rough id. E. Hard to start after stalls. Smch

Filed Dec 13, 2005 · Acceleration · 48,585 miles · MD

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.

Filed Nov 25, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 42,855 miles · OH

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.

Filed Nov 21, 2005 · Acceleration · MD

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.

Filed Nov 7, 2005 · Acceleration · 113,500 miles · WI

Dt: contact stated while driving a message appeared that read engine system service required which internally made the cruise control fail. He took the vehicle to volvo, and also a private mechanic. The problem was the electronic throttle module .the vehicle repairs will be at the contact's expense. The consequence of not having this repair made could result in the vehicle lurching forward at any speed or it could cause the vehicle to stall out at any time. He is currently not experiencing any problems, however the vehicle is parked at this time.*ak updated 11/30/2005 - volvo cover the cost of the new part and has extended the warranty on the part to 200000 miles or 10 years.