1999 Volvo V70XC: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 29, 2009 · Fuel system · 142,000 miles · PA

1. Premature wear of the etm. 2. Car has rough idle, stalls, surges in traffic. 3. Replacing the etm. For the third time.

Filed Sep 1, 2007 · Engine, Fuel system · 130,000 miles · VA

I bought this volvo used w/ 120k miles. I saw records of major work done at the dealer just previous to 100,000 and figured it would be good for another 100k. At 131k, it began constantly stalling and lunging. I did a tiny bit of research and learned of the recall. I took it to the dealer and they tried to charge me 200 to do nothing other than read the codes and tell me the etm software had already been updated, and that the mass airflow sensor was bad. I replaced the mafs to no change.

Filed Nov 7, 2005 · Engine · 65,000 miles · NC

Surging, fouling spark plugs, hesitating, stalling, cuts off while driving and locks up.

Filed Nov 5, 2005 · Acceleration · 66,000 miles · NY

1) ets light and check engine light would illuminate within a few minutes of starting car. Check engine light would occasionally turn off while driving, ets stayed on. Car began to hesitate and surge, particularly noticeable around 35-MPH and 60-MPH. 2) all most complete loss of power while driving on side street, under normal conditions. When pressing the accelerator there was very little response. Parked the car over night on side of road. Next day it was more responsive, though still had the ets and check engine lights on. 3) volvo dealer replace the electronic throttle body. Total cost $1300. I asked for the old throttle body, but was told it would cost several hundred dollars, as there was a "core charge" from volvo. Was also told that if there eventually was a recall on this part my receipt would be sufficient for reimbursement.

Filed Oct 29, 2005 · Electrical, Fuel system · 62,000 miles · OR

I own a 1999 volvo v70 xc. On october 27, 2005, while I was driving the vehicle it suddenly and without warning began to stall. I pressed the accelerator to the floor to no avail. I was able to coast out of traffic. I turned the engine off, waited a few minutes, started the vehicle and drove home. Although it appeared to drive a little better, it continued to jerk and sputter.

Filed Oct 12, 2005 · Acceleration · 64,000 miles · IL

My 1999 volvo v70xc had been performing sluggishly, with inconsistent power at highway speeds when under manual control or cruise. I had an intermittent check engine light. I took my vehicle to a volvo dealership on 8/16/05 where they replaced the air mass meter and evap valve for the charcoal canister. After this service the performance of my vehicle remained the same. On october 1, 2005 I had a potentially dangerous incident. While merging onto an expressway my vehicle sputtered and lost power. The engine all but died and it was difficult to steer to the shoulder. My merging and failure to accelerate caused a very close call with the cars behind me. I pulled over, stopped my engine for a few minutes, and restarted as proscribed in my owner's manual. The vehicle drove as it did previous to the incident for another hour. I did not drive this vehicle again for another week. Taking it for a drive on october 9th it again drove fine initially, but I had a similar failure after a few miles. Again the engine lost nearly all power and would stall at idle. Turning off the engine, waiting, and restarting the engine did not remedy the problem this time. After a few stops and restarts I was able to make it to my house without a tow. I called the volvo dealer where I had the work done in august. After hearing of the symptoms and the previous work they informed me quite quickly that the repair was to replace the etm module and the cost would be approximately $1000. The speed at which they replied made me think is was a common, or at least known problem with this model. I spoke with a non-dealer volvo specialist mechanic (swedish car specialists of schaumburg, il) who said this was a known problem with my model year. Also a few internet websites have reported this problem, with one, http://www.vexedvolvo.org going int great detail.

Filed Oct 7, 2005 · Acceleration, Brakes · 11,800 miles · NC

Mileage approx 115,000 when purchased now 120,000 within 8 months. Hardly hard use. Failure of ECM and o2 sensors, on two occasions the second within 1000 miles and 1 month of first repair. Caused the car to surge, if restarted might stall and generally become dangerous to drive. No warning of failure. Volvo dealerships well aware of problem and offered immediate and correct diagnosis prior to checking the computer codes, without needing much investigation. 2 dealers worked on the car one don bayer in washington and independence volvo in charlotte. Instructed independence volvo dealer to make car safe and roadworthy. Uploaded faults and downloaded onto vehicle, new software. Within 1 month new symptoms appear. At various times these lights show and reset ABS warning, engine warning, traction control warning, speedo failure, check engine, service warning (even though service is just carried out).symptoms include lack of throttle response when pulling away, when speedo fails. No warning of change in status means this happens during turning maneuvers with potentially dangerous or lethal consequences. Checking various sources note that ABS module failure is common making the car potentially unsafe in emergency, not only for braking but during acceleration as the cars ability to pull at its normal rate is vastly reduced, adding throttle does nothing, but if the system turns back on again no warning, the speedometer just comes back to life ) this can cause unneeded fierce acceleration. I noted one death on the highway of a young woman who appeared to accelerate off the road during a benign maneuver and am concerned that this on/off speedometer/ABS transmission problem might have been the cause rather than the ECM currently the focus of the investigation.

Filed Sep 29, 2005 · Acceleration · 102,000 miles · MI

Dt: the consumer stopped a traffic light, and after the light changed, the consumer stepped on the accelerator and the car moved forward about ten feet , and there was a decrease in power to the point of stalling. The consumer felt as though it coasted through, she immediately pulled to the side of the road. The electronic throttle system ( ets) light illuminated. She referred to owner's manual, which suggested to turn the engine off and try to restart vehicle. Consumer did so, and the vehicle restarted, but the ets as well as the check engine light came on. The consumer called mechanic, who instructed the consumer to turn engine off and restart the vehicle. The consumer did so, and the panel lights came on. About five miles later the problem returned. Took vehicle to independent mechanic who suggested that ets failed and replaced it.

Filed Sep 2, 2005 · Fuel system · 76,000 miles · MA

My 1999 volvo v70 xc with 76,000 miles had flutuating idle and stalled occaisionally when coming to a stop, losing control ( power steering and acceleration). On 8 april 2004 we had to replace the throttle body (cost ~$1000). This month (august 2005) with 99,000 miles on the car, the same symptoms occured again. We have just replaced the throttle body again at a cost of $1000.

Filed Aug 26, 2005 · Acceleration, Engine · 46,000 miles · NJ

Dt: 1999 volvo wagon vxc. Sudden loss of power . The car did not stall except at a stop sign when giving it a lot of gas to get it going. This happened intermittently for two months. Took vehicle to dealership, and they said it would cost $1753.00 to fix it. The car is out of warranty. They would put in a new steering rod/ front end alignment/ vehicle speed sensor/ throttle body assembly/ an automatic transmission, and drain and refill the coolant. *ak

Filed Aug 24, 2005 · Electrical · 59,000 miles · TN

Electronic throttle system failed causing auto to stall at interstate speeds, replaced system, now throttle system causes auto to surge forward making the auto hard to control

Filed Aug 15, 2005 · Acceleration · 84,000 miles · TN

Dt: the consumer owns two volvos, a 1999 cross-country and a 1998 cross-country. Vehicle stalled and lost power due to the failure of electronic throttle system (ets).