2000 Volvo V70XC: sudden loss of power

Filed Jan 14, 2008 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · WA

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo v70xc. While driving between 20-30 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The failure occurred intermittently during acceleration. The dealer replaced the gas cap, but the failure continued. The failure began after the vehicle was serviced for the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). The failure mileage was 74,000 and current mileage was 79,000.

Filed Aug 9, 2007 · Electrical · 51,247 miles · CT

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 volvo v70xc. The contact believes that the electronic throttle module is a safety hazard. She stated that the vehicle will suddenly hesitate and come to a complete stop. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle had a sudden loss of power. All of the instrument panel lights illuminated and the power steering failed. The speed decreased from 60 MPH to 0. She was able to pull off the road and stated that the entire electrical system was not working. The vehicle was towed to a shop and they stated that the cause of failure was electrical. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 51,247.

Filed Apr 17, 2006 · Acceleration · 84,500 miles · MA

The ets (electronic throttle system) light came on repeatedly over a period of two weeks. On two occasions, on the highway, the car lost power totally when the light illuminated. The dealer said the car needs a new electronic throttle module (etm), which will cost about $1,500. This car has 85,000 miles, virtually all of which were highway miles as it is used to commute from ma to ct. A search of the web indicated that this sensor--the etm--was defective in 1999 and 2000 volvos. In july 2001, volvo issued a tech bulletin stating that problems occurred only when the owner made many short trips. Further, the tech bulletins said the etm could be cleaned (but not replaced) if the car still was under the original warranty. This car has 85,000 and has always been serviced by a volvo dealer.

Filed Feb 11, 2006 · Electrical · RI

My volvo v70 xc also has required replacement of the etm - electronic throttle module costing $1350. After, like many others have stated, losing all power, shutting down, locking up, causing me and those around me a near death experience on the highway. I had the car towed to the garage only to be told they could not find anything wrong. The car continued to drive in a very unpredictable manner, losing acceleration, stalling, dying, another near death experience when it died in an intersection, multiple tows and several different garages, several hundred dollars of no answers later, one garage was aware of the commonality of this problem and replaced the etm. This was at ~65k miles. Now at 92k and I am beginning to have the same problems-car dying, going into limp home mode-20 MPH with no acceleration, another $1000 in repairs without any resolution to problems. It feels like the etm might be going again. This is ridiculous and dangerous! We are talking about cars that cost over $30000!!

Filed Dec 12, 2005 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 40,989 miles · MD

On 7 december 2005, while driving vehicle north on I-94 in massachusetts at a speed of 65 MPH, suddenly the engine hesitated and lost power. Etc light on dashboard illuminated. I was able to take evasive action and pulled over to the side of the highway. Went to the local volvo dealer in south deerfield mass. To have the car examined. Dealer stated that they "cleaned the etm and cleared fault codes." drove the car back home (upper marlboro,md) on the evening of 8 december. Along the route home the car repeatedly hesitated. On 9 december, on andrews afb, etc light illuminated and car immediately lost power and stalled. Car restarted. On south osborne rd in upper marlboro while driving at 40 MPH, car lost power with no warning again. I had to literally drive the vehicle off the road to avoid being rear ended by approaching traffic. Car is at martens volvo in bethesda, md. The etm is scheduled to be replaced. Dealer in massachusetts and maryland state that the etms in this model car is defective.

Filed Oct 18, 2005 · Acceleration · 69,994 miles · WA

Dt: 2000 volvo v70 cross country. While driving 30 MPH the vehicle stalled and lost power. The dealer replaced the electronic throttle module. *ak updated 11/29/2005 -

Filed Sep 27, 2005 · Acceleration · DC

Five years ago, we bought a new 2000 volvo v70-xc. It currently has 39,600 miles on it. Starting in about 2003, the car began experiencing repeated engine malfunctions -- rough idle, jerky acceleration, stalling and, most alarmingly, sudden loss of power while moving. I once lost power on a traffic circle, which was truly terrifying -- especially since the main reason we purchased the car was the safety of our two small children. We have repeatedly had the car in the shop (martens service center on river road). Initially, we were told the car was clogged with carbon and that the problem was essentially our fault for not driving it on the highway more often. Now that we are past the warranty, we have been paying for repairs -- though on our most recent visit in sept 2005, when I mentioned the federal safety agency investigation, martens replaced the etm for free. I think this is a defective and dangerous vehicle and it should have been recalled a long time ago. Earlier in the car's history, we experienced a range of electrical malfunctions involving the turn signals, which failed for no apparent reason. Because those problems occurred during the warranty period, we did not have to pay to have them repaired -- but the danger and hassle factors were still significant.

Filed Sep 27, 2005 · Acceleration · 93,000 miles · NC

Ets light coming on - immediate loss of power. Very dangerous at 70 MPH in 3-4 lanes of heavy traffic. I put my emergency blinkers on and tried to safely get off the highway. I turned the car off and back on, the light went away and I proceeded to drive to the dealership. Enroute, it happened again just as I was pulling to a stop at a red light. I turned the car off and back on, it did not help this time - an ambulance came up behind me. I was in a panic trying to get the auto out of the way. Luckily the left lane was open and they were able to blow past me, but they did honk as they passed letting me know they were upset that I did not move. I am picking up the car tomorrow from the dealership with a new etm. But I have poked around on various volvo forums and found this issue to be pretty prevalent. The repair is very expensive (around $1000 to the consumer) and the break down situation potentially very dangerous.

Filed Sep 23, 2005 · Electrical · 106,000 miles · NC

Dt: the consumer states: the etm light was coming on and the vehicle would lose power when this occurred. The consumer had to stop the vehicle and restart it. This would happen at all speeds. The consumer was the original owner of the vehicle. The consumer had not replaced the etm and had been told by the dealer that the etm was bad. *ak (11/17/05)

Filed Sep 15, 2005 · Acceleration · 68,910 miles · CO

During last thanksgiving break, my husband and I drove our 2000 volvo xc from new mexico home to fort collins, co. The morning of our departure, the ets (electronic throttle module) light came on, then went out. On the way home, the care shuddered and lurched, and lost power with acceleration. It took us 6 hours to travel 125 miles from colorado springs to fort collins, and we were trying to beat a snow storm. We literally limped home. It was terrifying. We took the car to our local volvo dealer, and the diagnosed it as a failed electronic throttle module. It cost about $854 to replace it. It was not warranty work, and the dealer said nothing about this being a common problem volvo was already aware of -- even when we asked. I now understand volvo has known about this problem for more than five years and has done nothing about it. I am also aware that some volvo dealers have been paying the cost to replace the units. We were not so lucky. Virginia mohr-callahan, fort collins, co.

Filed Aug 31, 2005 · Acceleration, Electrical · 33,000 miles · CA

Dt: the consumer was having a problem with 2000 volvo v70 xc losing power and then surging while driving 20-25 MPH. The consumer did not make it up a hill . The loss of power even occurred when the car was slowing to stop and turning. This happened twice. Then, it was surging and smoking, and surging with no smoking, the car was wobbly and sluggish. Dealer replaced the following parts; spark plugs, coils, thermostat, and the filters. Other parts have been flushed, this included fuel injectors and ignition. The car has been at the dealer once, a certified volvo specialist once, and at pep boys once. The consumer had to pay $1300.00 to figure out what was wrong with the car. The car has had 2 diagnostic tests done. No one knew what was wrong with the car. The engine light came on, and was turned off. The consumer contacted the manufacturer, and they pretended that they did not know anything. The consumer had all the necessary documentation. However, at this point, no one knew what was wrong with the car.

Filed Aug 22, 2005 · Fuel system · 58,508 miles · VA

Check engine light came on and vehicle engine began to surge while driving on interstate 95 and lost power. Throttle body assembly( part # 8644347-0) failed. It was replaced by dealer at cost of $968.37