2001 Volvo V70XC: engine stalls while driving

Filed Feb 17, 2017 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 187,000 miles · NC

Car stalls while turning or going over speed bumps. The car completely loses power when making right or left turns. It has also occurred in parking lots while driving over speed bumps. This usually takes place during acceleration. This has occurred on state highways, local, and parking lots. I do not drive the automobile on a regular basis; it is only driven occasionally (once a week). I consider myself lucky so far that nobody has rear-ended me.

Filed May 1, 2013 · Brakes, Engine · 134,000 miles · CA

I own a 2001 xc 70 volvo which I just bought with 133900 miles last friday april 26, 2013. The dealer showed me the maintenance records including a 3 month old california safety inspection report. On april 27, 2013, I was driving on a downhill stretch when all of a sudden, the car engine lost power, kicked like it wanted to jump ahead of me, all indicator lights flashed, and the car stalled and shut down rendering the brake and steering system inoperable. I had no means to control the car as it rolled down hill. I engaged the reverse gear causing the vehicle to stop. I called dealer right away. He told me to bring the vehicle to his mechanic the following monday on 04/29/2013. The mechanic inspected the vehicle and test-drove it and could not find any problems with the vehicle. He performed a diagnostic computer test and got an error message indicating an air intake problem. He asked me to bring the vehicle the following morning so he can test drive it more and find out more. While driving home, the problem recurred again, this time in the middle of a freeway. It was dangerous...luckily I was in the far right lane, so immediately I coasted to the side, with my hazards lights on and pulled to the side where the vehicle stopped itself. Imagine driving 80mph on a california freeway, and all of a sudden, the vehicle loses power, the engines kick jumps, and without your input, attempts to engage a higher gear but then stalls and immediately shuts down and the brakes and the steering wheel jams.. That is not safety. As I await for the mechanic to address this issue, I am filing this complaint because this is a safety issue. A car that passes a safety inspection test should not be abruptly shutting down in the middle of traffic and render the brake system and steering wheel inoperable.

Filed Jun 2, 2012 · Brakes · 76,000 miles · CT

I noticed a hissing noise coming from my brake pedal. The dealer has informed me that it is the brake booster, but that it is not a part that needed replacing. However, 18 months later the brakes are not responding at initial pressure. The car is also hesitating at acceleration and stalling at idle, making the car a safety issue. I am not the only owner with this problem as the internet is loaded with message boards pertaining to this issue. I am surprised that only one other owner has filed a complaint. I asked another mechanic, not with volvo, for a second opinion. He was surprised that the brake booster failed as this is most uncommon. For the safety issue I believe this should be and should have been a recall item. I cannot believe others have paid $1,200 for a repair to a part that should not have failed in the first place. Volvo should take responsiblility for their defective part. The recall should be issued.

Filed Dec 29, 2008 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · IL

Recurring transmission problem. Car jerks and stalls repeatedly at low speeds. Loud clunk followed by sudden acceleration or deceleration. Dealer has been ineffective at solving the problem.

Filed Aug 8, 2007 · Engine · 102,500 miles · VA

7/26/07 traveling on I-77 and the car ran great. Suddenly, in same manner as car did approx 2 yrs ago on same interstate rpms dropped, car lost speed, no response at throttle, and within a few seconds we lost power, brakes, steering. Since this seemed just like 2 yrs ago (we reported this incident in 2005) we thought maybe the car will start in 10-15m. After 15-20 m of attempts where car started & immediately stalled car did start and ran fine. Since 2 years ago dealers were unable to diagnose & correct we continued to drive that evening and again the following day. The following day the car stalled again on I-? Near atlanta, but this time in more traffic with difficulty getting car to side safely. Again car started like the evening before. Again-similar fuel level. We traveled 2 1/2 more hours on interstate. At destination and local dealer found no faults so no correction was made. After this 2nd occurrence we filled up more often 1/2 full or more. 2 days later and 7 more hrs on road without any problem.. As we arrive. Check engine light came on. Although car ran fine we took car to local dealer 1 hour away. They said they had a catalytic converter error but they didn't have one in stock. I told them I wasn't sure this was the problem that was causing the stalling because it stalled 2x (+1x 2 years ago) before the check engine light came on. I called my local dealer to discuss and he said he didn't think the catalytic converter was causing the stalling. Again, no definitive answers. After we left the dealer, the check engine light was off and it has stayed off. A couple of days later we drove the car 9-10 hours on the interstate to get home. Again, I kept the fuel levels approximately 1/2 tank and above. The car performed fine. We are very concerned about the stalling. When I check other complaints listed it appeared that someone else may have had a similar issue with low fuel stalling. Please don't hesitate to call to discuss.

Filed Mar 10, 2006 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 59,022 miles · IN

The events leading up to the failure was a rough idle (vehicle would surge to 1100 RPM and drop to 500 RPM) while at a stop. The vehicle also stalled twice while idling in park. I contacted the volvo dealership to make an appointment for service. On my way home from work the day before I was to drop the vehicle off at the dealership, the vehicle stalled in an intersection. There was a near collision due to the stall. I was able to restart the vehicle and drive it to the shoulder. I called the dealership and described the problem. I asked the service advisor if it would damage the vehicle if I would continue to drive it. He indicated that they could not make a recommendation. I asked them if they would tow the vehicle to their facility. They referred me to a private towing company. There was no answer to the phone number I was given. I decided to wait for the traffic to subside and drive to the dealership using secondary roads. I was able to keep the vehicle running by putting the vehicle in neutral and applying the gas pedal to keep the idle high whenever I approached a stop. When I was approximately 1 mile from the dealership, the gas pedal stopped functioning altogether. The check engine light came on as well as an emission service required message. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it. The gas pedal resumed working but the check engine light and emission service required message continued. I left the vehicle at the dealership (approx. 7:30 p.m. '' by this time they were closed). The following day, the volvo service advisor informed me that the problem was related to the electronic throttle module (etm). I was told that there was an extended warranty for this part (10-years, 200,000-mile). The service included a cleaning of the part and reloading of software. After learning this, I searched the internet and found this problem was typical to this make and model. It is only a matter of time until your reports will soon show an increase in the injuries.

Filed Dec 6, 2005 · Electrical · 59,000 miles · OR

1. Wife was driving on a highway @ approximately 45 MPH. 2) engine idled roughly, stalled then message showing "performance reduced" showed in the car information screen. Car was able to restart, then driven to dealer for repair. It is believed to be an etm failure.

Filed Nov 15, 2005 · Acceleration · 73,500 miles · MN

My 2001 volvo v70xc has experienced severe surging at cruising speeds and at low speed accelerations. Numerous times in a couple weeks the performance reduced warning light appeared during some of the surging episodes. One episode caused the car to stall. After restarting I made it home. Searching the internet I found many similar stories and lengthy discussions about the etm (electronic throttle module) problems. Due to the potential of complete failure and being stranded, I replaced the etm at a local dealer (the dealer recommended the etm replacement based on the engine history codes). The car now runs very well, but I'm skeptical because the same designed part has been installed that is troublesome.

Filed Nov 10, 2005 · Acceleration · 49,000 miles · CA

Engine running rough, "performance reduced" message. Brought to smythe volvo in san jose - no problem found. One week later, engine ran rough and stalled while driving in the mountains (middle of dangerous blind curve!), "performance reduced" message. Restarted engine, was able to drive home with several more "performance reduced" rough running engine episodes. Returned to smythe volvo, electronic throttle module (etm) replaced under warranty.

Filed Nov 2, 2005 · Acceleration · 97,000 miles · AR

My volvo 2001 v70xc began to have a rough idle and would stall or bog down when starting out from intersections. This LED to our being stuck pulling out into traffic and suddenly having a stalled engine or a car with minimal performance and a "performance reduced " message. I took the car to the dealer, he replaced the etm for about $1200. Car runs fine now. This event happened numerous times, first in early 2005, part replaced in oct 2005.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Fuel system · 89,427 miles · TX

Vehicle incurred minor loss of power while cruising at highway speeds followed by engine surges and repeated losses of power. Engine did not stall out, but did disengage cruise control and dash board did display reduced performance warning. After vehicle engine is shut off, the reduced performance warning temporarily disappeared and then reappeared after 10-15 minutes of driving. This engine behavior last about one week, and then the dash board displayed a new service maintenance-urgent message. The 2001 volvo xc70 was then drive immediately to volvo dealer and he determined the vehicle had a faulty electric throttle body and defective accelerator sensor. The repair cost over $1,075.00 to repair.

Filed Oct 27, 2005 · Engine · 44,000 miles · MD

My 2001 volvo v70 xc with 44,000 miles began racing and stalling when I came to a stop; dashboard message appeared indicating need for urgent engine system service. I immediately took it to service center where they had to replace the throttle body. Service center indicated they have seen a rash of this problem.