Volvo V70XC won't start problems

Filed Jan 27, 2009 · Engine, Transmission · 82,000 miles · WI

Our 2000 volvo xc70 stationwagon experienced sluggish speed on a wednesday - it did not like to accelerate. It was also going through oil, which the volvo dealership said was "normal" for a car of this age - it only had 80,000 miles on it. On thursday, the car would not start (it was very cold). We took the car to the repair shop and they found that it has oil pump problem that does not get oil into the engine. We therefore need a new engine. He also noted issues with the drive train.

Filed Jul 5, 2006 · Fuel system · 118,042 miles · NY · fire

Dt*: the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle cranked but would not start. Upon inspection, the fuse to the fuel pump was observed to be blown. The fuse was changed, and the vehicle was started. Later, while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle began to shudder and lose power. When the vehicle was pulled over, an odor of something burning appeared. Upon further inspection, the bottom of the fuel tank was smoldering, and then caught on fire. A police report was filed, and the vehicle was taken to a private mechanic shop. The mechanic shop determined the fuel pump short-circuited.

Filed Mar 22, 2006 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · VA

While running slowly my volvo 98 xc just slowed up and stopped. I was able to restart after about a half minute and 3 tries. When it did not start, there was no sound of "turnover" occurring. No damage happened, since I was driving slowly within a parking garage. The first failure (that mirrored the most recent) was about a month ago while driving slowly down a residential street. The dealer could not find a defect following the first failure, so I have been driving the car since then. The dealer did no repairs after the first failure. The weather has been cool (30-50f) and dry.

Filed Oct 14, 2005 · Acceleration · 82,000 miles · IL

I recently purchased a used 2001 volvo xc v70. Since the second or third day of ownership I have had ongoing problems with the electronic throttle module. The car will often idle very low and then die, and when this happens, sometimes it won't restart for a while. Sometimes the car will start, idle up to about 2000 rpms then die. When this happens, the car usually won't start for hours. The car often lurches forward when it is downshifting from 3rd to 2nd and 2nd to 1st gears. The idle speed will jump as it is downshifting, often causing brief loss of control of the vehicle for a short distance. This is particularly frightening pulling into a parking space. When any of these issues are occuring with the vehicle, it makes driving a very tense and frightening experience. In addition, this particular problem is not something that can be detected with an electronic diagnostic test (which the volvo dealer charges a minimum $108 "diagnostic charge"). Volvo knows this is a serious issue with the etm. Please hold them responsible for this defective part. I know there are many many people who have this ongoing problem with their cars.

Filed Oct 13, 2005 · Electrical · 66,000 miles · CT

Traveling on local road, lost power going up hill. Within seconds car completely dead. Some alarming message came on, like "total system failure" with the exclamation point in red. Car would not start. Called volvo on call and was towed after waiting an hour on road. No shoulder on road. Paid $1300 to have etm replaced by volvo service in westport, ct. Not told that this was very common part that needed replacing.. Only found out after a web search.

Filed Aug 26, 2005 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · NY

Car was proceeding on ny state thruway when suddenly the speedometer went to zero and the car engine cut out. When I pulled the car over it would not start, but after 15 minutes, it would start after several tries. This happened many more times before I could bring it to the nearest volvo dealer where it now sits awaiting repair. This seems to be a recurring issue with the volvo xc70 year 1999 from recent web searches.

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Electrical · CA

I would like to add my name to the number of people complaining about their volvo's engine stalling repeatedly without warning. I believe this might be from the unit that regulates the amount of air into the vehicles engine. I purchased my 2000 volvo v70xc from santa monica volvo in october 2001 and it is still under warranty. Over the last year and a half my engine has stalled over 20 times while driving without any warning. Several times this occurred while I was driving 65 miles an hour on a freeway that almost resulted in serious car accidents. Sometimes I can restart the car immediately, other times the car has to sit for a while, but four times I had to have the car towed. The first time the engine died on july 5, 2004 I had the car towed to a volvo repair shop in valencia, california. The next morning the repair shop called and told me the car started for them without any problems. So I drove to santa monica volvo on july 7, 2004 and their service department replaced the battery. Two months later (september 1, 2004) when the cars engine died again while I was driving, the car was towed to santa monica volvo and the service department told me that nothing was wrong with my car. I told the service department that I did not want the car back until they found what was wrong with it. The service representative then spoke to a manager and called me back to say that my alternator was putting out low voltage and they replaced it. Then on june 30th my volvo lost all power again while I was driving and wouldn't start. The car was towed back to santa monica volvo where I was told they needed to do a throttle body cleaning and then replace the mass air flow meter for a total of $708. I bought my volvo for safety reasons and I have never felt more unsafe driving a car. I sincerely hope that your investigation leads to a recall of my volvo. It is the biggest lemon that I have ever owned! *jb *sc

Filed Jul 6, 2005 · Fuel system · 33,000 miles · NH

Several months ago my 2001 volvo xc70 station wagon suddenly lost power on a major highway. Car would not start. Took volvo about 3 hours to tow the vehicle. Throttle module replaced under warranty. June 5, 2005 car looses power on highway and stops in traffic. On both occasions there were about 2 gallons of fuel remaining in tank and computer read over 100 miles to empth. Same volvo dealer takes position it has never heard of this problem.

Filed Jun 6, 2005 · Transmission · 61,000 miles · UT

While on a vacation in montana our 2000 volvo xc70 had rought idle, stalling, no response to accelerator (would not go above 20 MPH) and eventually would not start. There were no volvo dealers in montana for repair and a local mechanic instructed us to pull the main fuse to re-set the computer. This would get us going again but it would happen again every 50 or so miles. Dealership back at home replace the electronic throttle module at a cost of $1200. There appears to be a high number of etm failures in these cars and it is a known problem with volvo.

Filed May 4, 2005 · 43,000 miles · PA

In april, 2005, I was traveling a short distance when my 2001 volvo v70 xc suddenly stalled and would not start for approximately 15 minutes. The message "low performance" appeared on the monitor. The car stalled on at least 4 seperate occasions. After four days of waiting for an appointment, I was told that the problem was with a fault in the throttle module. I asked if this was a typical failure with the car especially only having 43,000.00 miles. I was told that it can sometimes happen at any mileage, that they were not aware of any other cars having the same problem and that "sometimes problems are isolated." the car was no longer under warranty so the dealership waived the price for the throttle body, in the end I paid $400.00 for the module and labor. I'm shocked that this type of problem can happen at such low mileage.