2004 Volvo XC70: check engine light

Filed Jun 26, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 186,000 miles · CT

This complaint is for a 2004 volvo xc70. This car has some serious problems with its various modules. When driving on a busy interstate highway, the car jerked as if the transmission was slipping. After this a warning light stating "brake failure; pull over safely" illuminated. Car went into limp mode while on the highway in fast-moving traffic. Got car to a parking lot and waited about 30 minutes. Car started and I was able to drive it home, although being about 50 miles away. Car went in to limp more again during drive and lost all dash indicators, including turn signals, speedometer and odometer. Light for "check engine" was illuminated. After mechanic reset codes, he stated that it might be the ECM or TCM. I sent off the ECM for diagnosis and it came back without any errors. I then sent off the TCM and learned that it needed repair. After receiving the repaired TCM unit, we re-installed and car drove for a couple of days. I took the car for a 6-hour round trip drive this past weekend and had one incident of the jerking, but without any other issues. After letting the car sit in the drive for around 20 minutes, I tried starting it only to get another "check engine" light and inoperable dash indicators (speedometer, odometer, turn signals, etc.). Took the car to a volvo dealership today for a diagnosis. They stated that there was no contact occurring with their computer diagnostic system. They recommended a replacement of the cem as a first step with no guarantee that the problem resides in the that module. That part installed is over $1,100. This is my fifth volvo, and undoubtedly, the worst yet. I am considering junking it and leaving volvo in my proverbial rear view. It is astounding that volvo has not offered a recall as this is clearly a safety hazard. Perhaps it takes people dying for car companies to own up to faulty building.

Filed Jan 19, 2016 · Electrical · 110,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc70. While driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a loud abnormal noise and the vehicle nearly stalled without warning. The contact discovered that the brake lights, instrument panel lights, and turn signals failed. In addition, the SRS, check engine, and rear door car ajar waring indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where the battery was flushed and recommended that the valet key not be used. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the rear door module was replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the central electronic control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Updated 03/18/16

Filed Apr 22, 2013 · Fuel system · 178,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc70. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled numerous times. The check engine light illuminated while the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic to have a diagnostic performed. The failure was located at the fuel pump. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000 and the current mileage was 182,000.

Filed Jun 24, 2009 · Driver assistance · 53,866 miles · CA

I have a 2004 volvo xc70 with only 53,000 miles.on june 20th, the "reduced engine performance" light came on with no apparent change in handling or acceleration. The light then went off 20 minutes later. The next day after driving for about 20 minutes, the light came back on this time along with the "check engine" light, and there was virtually no acceleration. I got the car to limp along at about 5 MPH with the hazard lights, and it finally stopped so I pushed it on to the closest parking spot. The light went off f4 hours later and I was able to drive it home. I then took it into the service dealer. The mechanic ran the diagnostics on the computer and the code for the throttle actuator appeared. They were going to charge me over $1,000 until I insisted that it was covered under the 7 year extended factory warranty plan. It is now getting fixed and should get it back tomorrow but I have read online that this happens quite a bit with this model. I am very scared to drive it again esp since I have a 5 year old daughter. The last thing I need is to have the car stalled on me on the freeway in the middle of traffic. Help! Can my car be covered under the lemon law?

Filed Jun 11, 2009 · Transmission · 56,702 miles · WA

I have a 2004 xc70 with 56,000 miles. Recently, the "reduced engine performance" light came on with no apparent change in handling or acceleration. The light then went off the next time I drove the car. A few days later, the light came back on this time along with the "check engine" light, and there was virtually no acceleration. I got the car to limp along at about 5 MPH with the hazard lights on to the closest garage, where I left it overnight. The mechanic ran the diagnostics on the computer and the code for the throttle body appeared. He cleaned the throttle body but indicated that might not totally solve the problem and that if it needed to be replaced it would have to be done at a dealer. (other than several oil changes, all scheduled maintenance has been performed at a volvo dealer.) the car worked well for about a week and then the "check engine" and "reduced engine performance" lights came back on. I took the car to the volvo dealer. Initially they couldn't find anything wrong with it, they drove it about 20 miles and claimed no lights came on and the computer did not show any diagnostic codes. They upgraded the software to smooth out the gear shifting in the automatic transmission and at my request did the 60,000 mile servicing. Then, when I went to pick the car up, both lights came back on in the service department immediately after I started the car. The service advisor took the car back into the shop, ran the diagnostics again and confirmed the throttle body needed to be replaced. Car is no longer under warranty and the service advisor indicated there were no recalls for this issue for this model year. After a few days in the shop, the car is now working well but I no longer trust it - had this happened on a highway it would have been very dangerous.

Filed Feb 3, 2009 · Acceleration · 73,890 miles · MN

Car began lurching/chugging forward as I tried to accelerate onto the highway, reminiscent of spark plug problems, except that the plugs were replaced the day before. Car slowed to "limp" mode and "reduced engine performance" light came on. After shutting the car off, waiting a minute or two, I was able to start it and drive without problems. The exact same thing happened exactly one week later. I took it in to the dealer and was told they couldn't find anything wrong--no codes were coming back on the computer and that it was a weather related issue. Less than one week after getting it back it did the same thing, thankfully, after I crossed a major road. This time the check engine light came on, as did the "engine system service required" message. According to the dealer, the throttle control needs to be cleaned and possibly the mass airflow sensor needs to be replaced. I thought volvo had fixed this on '02 and later. Guess not. This isn't just an inconvenient problem, it's highly dangerous. I was fortunate enough the three times that this happened (within 3 weeks) to be able to pull over and out of traffic. Had I been in heavier traffic, I easily could have been in an accident or worse on the highway.

Filed Jan 29, 2009 · Fuel system · 95,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc70. The contact experienced difficulty starting the engine. She made several attempts before the engine started and then heard a loud noise followed by excessive vibration. Immediately, the check engine warning indicator illuminated intermittently on the instrument panel. The driver smelled a strong odor of fuel when the vehicle was in operation. In addition, there was a small amount of fuel spilling onto the ground from the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing and they stated that the fuel pump failed. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 95,000. Updated 2/20/09 *cn the mechanic stated the main fuel pump had a crack at the housing. Updated 02/23/09.

Filed Jan 6, 2009 · Fuel system · 58,850 miles · NY

Multiple check engine lights but no clear issue discovered. Now the car vibrates when I start driving it and at times I can floor the gas pedal and not go over 20 MPH. I am told it is the fuel pump that needs replacing though it did not show up as an issue from the check engine light diagnosis. Also, spark plugs were changed in sept 0'7 yet were changed again at the 60k check up two weeks ago.