96 of the
781 complaints filed about the Volvo S70
are about the braking system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SEARS AUTO CENTER AT 1178 EL CAMINO REAL IN SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA (SEARS STORE #6909) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 FOR FRONT BRAKES. SEARS RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON 9/2/18 (A COPY OF MY "FINAL INVOICE" IS ENCLOSED). I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT THE DUST BOOT FOR THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER IS MISSING. I RETURNED TO SEARS ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND TOLD THE MANAGER IN CHARGE, MR. HOLLOWAY, THAT I HAD LEARNED - FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO HAD BEEN DOING OTHER FRONT END WORK - THAT THE DUST BOOT WAS MISSING AND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM (DESIGNED TO KEEP DEBRIS AND MOISTURE OUT OF THE BRAKE CALIPER). SEARS RE-INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE DUST BOOT IS MISSING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER (MR. JULIO ESTRADA) WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, THE MANAGER OF THE SEARS AUTO CENTER - MR. JULIO ESTRADA - REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT SEARS' EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT SEARS WAS NEGLIGENT AND ASK THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE CONDUCT OF SEARS AUTO CENTER.
NHTSA complaint #11129516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I CAME TO A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OUT IN ON GOING TRAFFIC I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL IT GAVE ME ENOUGH FORCE TO PULL OUT ON THE STREET AS SOON AS I TRY TO GIVE IT MORE PICK UP BUT KINDA IDLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 40 I WOULD SAY BOUT SOON AS I HIT FORTY IT OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T LET ME PICK UP OR PRESS ON GAS PEDAL WHEN I WOULD IT WOULD SLOW DOWN SO I TRY TO PUSH HARDER THAT IS WHEN THE CAR DIED SO I QUICKLY PULLED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKING UP GAS IT WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE MY CHECK ENGINE LET FLASH ON AND PUT MY FLASH LIGHTS ON AND SAT FOR A MINUTE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAITING A FEW SECONDS STARTED THE CAR IT FIRST LET ME ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO COAST BUT IN THE DRIVE WAY. MY ETS LIGHT FLASHES ON BUT DOESN'T SAY ON. SO I THOUGHT MAYBE CAUSE I WAS LOW ON GAS THAT COULD A HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM I HAVE DROVE THE CAR ALL WEEK NOT A PROBLEM AT ALL. SO LATER THAT NIGHT I FIGURE SINCE THE STREET WOULDN'T BE BUSY I WOULD DRIVE UP PUT SOME GAS IN THERE TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. GOT IN THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP WENT TO THE GASSTATION WHICH IS ABOUT 5MINS FROM HERE PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE PUMP TURNED OFF CAR IT WAS A PREPAID PUMP WENT INSIDE GAVE THEM $8 CAME BACK OUT PUMP THE GAS GOT BACK INTO THE CAR WENT TO START IT NOTHING SO I WANTED I TRIED AGAIN GOT IT STARTED SOON AS I WENT TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IT DIED THEN I TURN THE KEY BACK AND TRY TO START IT AGAIN MY ETS LIGHT STAYS ON THIS TIME BUT CE LIGHT FLASHES GOES OFF SOME GUY TRIES TO GIVE ME A JUMP I PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS IT DIES. WHEN IT DIED IT KINDA OF SOUND EVERYTHING WAS ABOUT TO BLOW UP IT MADE A WEIRD SOUND LIKE A COMPUTER AS YOU SHUT IT DOWN. .TOOK IT TO A CAR REPAIR 3MTHS HE HAD IT THEN AFTER TRYING ALL THE CODES -THROTTLE BODY IS WHAT HE SAID THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10585047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ABS MODULE HAS FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER AT START. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK AT FULL CAPACITY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALSO INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY DURING DRIVE TIME. HAVING THE PART REBUILT.
NHTSA complaint #10289381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL MODULE ON MANY MODELS OF VOLVO ARE DEFECTIVE AND FAIL AROUND OR AFTER ABOUT 85000 MILES. ALTHOUGH MOSTLY ANNOYING COULD PREVENT PROPER OPERATION OF ABS DURING BRAKING AND POOR BRAKING AS A RESULT WHEN NOT EXPECTED. DEFECTS OF INTERNAL SOLDER CONNECTIONS OF CONNECTOR TO PCB ON THE CONTROL MODULE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD IS MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR. THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDE SPREAD THAT MANY INTERNET SITES ARE DEVOTED TO THE REPAIR OF THIS MODULE SINCE IS SO COMMON. SINCE IT IS SO COMMON AND A FAILURE IS VERY LIKELY AND AS A RESULT A REDUCTION OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY THAT IS EXPECTED I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A MAJOR ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10209278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
I HAVE A 1998 VOLVO S70 WHICH HAS ABS/TRAC LIGHT PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THIS WHERE THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ABS WILL SOMETIMES PULSATE AND IT MAKES A TERRIBLE NOISE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE ABS INDICATOR IS ON, I DON'T HAVE ABS BRAKES. IT APPEARS FROM THE VOLVO BRICKBOARD THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY (BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS SCARY WHEN THE BRAKES START GOING) AND THINK VOLVO SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE ONLY ON THIS YEAR/MAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10207804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS AND STC LIGHT CAME ON AND CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. IT WOULD OFTEN RESET AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS, THE CAR BEGAN TO ALSO LOOSE POWER AND IT WOULD ONLY RUN IN A HIGHER GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10197395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED SHE IS CONTINUOUSLY HAVING TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON HER 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED SHE REPLACED THE LEFT AXLE BOOT AT 56,690 MILES. THE LEFT AND RIGHT AXLES WERE REPLACED AT 70,800 MILES. THE LEFT & RIGHT AXLES WERE REPLACED AT 70,850. THE CONTACT STATED FOUR CV JOINTS WERE REPLACED AND FOUR CV JOINT BOOTS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 82,260 MILES AND WAS TOLD THE BOOTS WERE LEAKING AND THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE LEAKING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BOOTS WERE NOT LEAKING, BUT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED FRONT AND REAR PADS & ROTORS. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS TOLD THIS WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS EXPERIENCING ANY FAILURES. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THERE IS A DEFECT BECAUSE SHE IS HAVING TO REPLACE THE BRAKES TOO OFTEN. THE CONTACT HAS REPAIR INVOICES.
NHTSA complaint #10178802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE UNIT FAILED AT 60K MILES; ALL SERVICE WAS DONE AT DEALER. DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA FOR EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL. NHTS SEEMS POWERLESS TO TAKE ON THIS ISSUE. HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO GET SOME ACTION? VOLVO DEALERS AND FORD KNOW WELL THE PROBLEM -- JUST COUNT THE CASH THEY ARE MAKING ON THE REPLACEMENTS, AND THEN MULTIPLY BY 10 BECAUSE MOST ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY $1,000 FOR A $200 PART.
NHTSA complaint #10177631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10176382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED CAUSING BOTH COMPONENTS TO BE INOPERABLE. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED BOTH SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10168756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH INTERMITTENTLY. THE ABS ALSO ENGAGES INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED.
NHTSA complaint #10160792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE ABS ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM IN MY 1998 VOLVO S70 FAILED. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATED ABS & TRACTION CONTROL (TRACS) FAILURE. NORMAL NON-ABS BRAKING REMAINED. RESEARCH ON SEVERAL VOLVO OWNERS WEB SITES (SUCH AS BRICKBOARD: HTTP://WWW.BRICKBOARD.COM/AWD/?MODEL=S70) SHOWED SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE VOLVO PART # 9162675 DUE TO PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD SOLDER CRACKING AFTER 6 YEARS. THE CAR WAS TESTED BY A VOLVO DEALER CONFIRMING ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILEDURE. VOLVO CHARGES A TOTAL $650 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. THE "BRICKBOARD" OWNERS GROUP SUGGESTED A REPAIR SHOP IN CALIFORNIA THAT RESOLDERS THE CIRCUIT BOARD, REPLACES AND UPGRADES FAILED COMPONENTS, TESTS & RETURNS IT FOR $130 PLUS SHIPPING. WE HAD THE OLD BOARD REPAIRED, SINCE A NEW EXACT REPLACEMENT BOARD FROM VOLVO WOULD HAVE THE SAME FAILURE AFTER ANOTHER 5 YEARS. THE REPAIRED ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS BEEN REINSTALLED & THE CAR NOW WORKS PROPERLY, WITH FULL ABS AND TRACS CONTROL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST PRINTED CIRCUIT FAILURE FROM VOLVO. OUR 1993 VOLVO 940 TURBO HAD TWO BOARD FAILURES: 1, THE RELAY BASE BOARD SOLDER CRACKED, AND RESULTED IN THE OVERDRIVE RELAY NOT WORKING; 2, CRUISE CONTROL OPERATED ERRATICALLY, DUE TO BAD BOARD SOLDER. BOTH OF THESE BOARDS WERE REPAIRED BY OUR LOCAL SERVICE SHOP. WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT TWO CRITICAL SAFETY ELEMENTS - THE ABS SYSTEM AND TRACTION CONTROL - ARE FAILING IN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, & BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE ASSEMBLY OF TESTED PARTS. FURTHER, WE ARE MOST DISTURBED THAT VOLVO'S REMEDY IS A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT, WITH THE SAME FAILURE PRONE PART. WORSE, ALTHOUGH WE OPTED FOR A COMPLETE REPAIR, THERE ARE OWNERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE FIX. THESE WILL BE DRIVING WITH FAR LESS BRAKING AND CONTROL THAN THE CAR IS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING.
NHTSA complaint #10144606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ABS/TRACKS SYSTEM - WELL KNOWN/DOCUMENTED DEFECT. VOLVO PARTS CENTER SAYS CAUSE WAS FAULTY ABS UNITS FROM THE PHILIPPINES. THIS CAUSES A FAILURE OF THE ABS SYSTEM, YET VOLVO DOES NOT RECALL?.
NHTSA complaint #10135279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS AND TRACS OFF INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILING ABS CONTROL MODULE. DEALER STATED THAT ABS DOES NOT WORK WHILE INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE ON, BUT BRAKES DO. WITH INDICATOR LIGHTS ON, THE SAFETY FEATURE OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL ARE COMPROMISED.
NHTSA complaint #10133931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1999 S70 VOLVO AWD. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT AND ETS LIGHTS DISPLAYED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ETM MODULE 8/3/05 AT A COST OF $906.75 AND THE ABS MODULE AT A COST OF $845.46. BOTH SERVICES PERFORMED BY DEALER IN WINSTON SALEM,NC .
NHTSA complaint #10132318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT: THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER, IT SHUTS DOWN. USUALLY IT WILL START BACK. CAN CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC, AND IT WILL JUST STALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT DIFFERENT PARTS ON IT TO NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AFTER IT STALLS. BACK IN JANUARY THE TURBO WENT IT OUT AND THEY REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SKIPPING. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND JANUARY 15, 2005. *NM THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10130962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTACT STATES EACH TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND THE WHEELS HAVE ALSO LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE MAKE A SQUEAKING NOSE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING CONTACT STATES OIL MOVES UP THROUGH THE IGNITION CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *NM
NHTSA complaint #10120788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE/VIBRATION THAT DID NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO RESPOND. THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER THAT ENGAGED THE ABS BRAKES. *AK UPDATED 8/9/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10117513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ABS/TRACSON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10113813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO DRAG FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE THERE WAS A SMELL COMING THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10107431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.