FaultScore

Volvo S70 electrical problems

122 of the 781 complaints filed about the Volvo S70 are about the electrical system — 16% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

122

Complaints

16%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

1997 S70 1 0.8%
1998 S70 39 32.0%

Median failure at 117,000 miles

1999 S70 50 41.0%

Median failure at 79,328 miles

2000 S70 32 26.2%

Median failure at 66,051 miles

What owners said

2000 Volvo S70 Eureka, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CAR ENDED UP STALLING AFTER BEING PARKED UPON TRYING TO RESTART IT. THIA IS AM ISSUE THAT ONLY THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP CAN FIX SINCE IT INVOLVES REPROGRAMMING OR REPLACING AND PROGRAMMING A NEW ETS MODULE. FORTUNATELY IT HAPPENED TO ME IN A PARKING LOT AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT ROWED TO A SHOP TWICE. NOW IT IS GOING TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #11349227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 117,000 miles Dudley, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT IS IN PARK ALL THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFICHAVE PIC CAN NOT DOWN LOAD BE GLAD TO SEND

NHTSA complaint #11042001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 218,168 miles Saint Louis Park, MN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS SOON AS I REACHED 60 MPH MY ETS LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT. MY SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND MY CAR WAS ACTING STRANGE. I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I TURNED OFF MY CAR. I CALLED AAA AND ASKED FOR A TOW. WHILE THE TOW TRUCK WAS COMING, I TRIED TURNING MY CAR ON AGAIN AND THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I STARTED TO GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM AND SAW MANY PEOPLE HAD THE ETS ON THEIR VOLVO RECALLED. I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY DECLINED TO HELP ME. THEY SAID I NEED TO PAY FOR A NEW ETS MODULE. THEY SAID MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL ON IT. I FOUND THIS TO BE NOT TRUE AFTER CHECKING YOUR WEBSITE FOR RECALLS ALONG WITH ANOTHER .GOV WEBSITE. I CALLED VOLVO AGAIN AND THE SAME GUY TOLD ME NOT TO CALL THEM ANYMORE AND HE HUNG UP THE PHONE. WHEN MY CAR WAS FINALLY AT HOME, I CALLED MY MECHANIC WHO USED TO WORK AT A DIFFERENT VOLVO (30 MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE) AND HE CAME TO LOOK AT MY CAR. WE SWITCHED OUT THE BATTERY, PUT IN A NEW STARTER, NEW ALTERNATOR, SWITCHED OUT ALL MY FUSES WITH NEW FUSES, CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND SPARK WIRES, PUT NEW COILS ON AND DID AN OIL CHANGE. THE CAR STARTED, HOWEVER THE ETS LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE AND WHEN I REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT DOES THE SAME THING. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE. THE ETS IS RECALLED FOR MY VOLVO WHEN I ENTERED THE VIN. I NEED HELP WITH GETTING VOLVO TO FIX THE RECALL OR DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THE STATE PATROL DID COME BEHIND ME TO ASK IF EVERYTHING WAS OKAY AS I WAS WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK. I DON'T HAVE ANY POLICE REPORTS BUT I DO HAVE THE OFFICERS CARD IF NEEDED.

NHTSA complaint #11019049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 124,300 miles Philadelphia, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED DECEMBER 16 2016 KNOWING IT NEEDED A LOT OF WORK. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ALL THE REPAIRS DONE ON JAN 4TH 2017. I NOW NEED TO GET THE CAR EMISSION TESTED AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES THE READINESS MONITORS ARE STILL NOT SET AND HAVE SINCE REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL CAN NOT GET AN EMISSIONS TEST.

NHTSA complaint #10940374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 155,500 miles Columbia, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION,&ACCELEROMETER, CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON

NHTSA complaint #10783554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 131,000 miles Corona, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA complaint #10724803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 150,000 miles Columbia, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10712552 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 160,000 miles Louisville, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA complaint #10664507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 Winder, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THE CODE WAS SHOWING THAT THE THROTTLE BODY DISPLAYED AN INVALID ERROR CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10640891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 85,000 miles Davenport, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S70 WITH ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE CAR STALLS AND SURGES/LUNGES AT ALL RATES OF SPEED AND IS VERY UNSAFE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND RAN THE VIN#. THEY STATED THE RECALL WAS DONE IN 2009. I CALLED VOLVO CORP. CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND THEY STATED THAT MY CAR WAS TOO OLD AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY/RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR A FAULTY PART BY THE OEM MANUFACTURE WHEN THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY PART WITH FAULTY PARTS. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND OUT IF MY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACE IT WOULD HAVE A YELLOW LABEL ON IT. MINE DOES NOT. IT HAS THE ORIGINAL WHITE LABEL ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT IT MAY HAVE HAD THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND CLEANED BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THE ACTUAL UNIT WAS REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE LOCAL VOLVO STORE IN WINTER PARK FL WHERE I WAS CHARGED A TOTAL OF $127 AND SOME CHANGE TO TELL ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AND WOULD REQUIRE A NEW SOFTWARE UPGRADE. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR $880.00 AND QUOTE DOES NOT SAY THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE IS INCLUDED. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT IT WITH 75,000 MILES AND CURRENTLY HAVE 92,000 MILES. VOLVOS EFFORTS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS NOT WORKING AND IF IT DOES WORK IT DOES NOT FIX THE CAR FOR VERY LONG. WHY IS IT THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE RECALL PART IS BASED ON THE TOTAL VEHICLE MILEAGE AND AGE INSTEAD OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE REPLACEMENT PART OR FROM THE TIME THE RECALL WAS ISSUED? I DO NOT HAVE ANY FAITH THAT SPENDING THE MONEY TO FIX THE CAR WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM ONLY DELAY IT FROM RECURRING WITH IN MONTHS OR FEW THOUSAND MILES. THIS IS STILL AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR AND VOLVO DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE THAT THEY ARE PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER.

NHTSA complaint #10495351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 133,000 miles Miami, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ETS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000. UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAMSHAFT SEAL, IDLER PULLEY, TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10450293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 Nitro, WV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAD NOT DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR BECAUSE I BOUGHT A 2008 C70 THAT I WAS DRIVING. I DECIDED TO START DRIVING THIS ONE FOR THE WINTER. ON A RAINY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY WINDOWS FROSTED UP INSIDE SO BAD THAT I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO MAKE IT TO WORK. MY DEFROSTER FAILED. I JUST TRIED MY CAR AGAIN AND THE DEFROSTER SEEMED TO WORK - ONLY SLOWER- BUT NOW MY DASHBOARD IS SHOWING ME A LIGHT THAT SAYS ETC. FROM READING ON-LINE, IT SOUNDS LIKE I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ABOUT THIS.. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DID NOT. IS VOLVO GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER - SINCE I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER OR KNEW THAT THERE WAS SUCH A PROBLEM?

NHTSA complaint #10441029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 45,669 miles Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1999 VOLVO S70. CONSUMER STATES MECHANICAL PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITH NO WARNING, USUALLY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT OFTEN IT WOULD GO NO MORE THAN 20-30 MPH. ALSO, SOME OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST SIXTEEN TIMES. *JB UPDATED 10/28/10. *JB THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. UPDATED 11/12/10

NHTSA complaint #10342233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 Pleasant Hill, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VOLVO S70 WITH ACCELERATION, DECELERATION AND STALLING ISSUES. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ETM WAS REPLACED ON AUGUST 26, 2008 UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN, THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING, FORCING HER TO MAKE REPEATED TRIPS TO THE DEALER IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED AND DECELERATED ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNRELIABLE SINCE AUGUST 2008. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLEANED THE THROTTLE AND PULLED ALL THE CODES, TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10318657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 106,000 miles Indianapolis, IN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VOLVO S70 ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL IS ACTING UP. THE CAR WHEN STARTED IDLES ERRATICALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10317191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 106,472 miles Pleasant Hill, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ONGOING PROBLEMS SINCE AUGUST 2008: ENGINE STALLS, DECELERATES, WON'T START, SOMETIMES ENGINE SURGES BADLY, ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON, THROTTLE GETS DIRTY EVEN WITH NEW PART ETM PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING AND NOW VEHICLE WILL NOT START OR DRIVE AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10314854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 131,000 miles Houston, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 1999 VOLVO S70 T5. IT STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT TIMES WONT EVEN START. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. WHENEVER I BRING IT IN THE PROBLEM IS NEVER DIAGNOSED AND I GET STUCK WITH SOME OTHER PROBLEM THEY THINK COULD BE THE PROBLEM. I WOULD ALWAYS END UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, CAR STALLS OUT COMPLETELY AND AT TIMES WONT EVEN START. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10297239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 160,000 miles Denver, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

1999 Volvo S70 at 79,842 miles Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED A 1999 S70 VOLVO IN MARCH OF 1999 I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD GET THE SAME WARRANTY AS A NEW CAR. THE DEALER HAD PUT 5000 MILES ON THE CAR. AFTER THE CAR WAS APPROX. 4 YRS OLD IT STARTED TO LOOSE POWER THE SPEED WOULD DROP TO ZERO THE CAR WOULD REDUCE SPEED. IN 2006 IT STARTED TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER NEVER SPOKE TO ME REF THE ETM. THEY WOULD DIAG. SOME OTHER PROBLEM. THEY REPAIRED IT ON OCT. 8, 2008, IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN IN NOV 2008, I TOOK IT BACK AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN JUNE 19, 2009. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT IS THE ETM. O'STEEN VOLVO WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10274761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 79,842 miles Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. IN 2001, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED AND DISPLAYED ZERO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH. EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT OFF IN TRAFFIC AND WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSORS SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED AGAIN. SHE WAS UNSURE ABOUT THE NAME OF THE SENSOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. RECENTLY, IN JUNE OF 2009, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILED AND THE BATTERY CABLE WAS CORRODED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,021. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,842 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 189,000.

NHTSA complaint #10274313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Volvo S70 problems