FaultScore

Volvo S70 engine problems

94 of the 781 complaints filed about the Volvo S70 are about the engine — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

94

Complaints

12%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1998 S70 28 29.8%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1999 S70 42 44.7%

Median failure at 97,000 miles

2000 S70 24 25.5%

Median failure at 77,764 miles

What owners said

2000 Volvo S70 Eureka, CA

ENGINE

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.

2000 Volvo S70 at 170,000 miles Lincoln, NE

ENGINE

IGNITION COIL IS MISFIRING, AND PARK NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH ALSO KNOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION POSITION SWITCH OR NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH IS HAVING ISSUES. WHEN ITS IDLING ITS REALLY ROUGH WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JOLTS AN HICCUPS. DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR IT'S GOING INTO

NHTSA complaint #11319415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 137,500 miles Philadelphia, PA

ENGINE

THE PLASTIC HANDLE OF THE OIL DIPSTICK CAME OFF CAUSING HALF OF THE OIL DIPSTICK TO BE IN THE DIPSTICK TUBE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING IT HAPPENED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL MAKING SURE THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR MAKING SURE THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT SEIZE WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11080411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 124,300 miles Philadelphia, PA

ENGINE

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.

1999 Volvo S70 Rocklin, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10704156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 Winder, GA

ENGINE

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.

1999 Volvo S70 at 78,000 miles ST Clair NSW Australia 2759, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TWICE, WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT EACH TIME, MY CAR HAS SUFFERED EXTREME ACCELERATION WHILST I WAS BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD. FIRST TIME, MY MECHANIC CHECKED ALL COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS USING TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTER TESTING DEVICES BUT THERE WERE NO FAULT CODES. NOW, AS WELL AS HAPPENING TWICE WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT, I WAS AT THE SAME SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHICH I DO NOT SUSPECT AS BEING THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO NEXT TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WITH AN ADJACENT HELIPAD. MY BEST GUESS AFTER 57 YEARS IN ELECTRONICS AND 40+ IN COMPUTERS IS THAT SOME SORT OF RF INTERFERENCE IS UPSETTING MY VEHICLE. I KNOW VOLVO CHECK ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THEIR CARS IN SWEDEN AND WONDER WHETHER THEY HAVE EVER COME ACROSS MY PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE SCREAMED ITS HEAD OFF ALTHOUGH I HAD NO TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THE TACHOMETER READING. THE NOISE ITSELF WAS ADEQUATE WARNING AND THE LACK OF BRAKING MEANT THAT I HAD TO KILL THE IGNITION TO RECOVER MINE AND THE VEHICLES COMPOSURE. SWITCHING ON THE IGNITION AGAIN BOTH TIMES, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN IDLED NORMALLY AND OPERATED AS IT SHOULD.

NHTSA complaint #10471485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 115,000 miles Clear Brook, VA

ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE FIRST STALLING EPISODE AND ETS LIGHT ON. CALLED VOLVO DUE TO A REPLACEMENT/EXTENDED WARRANTY ON AFFECTED PART. WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NOT REPLACED AND THE WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER COVERING CAR (10 YEARS/200000 MILES). AS A RECENT PURCHASER OF THIS CAR I HAD NO CLUE OF THE REPLACEMENT NOT PREVIOUSLY DONE OR EVEN NEEDED. ALL WAS NEW TO ME AND THEY REFUSED. MOVING FORWARD ONE YEAR AND CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC, ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND, NO DASH LIGHTS AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF ETM. CAR WON'T STAY RUNNING AT ALL, TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AFTER THIS INCIDENT. NO WARRANTY ON PART, NO REPLACEMENT AND NOW I HAVE $ 4000 BOAT ANCHOR THAT WILL COST A FORTUNE TO FIX DUE TO NO WARRANTY ON THE PART THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED YEARS AGO BY VOLVO.

NHTSA complaint #10463108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 133,000 miles Miami, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 at 101,000 miles North Cape MAY, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BEGAN TO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10443493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo S70 at 77,494 miles Milton, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, I FINALLY DECIDED TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACING AT WHAT SEEMED A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED BY EVIDENCE OF THOSE RPM'S. I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL,WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE RACING CEASED, AND THE RPM'S CAME DOWN TO AN IDLE, JUST BELOW 1000, I BELIEVE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND STOPPED. AFTER A BIT, I PLACED THE CAR FROM NEUTRAL INTO PARK, AND THEN AGAIN SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. I BEGAN MOVING DOWN A HILL BY MERE IDLING SPEED. I WAS CAREFUL, JUST COASTING NOW, NOT TO INITIALLY PLACE ANY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AS I PROCEEDED IN DRIVE. I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, FOR A RED SIGNAL LIGHT, AND WHEN IT WAS GREEN, I DROVE BACK AROUND A LARGE CITY BLOCK TO MY DRIVEWAY. I BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION DURING THE FINAL DISTANCE DRIVEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 OTHER TIMES RECENTLY WHEN SETTING CRUISE CONTROL GOING UP A HILL.

NHTSA complaint #10419690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 65,000 miles Houston, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. UPON RESTART THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS AUTHORIZED DEALERS APPROXIMATELY SIXTEEN TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,263.

NHTSA complaint #10404016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 70,000 miles SAN Gabriel, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE SURGES AFTER I HAD THE SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD RECALL. THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT IS A DIRTY THROTTLE BODY, BUT IT HAS BEEN CLEANED A THOUSAND TIMES. THEY NEVER REPLACED MY TCM. JUST THE SOFTWARE. THIS NEEDS TO STOP. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. NEED A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10390184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 79,300 miles Andover, MA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE ETS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE "ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM" WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE ALL POWER AND POTENTIALLY BE DANGEROUS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD SEND HER A COUPON SINCE THE ACTUAL RECALL HAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,300. TB

NHTSA complaint #10384770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo S70 at 117,000 miles Dallas, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S70. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S SUDDENLY INCREASED FROM 2000 TO 3000 WITHIN 15 SECONDS WITHOUT THE CONTACT ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR MASS METER, EVAPORATOR VALVE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #10344550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 45,669 miles Houston, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 at 120 miles Bronx, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1999 VOLVO S70 ETS LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR STALLS . CAR IS BUCKING AND SPEEDING UP CAR SHUTS DOWN ALL OVER THE ROAD AND HIGHWAYS AND WILL NOT START.

NHTSA complaint #10325555 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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 109,000 miles Elmhurst, IL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

IN MID-DECEMBER THE CAR STARTED BUT RAN ROUGH AND LACKED POWER. PREVIOUS TO THAT IT RAN FINE; SINCE THEN IT HAS HAD VARIOUS INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS RELATED TO ACCELERATION. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND LACKS POWER. OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE RUNS FINE BUT THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR INPUT TO INCREASE SPEED. SOMETIMES THE CAR STUMBLES BUT ACCELERATES ADEQUATELY. MORE OFTEN THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 20 MPH AND NOT INCREASE SPEED BEYOND THAT IRRESPECTIVE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRESSURE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE NORMALLY. REPLACING THE THROTTLE BODY MODULE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS PART IS SUBJECT TO A NHTSA AGREEMENT WITH VOLVO THAT REQUIRES VOLVO TO REPLACE THE UNIT FREE BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THAT AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10306423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Volvo S70 at 157,000 miles Sunvalley, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE ENGINE AND THE CSR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL; THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY AND A MECHANIC REPLACED THE AIR MASS METER. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, IN WHICH THE TECHNICIAN CHARGED $1065.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158000.

NHTSA complaint #10284152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Volvo S70 problems