1999 Volvo C70 Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000....UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIMP MODE AFFECTS THE BREAKING SYSTEM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. UPDATED 06/505/2013 *JS

ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILURE BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED IT IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKING MODULE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE IDLING AT STOP SIGNS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE MODULE. IN 2002 AND ON JULY 25, 2005 THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ON JANUARY 20, 2005 THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE IT HAD WEAKENED. ALL THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.

ETM FAILED IN CAR FOR THE SECOND TIME AT 115,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, PREVIOUSLY REPLACED SEPTEMBER 2003 AT 64,000 MILES. DRIVING FROM OHIO TO PA FOR THANKSGIVING ETS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER THANKSGIVING DINNER WENT TO GO HOME AND MY VOLVO C70 QUIT ACCELERATING WHILE ENTERING A 4 LANE HIGHWAY FROM AN ENTRY RAMP. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND TRAFFIC WAS EASILY ABLE TO PASS TO THE LEFT UNTIL I COASTED OFF TO THE BERM OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IDLING BUT DID NOT HAVE POWER TO GO UP SMALL GRADE. SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, THROTTLE RESPONSE RESUMED AND WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME. DEALER REPLACED ETM MODULE UNDER RECENTLY ANNOUNCED EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM ON 12/2/2005. I DO NOT HAVE OLD PART. *JB

THE CAR REDUCED THE SPEED AND NOW IT STOPPED RUNNING BECAUSE THE ETM IS NOT WORKING. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER IN OCTOBER 2013 AND THEREFORE I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY STARTED FROM THE DAY THE FIRST CAR WAS BOUGHT WHICH WAS AUGUST 25, 1999 BUT IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE FROM THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED WITH THE ETM THAT CAUSED VOLVO TO RECALL AND BUY THE CARS BACK. VOLVO MADE APPROXIMATELY 300,000 CARS AND REPAIRED AND BOUGHT BACK AROUND 165,000 CARS. THIS MEANS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY VOLVO THAT THE CAR I CURRENTLY OWN THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. AS I SEE IT THEY NEGLECTED TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAR CAN CAUSE MY FAMILY TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE REGIONAL MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE FIXED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND THE PARTS. THEY ARE OFFERING TO GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS BUT I FEEL THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF A PROBLEM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCOUNTS FOR LABOR AND PARTS INDICATE THAT VOLVO UNDERSTAND THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE PROBLEMS OF THE CAR BUT ALSO THEY NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I ASK TO SPEAK TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER AND I WAS TOLD BY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WAS NOT ALLOWED. I LEFT A MESSAGE TO HIM TO SEE IF WE CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE OR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 1999 VOLVO C70. *JB

THE THROTTLE BODY HAS FAILED IN TRAFFIC AND ON THE HWY. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES AND WAS CLEANED 2 - 3 TIMES. AT THIS TIME I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT OVER 15 MPH. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS SITTING. I AM GUESSING AT THE DAY IT STATED. *NM

ON 12/31/2004 WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE ETM DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME, AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT, I COULD NOT CALL MY LOCAL GARAGE. ON MONDAY I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD THE "ERROR CODE OF DEATH", THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY VOLVO GARAGE. THEY HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE TB PROBLEMS. I HAD IT TOWED TO SMC, INC. WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ETM UNIT FAILED AND IT WAS MY FAULT FOR "USING CHEAP GAS" AND "FAILING TO SERVICE THE AIR CLEANERS". SINCE I ALWAYS BURN THE BEST FUEL AVAILABLE, AND ALWAYS GO TO THE DEALER GARAGE FOR ALL MY MAINTENANCE, I KNEW THAT WAS BOGUS. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AS WAS A GASKET. I WAS OUTRAGED, AND EXPRESSED THIS TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND CHALLENGED HIS ACCUSATION. I EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE MAGNETI MORELLI ETM MODULES WHICH IS COMMON IN ALL 1999-2001 70-SERIES ENGINES ARE ALL STARTING TO FAIL. DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE ARE ALL USING "CHEAP GAS AND FAILING REGULAR MAINTENANCE"? NO, IT MEANS THAT THEIR LOUSY DESIGN USES METAL WIPERS AGAINST A THIN-FILM POLY RHEOSTAT, GUARANTEED TO RUB THRU WITHIN 30-60K MILES. IF THIS HAPPENS IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A REMOTE WINTER HIGHWAY, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE. I WAS TOLD THAT VOLVO'S "LEGENDARY SAFETY" ONLY APPLIES TO CRASH TESTS, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE DESIGNS AND OTHER SAFETY ISSUES. JUST THIS WEEKEND A STRANDED MOTORIST WAS PLOWED DOWN BY A SEMI-TRUCK ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY. *JB

MY CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO VOLVO'S RECOMMENDATIONS. VOLVO DEALER BALANCED AND ROTATED MY TIRES AT 15,000 MILES AND INDICATED THEY WERE FINE. AL 16,000 MILES THE TWO REAR TIRES (WHICH WERE IN THE FRON UNTIL THE 15,000 MILE SERVICE) STARTED DISINTEGRATING AT 16,000 MILES (THE STEEL CORDS STARTED COMING OUT). THIS CAN'T BE NORMAL! I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT VOLVO NUMEROUS TIMES (THE DEALER AND VOLVO'S 800 CUSTOMER SERVICENUMBER) AND VOLVO IS IGNORING MY CALLS. I SAW OTHER VOLVO C70 CARS AT THE DEALER WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THEY ONLY HAD 12,000 MILES!. CAR TIRES SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN THIS! HAVE YOU RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM VOLVO C70 OWNERS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH! *AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: P22550R16)

ORIGINAL PIRELLI P6000 TIRES THAT WERE ON VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO BLOW OUTS DUE TO POSSIBLE FLAW IN MANUFACTURING, FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 1,099 MILES. *MJS

ABS BRAKE MODULE FAILURE BOTH ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED IT IS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ABS BRAKING MODULE. *TR

THE VEHICLES ABS LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF. THE ABS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY REDUCED SPEED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE IDLING AT STOP SIGNS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE MODULE. IN 2002 AND ON JULY 25, 2005 THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ON JANUARY 20, 2005 THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE IT HAD WEAKENED. ALL THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.

WHILE DRIVINGTHE DASHBOARD WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY BECOME LOOSE AND BOUNCED UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK

WHILE REMOVING A CHILD CAR SEAT THE SEAT BELT BUTTON FELL OFF, THUS THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED COMPLETELY AND WAS COMPLETELY RETRACTED FORCING THE SEAT IN THE DECLINED POSITION AND PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN THIS POSITION. NOW THE SEAT IS UNUSABLE AS A CHILD SEAT OR ANY TYPE OF SEAT UNTIL A DEALER REPAIR. I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CAR WITH A CHILD SEAT. ON A LONG TRIP WITH CHILDREN THIS PUTS THE CHILDREN AT GREAT RISK AND CREATES AN ILLEGAL DRIVING CONDITION. EVEN WITH THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY I WAS CHARGED $56. *NM

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. SO I GOT OUT THE FACTORY JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LIFT UP THE CAR. THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR ARE "SCISSOR-TYPE" AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE. SO, THE CAR WAS LIFTED ON ONE SIDE AND I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT TIRE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE JACK GAVE WAY AND THE CAR CAME DOWN. LUCKILY THE FRONT TIRE WAS HALFWAY IN THE WHEEL-WELL, SO THE CAR JUST SETTLED ON THE TIRE WITH THE ROTOR PUSHING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE RIM (I NOTICED SCRATCHES INSIDE THE RIM AFTER I REMOVED THE TIRE). WELL, I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE JACK AND SAW THAT THE BIG, LONG SCREW BROKE IN HALF. I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT THE JACK VOLVO GIVES OUT WITH THEIR CARS WOULD SIMPLY BREAK, ESPECIALLY IF EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROPERLY. THE CAR WAS EMPTY, SO WEIGHT COULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THERE WAS SOME LOWER BODY PANEL DAMAGE FROM THE JACK WHEN IT BROKE. ALSO, MY FINGERS GOT BRUISED AND SCRATCHED UP A BIT FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CAR FALLING ON THE FRONT TIRE THAT I WAS REMOVING AT THE TIME. *NLM