VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1999 Volvo V70
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 169 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Volvo V70, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 217 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 26 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 28 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 29 |
| Mar 2002 | 3 | 32 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 33 |
| Oct 2002 | 3 | 36 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 37 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 38 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 39 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 40 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 41 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 42 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 43 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 44 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 45 |
| Apr 2004 | 3 | 48 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 49 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 50 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 51 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 52 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 53 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 54 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 2005 | 48 | 103 |
| Sep 2005 | 10 | 113 |
| Oct 2005 | 4 | 117 |
| Nov 2005 | 6 | 123 |
| Dec 2005 | 4 | 127 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 128 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 130 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 131 |
| Aug 2006 | 2 | 133 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 134 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 135 |
| Dec 2006 | 2 | 137 |
| Jan 2007 | 2 | 139 |
| Apr 2007 | 2 | 141 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 142 |
| Jul 2007 | 4 | 146 |
| Jul 2008 | 1 | 147 |
| Aug 2008 | 3 | 150 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 151 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 152 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 153 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 154 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 155 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 156 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 157 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 158 |
| Apr 2011 | 2 | 160 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 161 |
| Jul 2012 | 1 | 162 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 163 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 164 |
| Jun 2014 | 1 | 165 |
| Dec 2014 | 1 | 166 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 167 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 168 |
| Oct 2020 | 1 | 169 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Driver assistance5325.4%
- Electrical4220.1%
- Engine2311.0%
- Fuel system2210.5%
- Brakes136.2%
- Visibility94.3%
- Interior & seats73.3%
- Exterior lighting62.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
TURN SIGNAL
There is no summary currently available
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THROUGOUT THIS CARS HISTORY (FROM THE FIRST YEAR 20 + YEARS AGO THROUGH TO TODAY) THE ENGINE RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THOUGH THIS HAPPENS WHEN USALLY WHILE DECLERATING AND BRAKING TO ROUND A STREET CORNER. ONCE IT CUTS OUT, OF COURSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE VIRTUALLY INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, BY SIMPLY PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY THE CARE ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS.
- NHTSA ID
- 11365304
- Incident
- Oct 20, 2020
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11018946
- Incident
- Jul 26, 2017
- Mileage
- 158,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED DRASTICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10876462
- Incident
- Jun 20, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION RANGE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,550.
- NHTSA ID
- 10667254
- Incident
- Feb 18, 2014
- Mileage
- 171,550 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMEFRAME HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR, EVEN IF THE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 200,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10606947
- Incident
- Jun 14, 2014
- Mileage
- 112,000 mi
TRAVELING IN TOWN AT APPR. 45 MPH. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, ETM CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10568698
- Incident
- Feb 5, 2014
- Mileage
- 208,000 mi
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CAR STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT ABOVE 25 MPH. IT ALSO STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AT ANY MOMENT. I CONTACTED VOLVO DIRECTLY AND THEY CALLED IT "LIMP HOME MODE" AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, HORRABLE!!. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME. APPARENTLY VOLVO RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT ARE NO LONGER FIXING THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. VOLVO ESTIMATED THAT THE FIX WOULD BE ON THE LOW END $900.00 UP TO ABOUT $1400.00. VOLVO IS NOT TAKING ANYMORE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW IT'S UP TO THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE COST. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10470043
- Incident
- Aug 8, 2012
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, ECM AND THE LIMP HOME MODE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10465804
- Incident
- Jun 16, 2012
- Mileage
- 156,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION.
Rubber cushion
The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations
EQUIPMENT
VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT
Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 43.9 |
| 2005 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 44.0 |
| 2004 | 83 | 6 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2003 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 46.4 |
| 2002 | 76 | 6 | 2 | 59.6 |
| 2001 | 221 | 9 | 2 | 57.2 |
| 2000 | 93 | 6 | 3 | 61.5 |
| 1999Viewing | 169 | 4 | 5 | 55.7 |
| 1998 | 187 | 5 | 5 | 63.6 |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.