1999 Volvo S70 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe stalling, sudden loss of power and erratic or high idle traced to the electronic throttle module (ETM), usually at moderate mileage and sometimes after a software update. Other recurring reports include cooling-system and electrical faults, fuel-rail leaks with a gasoline smell, and door-hinge noise or breakage.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Electronic throttle module failure (stalling, loss of power)

   Mentioned in 42 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the car losing power or stalling while driving or when slowing for a stop, sometimes accompanied by the ETS or check engine light, and often restarting after a pause or running in a reduced-power mode. Many say a dealer replaced the electronic throttle module (sometimes called the throttle body) at significant cost, and some report the same symptom returning after a replacement or a software update. Some complaints also describe unintended surging or a racing engine, including one car that moved while backing out of a driveway. Reports in the sample cluster from roughly 30,000 to 120,000 miles, with many in the 45,000-100,000 mile range and no clear seasonal pattern.

   Recall 06V441000

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle module was replaced or only reprogrammed, keep the service paperwork, and note any high or irregular idle, hesitation on light throttle or ETS light during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On vacation in october of 2004,our 1999 Volvo S70 started to experience sudden loss of speed and then resume at highway speeds, with or without cruise control engaged. We took it to a Volvo dealer and had to have the electronic throttle module replaced. As a result of your investigation number pe05041 I wanted to record my problem with you as well.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132166, filed 2005-08, 80,968 miles

   “We have 1999 Volvo glt. During routine maintenance our mechanic noted that our electronic throttle modulator (?) needed to be replaced. He said that he has seen this problem on many 1999-2001 volvos. The clue for him was the irregular and high idle of the car. It cost approximately $1000.00 to repair. The car only has 54k miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10137584, filed 2005-09, 50,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling or cutting out with warning lights

   Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or dropping to low power with the ETS and check engine lights illuminated, sometimes repeatedly, and several owners say the dealer could not reproduce the fault or charged for tests without a lasting fix. Others report control-module replacements, including ABS and engine modules, alongside the throttle work. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles, though a few appear at lower mileage.

   Recall 06V4410002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a pre-purchase scan for stored codes and ask for records of any module replacement; check that dash warning lamps come on and go out normally at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This complaint is against Volvo america, I own a 1999 Volvo S70 with 214,000 miles. Volvo claims that it had a software upgrade for my electronic throttle control module. Volvo had a recall for this item, but it only covered this recall upto 200,000 miles. My Volvo never had the part replaced, Volvo only did a software upgrade. The etc is failing and may fail on the freeway, placing my life and the life of other american drivers in danger. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10402140, filed 2011-05, 214,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10463108, filed 2012-06, 115,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights and rear lights not working

   • 15 complaints (7%)
   • median 72,250 mi at 5.3 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2000–2012

   Owners report headlights going dark while driving with the switch in the on position and no warning, and rear brake, running and turn-signal lamps that stop working because of poor bulb-to-socket contact. Some say a headlight switch replacement resolved the headlight failure, while others describe continued rear-light trouble even after the turn-signal socket work was done. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 12,000 to 70,000 miles in the sample.

   Recall 04V504000Recall 00V405000

   What to check: Test every exterior lamp with the switch in each position and wiggle the rear bulb holders; ask whether the headlight switch or rear socket campaign work was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1999 Volvo S70 - continued rear brake, running light, and turn signal problems.I participated in the original recall campaign (00v405000) to replace the rear turn signal sockets and bulbs. To this day I continue to have problems with the rear turn signals, running lights, and brake lights. I frequently have problems with all of the rear lighting (brake, running, and turn signals). Recently, I found both rear turn signal and both rear brake lights were not functioning. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10046007, filed 2003-11, 27,000 miles

   “I own a Volvo S70, sedan year 1999 4 door. I purchased vehicle in march of 1999. At 12k miles the headlights started malfuncitioning without warning. Most recently the entire lighting systems has started to heat up and all lights went out while driving in the miidle of the night. For a company who claims to have the safetest vehicle on the road. I do not consider the vehicle which lights and entire electrical system fails while driving at nightsafe? . I have attempted to contact Volvo multiple times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10028931, filed 2003-07, 12,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Gasoline smell from the engine bay (fuel rail leak)

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a gasoline odor under the hood traced to a leak at the fuel rail end cap, with replacement of the fuel rail resolving it. Other fuel-system complaints describe surging or bucking at highway speed that was addressed with an electronic fuel regulator or throttle work. The sample reports this on cars from about 60,000 to 120,000 miles.

   Recall 99V035000

   What to check: Smell for fuel after a cold start and with the hood open, and look for damp or weeping fittings along the fuel rail and lines.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “99 Volvo S70 started to buck and hesitate at 60 + MPH. I did not feel it was safe to drive since the engine acted like it wanted to cut out entirely. I took vehicle to Volvo dealer where they replaced etm, electronic throttle, at a cost of close to $ 1000. Vehicle only had 76000 miles on it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10131211, filed 2005-08, 76,000 miles

   “Dt: while driving on a freeway, the vehicle surged. It was impossible to control the vehicle. Consumer e pulled the vehicle off of the road and called the dealership, they told him to bring the vehicle in they replaced the electronic fuel regulator. This occurred in september 22, 2004. This has not happened since, but he consumer was concerned it may happen again. There was currently an investigation open regarding this problem, pe05041.”

   NHTSA complaint #10131036, filed 2005-09, 72,000 miles

Buying note. Service history matters more than mileage here: ask specifically whether the throttle module was replaced or only reprogrammed, and check that lighting and cooling-system work is documented. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a fault-code scan and a fuel-smell check is worthwhile on any example of this year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.