1999 Volvo S70 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 66about this part
- Share
- 32%of 205 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 66 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1999 Volvo S70, 32% of the 205 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1999 S70 Volvo. Dec. 2002 replaced etm with software upgrade due to car going into limp modes twice. Jan. 2007 recall notice to upgrade software on 2nd etm. Etm warranty by Volvo will expire on my car nov. 2008. I feel warranty should be lifetime since etm will certainly fail again as part was not redesigned from original 1999 part.”
NHTSA complaint #10182829, filed 2007-02, 36,661 miles“I was driving normally on a parkway in wash dc. Suddenly the engine lost power and would not go more than 10 MPH. I limped to a gas station and turned off the engine, inspected for loose wires, or other observable defects. When I started the car again the ets light was on and stayed on. Now the car runs erratically lurching forward or sputtering or just plain losing power at random.”
NHTSA complaint #10235906, filed 2008-07, 209,600 miles“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“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“I have a vovlo 1999 S70 turbo I haven't had no major problems out of it..just normal maintenance until late dec I got in my car started it up it started with now problem back out of my driveway pulled up into ongoing traffic I had drove this car all week no signs of any problem was coming no lights flashing in the car panel so just know that you have to becareful because you can be on the highway and it will not give you no signs as it didn't me luckily I wasn't going as fast as someone on a highway but as soon as I thought I was going to go with the flow of the traffic I am getting up to…”
NHTSA complaint #10585403, filed 2014-04, 10,560 milesRelated recalls
- 06V441000Nov 15, 2006On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration…Covers: Volvo S70 1999–2000, V70 1999–2002, C70 1999–2002 +5 more
Related service bulletins
- 10157889Feb 14, 2019This is a Technical Journal: When sensitive information, like vehicle speed, brake usage, etc. (customer behavoiur information) of a car is required from Volvo Car Corporation…
- 10019595Mar 20, 2006Electronic throttle system software upgrade.
- 10019591Mar 16, 2006Electronic throttle module (etm) extended warranty.
Vehicle speed control: other model years
Other parts of the 1999 Volvo S70
48 complaintsEngine cooling
40 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1999 Volvo S70
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology