2000 Volvo S70 Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on the electronic throttle system: owners describe the ETS warning light coming on, followed by hesitation, surging, a drop into limp-home mode or a stall, often on the highway. A second, smaller group covers starting problems tied to the key/immobilizer, headlight wiring, cooling-system concerns and fuel-pump issues. Most sampled complaints were filed at moderate mileage, typically somewhere between about 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Electronic throttle (ETS) light, surging and stalling

   Mentioned in 35 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the ETS warning light coming on, followed by hesitation, stuttering or a sudden surge without accelerator input, and sometimes a drop into limp-home mode or a complete stall. Many say the dealer diagnosed the electronic throttle module and replaced it, often at a cost around or above $1,000, and several report the symptom returning after replacement or a software update. Some complaints mention the engine revving on its own or the car shutting down at speed, requiring a restart. Widely reported from roughly 30,000 to 100,000 miles, in everyday driving and at highway speeds; a few describe repeat failures beyond 100,000 miles.

   Recall 06V441000

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic throttle module has been replaced and whether the recall software update was applied, and request any service records. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, an idle that wanders, or the ETS light appearing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2000 Volvo S70 with the electronic throttle module problem. My car exhibits the classics symptoms already noted in NHTSA's findings. I just want to add my name to the list of complaints that Volvo is not doing enough to fix the problem. The Volvo dealership I have been taking my car to (in fife, wa) for chronic ets light coming on, car running rough, stalling, etc. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10245278, filed 2008-10, 99,000 miles

   “I own a 2000 Volvo S70 and the throttle modulator (?) failed and had to be replaced at just over the 100k mile mark. The car is serviced regularly and not mishandled. I felt Volvo should have replaced this part without cost to me. However, they did not and it cost me almost $1,000 for the repairs. I have a friend who had the same problem with her Volvo and she gave me this web site. Hence my complaint.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144220, filed 2005-12, 100,041 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Hard starting or no-start (key/immobilizer antenna)

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine cranking but not starting, sometimes requiring several turns of the key before it fires. Owners who had it diagnosed say the immobilizer antenna ring that reads the key chip was at fault and needed replacement, and that the problem grew more frequent over time. Other electrical complaints mention door locks that stop responding in very hot weather and interior trim pulling away from the door panels. Reported from around 50,000 to 100,000 miles, usually as an intermittent no-start that becomes more regular.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the car has ever failed to start or needed repeated key turns, and whether the immobilizer antenna ring or ignition components were replaced. Try the remote locking in warm weather during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Approximately 26 months ago, I was experiencing considerable difficulty with the starting of my passenger vehicle with an increase frequency of the problem re-occurring. Specifically, the engine would turn but would not start. In order to start the vehicle, I would have to turn the key back and forth several times (3 - 5) until the computer chip in the key signaled the computer chip in the steering column and the vehicle started. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10226065, filed 2008-04, 100,000 miles

   “Narrative description: #1: in early 2005, an intermittent problem began occurring with the ignition and starting of the vehicle. #2: upon further investigation through local Volvo dealerships, the problem was identified as the immoblizer (antenna ring) which reads the computer chip within the key to determine if the correct key is being used to start the vehicle. Initially, the problem was intermittent but has become increasingly worse with an inability to start the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10147689, filed 2006-01, 53,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Cooling system and stalling-related engine repairs

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   A few owners describe engine cooling problems and oil mixing with coolant, with service information addressing cleaning of the cooling system. Others mention intermittent stalling and rough running traced to intake-side or ignition issues rather than the throttle system. Reported mostly between about 55,000 and 92,000 miles, often after the car has been driven regularly for several years.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check coolant condition and level for oil contamination, look for residue around the radiator and hoses, and ask about any cooling-system or head-gasket work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While teaching my son to drive our 2000 Volvo S70, our car started jerking as he was coming to a stop. At the stop light,the car continued to have a jerking motion. The ets light came on so I looked this problem up in our manual. It says, 'if the light remains on, the system should be inspected by an authorized Volvo retailer'. The light went out so we didn't think that this was going to be an ongoing problem. We continued to drive the car and it worked fine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10139318, filed 2005-10, 91,800 miles

   “We purchased the Volvo 2000 S70 vehicle in 9/01 with 25,000 miles. A 30,000 mile check-up was performed by santa monica Volvo on 12/26/01. Steven and I began a 14-month road trip around the us and had the vehicle maintained at Volvo dealers throughout the country (the check engine light periodically came on and we would ask the dealers about it. We were told not to worry about the light.) the road trip accounts for the accrued miles put on the vehicle in such a short period of time. Returned to california 3/04. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10131194, filed 2005-08, 77,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the electronic throttle system is the item most worth confirming: ask for records of module replacement and the recall software update, and test drive at highway speed. Also check starting behavior, exterior lighting, cooling-system condition and fuel-pump history, since these come up repeatedly in owner complaints.

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. Counts refer to that 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.