Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Volvo S70 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On November 17, 2006 my wife was backing her 1999 Volvo S70 out of our driveway. She stated that the car suddenly accelerated backwards, shot across the street and slid into our neighbor's landscaping/bushes etc. She was able to turn the car so that the left side of her car swiped the bushes and hedges. Result--no personal injuries, thank goodness. Over $6000 in damage to the car which was towed to paul's Volvo in hawthorne, nj from which it was forwarded to j&j auto body in haledon nj.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo S70. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. In addition, all the lighting and warning indicators illuminated. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle speed signal and throttle body control module were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
While driving speed needle goes back to zero as if you are not movin, show no mileage numbers n miles you have gone or zero trip miles, many lighton breaks, ABS ect.all while drivingif stop when time to go car thinks it is in park all this is while in traffichave pic can not down load be glad to send
On September 9, 2007 the driver was driving her 1999 Volvo S70 south on route 15 in pennsylvania. I was in the front passenger seat. The driver turned right into a short access drive to a restaurant. The driver then turned right into the parking lot, slowed further, driving about 40 feet, and turned left into a parking space directly perpendicular to the store?s front entrance. She had come to a slow and almost complete stop when the car suddenly and uncontrollably lurched forward, over the parking block. The car then lurched forward further, on the parking lot surface, up and over the parking lot curb to the store level and crashed into the store?s vestibule. The car hit a support beam, and badly damaged the store?s entrance. The driver put the car in reverse. …
I have sold this car to a neighbor, but he is away for 8 months so I have been driving it once a week about 30 miles. It has a little over 60,000 miles on the odometer. Today I filled the tank and shortly afterwards the throttle control light came on. The car immediately began surging between 1 and 2,000 RPM and when I tried to stop the car at a stop sign it continued to surge and with great difficulty I halted the car. When I once again accelerated there was little response and about 30 seconds later it accelerated at a normal rate but the surging continued. I pulled off the road and turned off the ignition. When I started the car it initially revved to 5,000 RPM before settling down. I was fearful to drive the car. I had someone pick me up. I returned to the car an hour later and everything seemed fine. I drove the car home(about 8 miles) and parked it for about an hour. …
My car is a Volvo S70 1999 2.5l non-turbo engine. I started experiencing uneven engine idle in May of 2001, at first I feared that my engine would just die out. A few times the engine really did just stop working as I was slowing down. I've had a Volvo dealer/service in long island ny take a look at the problem and they simply "cleaned" the electronic throttle. The cleaning solution did not last long and after a week or so I started noticing the uneven engine idle again. After having the engine just go kaput a few more times, I took the car to an independant mechanic and they performed a cleaning but says that most likely I will have to replace the etm. Now it is 2006 and our Volvo is less driven but still in the family. We still experience the same problems with the engine. …
Tl* - the contact stated that the vehicle hesitated when accelerating. The vehicle was a 1999 Volvo S70, the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic ,and he informed her that there was a recall on the throttle body ,and advised the contact to take the vehicle to a Volvo dealer. The Volvo dealer performed a computer download. The contact stated she continued to experience hesitation when accelerating. Occasionally. The check engine light would turn on. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer because she did not feel safe driving the vehicle. The dealer advised her that she needed new spark plugs and a new 02 sensor. The engine size and number of cylinders were unknown by the contact. The contact believed that the problemwas related to recall # 06V441000. Updated 02/16/07.
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. Car won't stay running at all, terrified to drive the car home after this incident. No warranty on part, no replacement and now I have $ 4000 boat anchor that will cost a fortune to fix due to no warranty on the part that should have been replaced years ago by Volvo.
My 1999 S70 with approximately 92,000 has the following issues: - sometimes the engines start shaking? - hard to brake - no power even if you pedal is at the max - cruise control stop working my car has a malfunction with the electronic throttle module and I have been to the deal to get the software upgrade. Since the upgrade my check engine light came on and have had to replace my front 02 sensor. Now the car is undriveable because it will not go more than 20mph with the gas pedal floored. Volvo will not repair this know issue because the car is 10 1/2 years old. They state if the car was less than 10years old or under 200K in mileage they would repair it. This is not fair. They could have replaced this etm when I came for the software upgrade but they did not.
Dt: the contact stated that 1999 Volvo S70 experienced the same problem with stalling while driving under 40 MPH. The engine light was coming on and the car was uncontrollable. The car would shake and jerk, speed ahead and slow down. T the contact took vehicle to the dealership and they replaced the fuel throttle body, put in new spark plugs, and reprogrammed the computer. The car has since then ran well. The contact stated that this happened a year ago. The repair cost for the contact was almost $1,000.00. The contact has been in touch with Volvo dealership, and they told him that they have not heard anything about recall. The Volvo manufacturer said that there was an investigation on the car, and to call the NHTSA. The contact has also filed a complaint with Volvo.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles, 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.
Remedy: Dealers will install the current software upgrade onto the involved vehicles. The recall began on December 29, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
NHTSA investigations
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…
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…
Acceleration complaints in other S70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1999 Volvo S70?
NHTSA has 66 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1999 Volvo S70, 32% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volvo S70 acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 06V-441 (vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Volvo S70 acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.