Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
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).
We own a 1999 Volvo S70. While driving the car it started to surge while at a stop without and foot on the gas pedal at all. While trying to pull out from a stop sign the car had a mind of its own. It did what it wanted too without my controlling it. The gas pedal went up and down all by itself. The car then stalled and would not start and run. A check engine light came on and a ets light came on. Lucky we where not on a major highway and where able to pull over. We had to get a tow truck to bring it home. I called a Volvo dealer in our area. After some research on the internet I find out this was a problem in all 99 to 2001 Volvo's. A recall had been issued for this problem. The Volvo dealer will only upgrade a software issue. If the part { etm} fails they will not replace it. We never had a car that the gas pedal is controlled by this system. …
I have a 1999 Volvo S70 that I brought in to a Volvo repair shop for a 105,000 mile check up (mostly for the replacement of the timing belt). The car was otherwise working fine. Following replacement of the timing belt, tensioner, oil change, lube, etc. (all the things in the standard 105,000 mile check-up), the car would no longer idle. The shop identified the problem as the electronic throttle module. It remains unclear why it failed as part of a routine check-up. The part was replaced and the replacement part also failed to work (it wouldn't accept the software). The second replacement throttle module did work and the car is now working. The cost of this repair, however, was $902.00--$551.50 for the part alone. The repair shop specializes in volvos and indicated that this was a frequent problem, currently under investigation by your office (ntsb action # pe05041). …
I own a 1999 Volvo S70 front wheel drive. The electronic throttle control system (ets) has failed, and I understand that this is a huge problem that Volvo does know about. They do nothing about it because of the high repair bill ( $800.00 - $900.00). I am a member of a Volvo website, and many, many others on the site know of the problem. The ets fails on the vehicle, and the driver is left unable to control the vehicles speed, and sometimes direction ( if the car quits) when mine failed, I was on the interstate with my cruise control on about 72 MPH. I almost completely lost control of the car, was unable to stop the car effectively, and also unable to steer the car easily because the engine went dead. I wish someone would look into this problem, because it is a very dangerous problem. It is about the same as a throttle cable breaking while driving, and the car just going dead. …
At approximately 206,000 miles my car wouldn't drive over 40 MPH, the engine would rev up on its own and sputtered throughout the reduced RPM range. Rpms would not go over about 3500. Check engine light came on. Drove it to Volvo dealer and they replaced the throttle body at an out of pocket cost to me of approximately $1,000. They stated that it would have been covered up to 200,000 miles as this part had a recall. I do not feel that I was adequately notified of the recall. I received a letter about a recall last year and called the dealer to ask what it all meant since I did not understand it. The dealer said it was just a software upgrade and would only take about five minutes. I took the vehicle in for that software upgrade in March of 2007 with less than 200,000 miles on the vehicle and they did not say anything about the etm / throttle body issue. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo S70. For a number of months the contact complained to an independent repair shop about the strong smell of gas accumulating overnight in the garage after filling the gas tank to full. The contact was advised it was either the gas cap or the fuel tank. The gas cap was replaced, but there was still no improvement. The contact returned to the repair shop where the problem was identified as failed seals on the metal fuel lines entering and exiting the lid of the fuel pump installed on top of the fuel tank under the trunk. The adhesive or sealant that secured the metal in the line and metal out line to the filters plastic lid had cracked and gas vapors and gasoline leaked out of the cracks. The fuel pump was replaced. The failure and current mileages were 170,750. Updated 03/15/11
Purchased used car 1 week ago. 87,000 mi. No problems, ets light came on. Yellow light, not red = not an emergency. Got home safely, no odd behavior, and read about it in manual, which said to take to dealership, very vague description. Went to start car, smelled gas, rough idling revving 1,000 rpms while parked - I wasn't even touching the pedal, blinking headlights a.k.a intermittent power. If this occurred on the road, I cannot predict what could have happened. Read same complaints online...expensive to replace etm unit, continued failure, no recall or warranty coverage. I do see a recall on 11/14/2006 but I'm unsure if this is the same problem.
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. Why has Volvo got away with failing electronics which will turn the car off on the freeway and will take people's lives. Do something about this.
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.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo s-70. While refueling the vehicle the contact noticed a strong, overpowering gasoline fuel odor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised the contact that there was a fuel leak at the top of fuel tank. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: all-wheel-drive sedans. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity." the fuel filter bracket configuration margins are insufficient.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fuel filter protection bracket.
Fuel System complaints in other S70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1999 Volvo S70?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1999 Volvo S70, 11% of the model year's 205 complaints. The component named most often is delivery (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volvo S70 fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-035 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Feb 25, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Volvo S70 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 105,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
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.