Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Unexplained, involuntary acceleration from low speed. 2000 Volvo model S70 passenger car, AWD. During a slow-speed turn the vehicle accelerated at full throttle. Impact with residential structure severed a wheel and bent the front frame 90 degrees. What happened: during a slow turn into a neighbors driveway, speed about 5 MPH, turning right, touching the accelerator, the car engine accelerated at full speed. Despite foot fully into the brake the car continued to accelerate 40-50 feet until impacting the foundation of the house. Speed a time of impact 40+ MPH. Tried to turn off ignition but hit house first. Considerable damage to house and car, which was totaled by the insurance company. Reported throttle acceleration problem to Volvo in new jersey, they stated no such previous complaints about unexplained acceleration. …
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2000 Volvo S70 at approximately 15 MPH the vehicle surged forward without warning, causing the contact's vehicle to crash into the back of an SUV. The front bumper of the contacts vehicle was underneath bumper of the SUV. The manufacturer sent a technician to inspect the throttle control module. The technician was unable to complete inspection due to vehicle not being able to start. The dealership inspected the vehicle before the crash. However, they were unable to duplicate the surge. The contact stated that he received a recall notice on December 22, 2006 for the throttle control module. The crash occurred on December 14 2006. The recall notice stated that the throttle control module would cause the vehicle to surge forward. The vehicle had 154000 miles at the time of the crash. There were two injuries. Updated 04/05/07.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Volvo S70. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the rpms increased and the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The brake pedal failed to slow the vehicle down as the accelerator pedal went all the way to the floor. The contact put the vehicle in neutral, which also failed to slow the vehicle down. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal and the vehicle eventually slowed down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.
Upon accelerating up the hill of my street, today, August 16th, 2011, my car, a 1998 Volvo S70 , sped up, unnaturally, close to the top . I had just driven out of my driveway, as I back into it always, and proceeded up the hill. As usual, the automatic transmission shifted down as the car approached a steeper portion of the hill. When braking for the stop sign at the top, I noticed that the engine was racing. I was unable to stop fully at the stop sign, and after going around the corner to the right, I pulled the floor mat away from the accelerator pedal. My left foot was now firmly planted on the brake pedal, as well as my right foot quickly pumping the accelerator pedal , all in an attempt to have the gas pedal unstuck, which it didn't. It just made the car engine continuously race even more. The RPM's increased also the more that the engine raced. …
Related recalls (1)
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…
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S70 years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (70), 1999 (66) and 1998 (9) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 43% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Volvo S70 acceleration problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 06V-441 (vehicle speed control, Nov 15, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo S70 acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 14% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (3 mentions), followed by the cruise control (1).
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.