Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Volvo V70 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Througout this cars history (from the first year 20 + years ago through to today) the engine randomly cuts out without warning, though this happens when usally while declerating and braking to round a street corner. Once it cuts out, of course power steering and brakes are virtually inoperative. However, by simply putting in neutral and turning the key the care always immediately restarts.
I am writing because my car has lost power without warning. I have experienced this several times, fortunately none in life threatening situations like pulling onto a busy road or freeway. The dealer reloaded the software, but the ets light came back on within a few days. I took it back to the dealer, they kept it a week, test drove it for some time and said there was nothing else they could do. I asked the Volvo service manager, greg, at turner Volvo in sacramento whether Volvo knows what the root cause of the problem and whether this software fixes it. He said that it fixes the problem in 95% of the cases. He refused to answer whether the specific problem that causes the loss of power has been addressed by the software they recently loaded and whether it is corrected in my particular vehicle. …
Back in June of 2008 - on start up my 99 Volvo V70 - would rough idle, rev to 4000 and would not exceed 20 MPH. The idle sounded like sneakers in a dryer. I took the car to my garage and was quoted $2000.00 to replace the etm - I was told by my garage that the etm May still be under warranty. After speaking with Volvo USA - I was advised that this part was under warranty and I should bring to the nearest Volvo dealership. I did. Boston Volvo village - did a software update and after that reported no issues with the etm - they claimed cracked vacuum hoses were the problems. They replaced the hoses and return the car. The car broke down a day later - rev to 4000, rough idle, won't go over 20 MPH - sneakers in washing machine sound. I brought the car back to boston Volvo village - this time they told me that I had an bad accelerator pedal - which was replace cost was $225.00. …
11/12/04 mass air flow sensor replaced 12/16/04 map sensor & shut off valve replaced 3/15/05 shut off valve replaced again! 1/18 05 master window switch pack replaced - 5/31/05 master window switch pack replaced again!! 3/17/05 electronic throttle control module replaced!!! 5/9/05 oxygen sensor and ABS control unit replaced. When the throttle control module failed in March 2005, my 1999 Volvo V70 had only 55,000 miles on it! I was on the expressway when my car lost power and had no way to get back onto the road safely.....I have spent over $4000 in the past year replacing electrical control units in order to make this car safe. The check engine light came multiple times over the past year. I am afraid to drive this car for fear of something else going wrong with the electrical system. I have four small grandchildren who are with me at least three days a week.
Engine stutter / stall / engine speed reduced and not drivable - multiple occurrences before and after repairs over period of 5 years. Dealer repair 9/27/00 13941 miles replaced throttle body. Second instance records not readily available - believe replaced manifold. Third instance 9/16/03 36061 miles - replaced multiple components until problem went away. Fourth instance July 2005 approx 75000 miles tracs, ABS, check engine light with erratic vehicle speed - had to keep throttle high RPM but diagnosis was wheel speed sensor repaired and problem went away - but starting to show same stutter on start up that predated first failure - has not failed yet, but wife refuses to drive as unsafe due to multiple failures and loss of power / speed in traffic. I believe this car is an example of the investigation in work - ref pe05041.
Malfunctioning of the electronic throttle system (ets) on my 1999 Volvo V70 station wagon caused me to lose power or stall completely while driving. It happened several times prior to having the ets replaced. It occurred for me at low speeds and in light traffic allowing me to get off the road. I was able to restart the engine after a short time interval. It could have been a major safety hazard if I had this failure at highway speeds and in traffic. This occurred several months ago and has been repaired at my expense, but on reading an associated press article today on an investigation of this problem by the NHTSA, I am submitting this as another instance of the problem being investigated. The air conditioning compressor and power windows had to be replaced. Currently, the check engine light is on.
My husband and I were burned by scolding hot steam and water that exploded out of our A/C heating vents on our dashboard. We were waiting in a drive thru with the car on, but the A/C heating unit was off. The make , model and year of our car is a 1999 Volvo V70. It was towed to our mechanic who said the heater core went bad and the hoses ruptured. He bypassed the heater unit to save money on repairs. When my husband was driving the vehicle home it ran hot, he promptly took it back to the repair shop. The radiator fan was inoperative the main cabin floor was flooded with coolant and foul smelling. We no longer had faith in the car and sold the car to the mechanic. We're just happy we weren't driving the vehicle on the road when that happened.
Incidence 1 of 7 similar. As reported on service invoice: c/s car stalls out while driving, making a u-turn, start right up. Check car for codes, access, no codes on any system. No codes on fuel system, check fuel pump connector under rear panel, all OK. Per above, though service dept couldn't find anything wrong, this incident was the 1st of 7 similar problems occurring later that ultimately lead to having the throttle body cleaned twice & then replaced twice. I will be reporting all the other subsequent incidents in sequence of occurrence on this NHTSA complaint site as well.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo V70. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the rpms decreased and the vehicle stalled. The contact mentioned that the check engine, ECM and the limp home mode warning messages illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle had surpassed the statute of limitations for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 06V441000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 156,000 and the current mileage was 158,000.
The tensioner bearings in my 1999 Volvo V70 seized, thus causing the timing belt to fail, causing the cylinders to hit and bend the valves. The recommended service interval for this equipment is 105,000 miles or 72 months; the vehicle has 76,200 miles and is about 72 months old. It's unclear to me whether this type of failure at highway speed would cause the car to suddenly fail, which might cause a crash. I have not yet had this repaired, but will save all parts if NHTSA is interested.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Vehicle description: station wagons equipped with third seats. Users of the third seat, when exiting the vehicle, can come in contact with the tailpipe.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the length of the vehicle's tailpipe and, if necessary, repair the tailpipe.
Engine complaints in other V70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1999 Volvo V70?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1999 Volvo V70, 14% of the model year's 169 complaints. The component named most often is engine (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volvo V70 engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-254 (manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, Oct 14, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Volvo V70 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to engine & cooling 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.