NHTSA Complaint #10136138 — 1999 VOLVO S70

1999 VOLVO S70 T5, DURING 2004 CAR STARTED AN IDLE/SURGE PROBLEM. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO SAID THE MASS AIR FLOW CONTROL REGULATOR NEEDED CLEANING. PAID AROUND $200 AND CAR SEEMED FINE FOR AWHILE. IN JAN 2005 THE PROBLEM RETURNED, BUT WORSE. TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT VOLVO CERTIFIED MECHANICS WHO SAID THERE WERE NO CODES IN COMPUTER, THEY COULD SEE THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS CAUSING IT, JUST OPINIONS ON A COUPLE OF PART WE COULD TRY REPLACING. IN MARCH 05 THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, RESTARTED AND SEEMED TO RUN FINE, ASIDE FROM THE SURGING. HOWEVER, SURGING CONTINUED AND STALLING, IN TRAFFIC, OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS AGO. DOING MY OWN RESEARCH, I'M NOW FINDING THIS IS A KNOWN AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS AT THIS MOMENT, I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE AND SO MY CAR MOSTLY SITS, BEING DRIVEN ONLY IF ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. LUCKILY WE HAVE A SECOND VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED OUR VOLVO, DESPITE THE REPUTATION FOR PRICEY MAINTENANCE, WITH FAITH IN VOLVO'S REPUTATION FOR SAFETY AND RELIABILITY. A REPUTATION BUILT, IN PART, BY RATINGS SUPPLIED BY SEVERAL CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES, INCLUDING YOUR OWN. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND CONSUMER ADVOCACY AGENCIES SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THEY DO. *NM