NHTSA Complaint #10139318 — 2000 VOLVO S70

WHILE TEACHING MY SON TO DRIVE OUR 2000 VOLVO S70, OUR CAR STARTED JERKING AS HE WAS COMING TO A STOP. AT THE STOP LIGHT,THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE A JERKING MOTION. THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON SO I LOOKED THIS PROBLEM UP IN OUR MANUAL. IT SAYS, 'IF THE LIGHT REMAINS ON, THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED VOLVO RETAILER'. THE LIGHT WENT OUT SO WE DIDN'T THINK THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND IT WORKED FINE. ON SOME OCCASIONS THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND WE WOULD SIMPLY BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ONLY AFTER THE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T BRING THE CAR TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. I WAS GEARINGUP TO A MERGE WHERE CARS ARE WEAVING AND OUT OF EACH OTHER AT RUSH HOUR TO POSITION THEMSELVES TO GET ONTO OR OFF THE HIGHWAY,RESPECTIVELY. THE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T STOP. THE CAR'S ACCELERATOR BEGAN TO BEHAVE ERRATICALLY LIKE IT WAS LOSING PRESSURE BUT I WASN'T IN A LOCATION WHERE I COULD STOP;I BARELY AVOIDED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF THE LIGHT WENT OFF AGAIN AS IF NOTHING WAS WRONG. I CAME STRAIGHT HOME AND GOT ONLINE TO GET INSIGHT. I READ THAT VOLVO OWNERS IN CAL HAD BROUGHT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IRONICALLY, WE HAD JUST HAD OUR 90K SERVICE PERFORMED 3 MOS BEFORE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. WE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE MAINTAINING OUR VEHICLE TO ITS HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS. NOW WE HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN FOR A $1K FIX. I AM ADDING MY VOICE TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS WHO'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND BELIEVE THAT IT'S VOLVOS DUTY TO CORRECT IT BEFORE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO IT. IF NOTHING ELSE, THE MANUAL SHOULD SAY, 'BRING YOUR CAR IN IMMEDIATELY TO BE FIXED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WILL WORSEN AND EVENTUALLY LEAD TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AND POTENTIALLY YOUR DEATH AND THE DEATH OF INNOCENT PEOPLE IN THE CARS AROUND YOU WHO HIT YOU UNSUSPECTING BECAUSE YOUR CAR'S ENGINE FAILS'. *NM