NHTSA Complaint #10141131 — 2000 VOLVO C70

FAILURE OF ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE (ETM) IN MY 2000 VOLVO C70 COUPE. FAILURE RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED AND STEERING ASSIST WHEN DRIVING, AS WELL AS, SUDDEN AND COMPLETE STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, 10/20/05 (ETS LIGHT DID NOT REMAIN ON AFTER SWITCHING THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN--SEE COMMENT BELOW) AND 10/22/05. CAR WAS TAKEN INTO VOLVO SPECIALIST REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIR (REPAIR COST IS APPROXIMATELY $1000). REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 1999 AND 2000 VOLVOS AS THIS WAS THE FIRST 2 YEARS THAT VOLVO HAD GONE TO AN ETM, AND IT "JUST WASN'T RIGHT". I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT PRIOR TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ETM, WHEN A CABLE WAS USED FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE THROTTLE, THE VOLVO SERVICE MANUAL ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE SHOULD BE CLEANED AS PART OF REGULAR SERVICING OF A VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE VOLVO SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THE ETM BE CLEANED AS PART OF SERVICING. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY WHEN I HAD THE ETM FAILURES; OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED. THIS WAS ESPECIALLY DISCONCERTING ON THE SECOND FAILURE AS MY 15-YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VOLVO OWNER'S MANUAL ADVISES THAT IF THE ETS LIGHT COMES ON, "...THERE IS A FAULT IN THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY WILL BE AFFECTED. SWITCH THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. IF THE LIGHT REMAINS ON, THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED VOLVO RETAILER." WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU IS THAT IT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN REGARDLESS (I.E., WHETHER OR NOT THE LIGHT REMAINS ON), AS IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IF A FAULT HAS OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ETM ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPENED, AND THE NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL OF THIS PART ON ALL 1999 AND 2000 VOLVOS. ANY RELUCTANCE OF VOLVO TO AGREE TO THIS POST HASTE WOULD BE POOR CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP ON BEHALF OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE OWNER OF VOLVO CARS. *JB