NHTSA Complaint #10151251 — 2000 VOLVO V70XC

I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY WAGON. THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2005. CAR STARTS BUT IMMEDIATELY DIES, STARTS BUT DIES, STARTS BUT DIES AND THEN, FINALLY, CATCHES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 15 OCCASIONS SINCE DEC 10, 2005 AND TAKES ABOUT 3 TO 6 TRIES BEFORE ENGINE CATCHES. CAR SURGED ONCE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE COMPUTER REPLACED IN JAN 2005 (BEFORE THIS PROBLEM EMERGED), THE STARTER MOTOR REPLACED (JUNE), THE THERMOSTAT REPLACED (JANUARY 2006) AND RECENTLY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED (LATTER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). I HAVE ONLY 75,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL LIKE A LEMON. THE SERVICE DEALER PUT ME OFF WHEN I STATED THAT IT MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. I DON'T HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS BUT MAYBE EITHER THE THERMOSTAT OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I CAN'T TAKE THE CAR ANY DISTANCE FOR FEAR THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO START IT. THE DEALER SAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS TO COME ON AND INDICATE ETM FAILURE BEFORE THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO REPLACE THE ETM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID COME ON FOR THE 2 PROBLEMS, THERMOSTAT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I DON'T WANT TO BLAME THE DEALER FOR FAILING TO RESPOND BECAUSE THEY DID REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS AN UNDER-WARRANTY ITEM AND THEY DID SEEM TO HONESTLY LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. BUT WE ALL KNOW THE ETM IS WAITING TO FAIL AND MIGHT EVEN BE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. WHY WASN'T VOLVO FORCED INTO A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? I'D APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. THANKS. *JB