NHTSA Complaint #11437917 — 2002 VOLVO V70

In April 2021 I drove my newly acquired Volvo V70 wagon from Mississippi to my home in RI. Once I reached in and around NYC, the car began to surge forward as I applied the brakes at stop lights/signs. This became most pronounced at the GW Bridge Toll area, in high slow-moving traffic. Several times the car almost got out of control as the brakes were barely enough to stop the car from ramming into other vehicles. Cars and huge trucks were honking their horns as I broke, swerved, smoke clouds from high idling in neutral, and peeling rubber as I moved forward from standing still. I was trapped as there is no place to pull over to the sides to a breakdown lane. It eventually stopped surging but has threatened to do it in RI. I asked the mechanic about it when I had to get the car inspected. He basically said he would have to see the vehicle when it was happening. I am just funding out about Recall information and filing a report. I really want to have any necessary repairs made because the car performs well otherwise...AND I am hoping to give the car for my daughter to use as she starts her new job, but want to make sure it is safe first. I feel I would know how to handle it if it surges again (throw it in neutral, brake and pull to safe place, etc), but can't trust that she would be able to handle this emergency situation.