Problems · by component

1999 Volvo V70 electrical system problems

43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Volvo V70 cite electrical system, 25% of all 169 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
43
25% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THROUGOUT THIS CARS HISTORY (FROM THE FIRST YEAR 20 + YEARS AGO THROUGH TO TODAY) THE ENGINE RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THOUGH THIS HAPPENS WHEN USALLY WHILE DECLERATING AND BRAKING TO ROUND A STREET CORNER. ONCE IT CUTS OUT, OF COURSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE VIRTUALLY INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, BY SIMPLY PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY THE CARE ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2020Electrical system, EngineODI 11365304
“CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 22, 2017Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11018946
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED DRASTICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2016Electrical systemODI 10876462
“MY VOLVO V70 HAS STALLED DEAD REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT BOTH HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS, MOST RECENTLY WHILE JUST COMING ONTO A LONG FREEWAY EXIT RAMP WITH NO SHOULDER. THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME AND I ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND. PRIOR STALLS (ABOUT 5 OF THEM) INCLUDE TOTAL STALLING WHILE BRAKING, AND WHILE SPEEDING UP. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL PUMP, RELAY, AND MANIFOLD REPLACED. AND AFTER ALL THAT, SPENDING OVER $1000, IT STALLED THIS LAST TIME. SOMETIMES THE CAR CAN START UP AGAIN AFTER A STALL AND A 10 MINUTE WAIT, BUT IT WILL SUDDENLY STALL AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2010Electrical systemODI 10334119
“CAR REPEATEDLY STALLS WITH NO EXPLANATION. VOLVO DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED ON CAR 8 TIMES. THROTTLE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ETM, AND MANY OTHER PARTS. NOW THEY SAY IT'S THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING AND SCARY. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHY THE CAR STALLS. SOMETIMES, IT WILL ACT AS IF THERE'S A CLOGGED FUEL LINE, THEN IT STALLS THE NEXT TIME I HAVE TO DECELERATE. OTHER TIMES, IT DIES WHEN I'M DRIVING. *DT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2010Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Equipment, Unknown or otherODI 10321447
“1999 VOLVO V70 AWD - ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM FAILED AT ~96,000 MILES. REQUIRED $1500 IN REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD. CURRENTLY NEGOTIATING WITH VOLVO ABOUT AT LEAST PARTIAL COMPENSATION, AS ETS FAILURES HAVE BEEN A LONGSTANDING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. NO RESOLUTION YET. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2009Electrical systemODI 10292239

Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1999 V70 problem areas