New and Old News

June 1, 2006 NHTSA Engineering Evaluation, Update

The engineering evaluation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is ongoing and they are aware of the Service Manager Bulletins on the software upgrade.

The lead investigator, Stephen McHenry, with whom many of you have talked, is interested in instances of failure of all types, especially if it fails after a March 2006 software upgrade. He said:
“---if someone has a problem with the new software and hasn't filed a VOQ, then do that or contact me and I can do it for them. All the software after March 16 should be new software. Some dealers are advertising it for people to come in and get it for free, some dealers are putting it in for customers when they come in for regular service (so they may not realized they had it done although it would definitely be on their receipt).”

To file a VOQ go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ ( on ‘Quick Links’ click on ‘ File a Complaint About a Vehicle ____’) or send to Stephen.McHenry@NHTSA.dot.gov I would suggest you send him:
The VIN number
Model and year
Mileage at failure
What service has been done and what mileage.
When the software upgraded.
How the car has been performing.
Your contact information including phone number.
Though it is not a part of this investigation, if you have had transmission problems mention those details.
So guys and gals we need information. Don’t take this request lightly; let NHTSA know if your vehicle is still or again having driveability problems.

February 8, 2006
Now about those letters!

I talked with Air Resources Board - California. When I asked about the letters I was enlightened. My questions were:

Q.     How does Volvo get all of the addresses?
A.      J. D. Polk maintains up to date records of who owns what car. They have confidentially agreements with all state registration bureaus  that allow them to have the state records for appropriate use. When needed for a recall, the records are made available to automobile manufacturers (for a price). So it appears that they will have the names and addresses (and VINs) of current owners. We would hope that each car has a history of all owners which would even cover previous owners.

Q.    When will the letters be sent out, the CARB report said December 5th.
A.     William Shapiro said that there will be a mass mailing with the estimate being mid February.

Q.    How did you negotiate a 200,000 mile warranty.
A.    In California the average mileage on a 10-year old car is 147,000 miles, thus an adder to cover the higher mileage cars.

Q.    Are you aware that replacement ETMs are failing as soon as 'on the dealer's driveway, 7,000, 12,000 and 20,000 miles?
A.    I was asked where I got my information, to which I replied from the e-mail sent to me. There was no further comment.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has moved the Volvo ETM failures up to an Engineering Evaluation.

This was just released to the press. The engineering analysis should identify the failure modes and connect the unexpected loss of power, either limp home or stalling, to a safety issue.
 

Report Date : December 10, 2005 at 08:29 AM
NHTSA Action Number : EA05021

NHTSA Action Number : EA05021 NHTSA Recall Campaign Number : N/A
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
VOLVO / 700 2000
VOLVO / 740 2000
VOLVO / 780 1999
VOLVO / 850 1999-2000
VOLVO / 855 2000
VOLVO / C70 1999-2002
VOLVO / C70 CONVERTIBLE 1999-2001
VOLVO / COTTRELL 1999
VOLVO / S40 2000-2001
VOLVO / S60 1999-2002
VOLVO / S70 1999-2000
VOLVO / S80 1999-2001
VOLVO / S90 1999
VOLVO / V40 2000-2001
VOLVO / V70 1999-2002
VOLVO / V70XC 1999-2001
VOLVO / V90 1999
VOLVO / VOLVO 1999-2001
VOLVO / X70 1999
VOLVO / XC70 2001
Manufacturer : VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
Component :
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Date Investigation Opened : December 6, 2005
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-041) WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES. THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE). VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041. ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE. ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
_________________
Researching ETM failures for 1999, 2000 and 2001 series 60, 70 and 80 Volvo. Send name, address and car year model to join 300 VEXED Warriors in 14 countries to VEXEDvolvo@comcast.net.
VEXEDvolvo@comcast.net

Old and New, but important, News

The following are articles that are of interest, though some are old. some are current. There are a few items that indicate there may be a chink in Volvo's armor.

Chinks in VOLVO's armor???

From a confidential source on 11/7/2005
"---they are ready to agree to our terms regarding the ETM (as generally set out in the LA Times) but, if you really need to get the car  fixed asap, do it! I can guarantee that you will receive reimbursement for your out of pocket expenses very soon-provided you have a 1999 thru 2001 Volvo (plus a few 2002 Volvos so equipped) with the MM ETM system."

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