what can volvo corp be thinking? don't they realize what their whole
corp "vision" is based upon??.....

-----------------snip----------------------------

"I'm writing this to ask any and everyone that has experienced an ETM
(electronic throttle module) failure report it to the NHTSA as a
complaint so that Volvo can be forced to recall/repair these dangerous
vehicles. Just search on the NHTSA website and log in a complaint with
the description "Vehicle Speed Control" so that it will be considered
in the current NHTSA investigation PE05041. Please hurry as complaints
will probably be taken only until Volvo submits its response due 15
September 2005."

If you have not filed a complaint with NHTSA please honor the request
and do so immediately. The following was the complaint filed with
NHTSA.

Don Willson

Make : VOLVO Model : V70XC Year : 2001
Manufacturer : VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
Crash : Yes Fire : No Number of Injuries: 1
ODI ID Number : 10134909 Number of Deaths: 1
Date of Failure: July 18, 2005
VIN : YV1SZ58D811...
Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary:

MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED WHILE DRIVING MY VOLVO WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONED AND
SHE LOST CONTROL. PER THE ACCIDENT REPORT, SHE WAS CHANGING LANES FROM
THE FAR RIGHT TO MIDDLE LANE WHEN SHE ACCELERATED INTO THE LEFTMOST
LANE, HIT AND BOUNDED OFF THE LEFMOST GUARDRAIL, COLLIDED WITH A CAR IN
THE CENTER LANE,
PROCEEDED OVER THE RIGHTMOST GUARDRAIL OF A BRIDGE, THROUGH A TREETOP,
DROPPED 30 FEET, LANDED UPSIDE DOWN, AND ROLLED REPEATEDLY, EVENTUALLY
STOPPING IN A CONCRETE CREEKBANK. SHE WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT BUT
KILLED INSTANTLY UPON IMPACT. IT APPEARS SHE WAS NOT SPEEDING
SIGNIFICANTLY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT BUT UNEXPECTEDLY BEGAN ACCELERATING
AS SHE WAS CHANGING LANES AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD
SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE
CAR PREVIOUSLY BUT BELIEVED THEY HAD BEEN CORRECTED BY VOLVO WHEN THEY
REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. THERE WERE NO OTHER
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT -- WEATHER WAS CLEAR, VISIBILITY
WAS GOOD, ROADS WERE DRY, TRAFFIC WAS MODERATE AND FLOWING WELL, AND IT
WAS EARLY AFTERNOON AND MY DAUGHTER WAS FINE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. I
HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT RECONSTRUCTION EXPERT LOOK AT THE ACCIDENT REPORT
AND AVAILABLE EVIDENCE AND
HE BELIEVES IT WAS CAUSED BY MECHANICAL FAILURE.

(also on Edmonds)

I have had an accident reconstruction expert investigate the accident
and he believes mechanical failure, most likely the ETM module, caused
the crash. Unfortunately, since very few complaints have alleged
acceleration due to ETM failure (either as a direct result of the
failure or in overcompensation for reduced performance caused by the
failure), this is a hard case to prove. However, we've been unable to
come up with any other reasonable explanation, and the ETM had failed
and been replaced on my car before.