CriticalCommonEngine

Volvo S60: Electronic Throttle Module (ETM) Failure

Electronic Throttle Module (ETM) Failure is a common engine fault on the Volvo S60 on the 2000–2009 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $1,900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 18 documented faults on the Volvo S60.

Vehicle: Volvo S60
Years: 2000–2009
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Engine

This page covers the Volvo S60 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Volvo S60 faults18 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

First-generation S60 T5 and T6 share the identical B5254T/B6294T ETM throttle body as the XC70 and V70 of this era. Internal potentiometer wear produces erratic or absent throttle response. Onset is often intermittent; vehicles sometimes recover after restart before failing permanently. Volvo campaign 22228 covered selected North American vehicles; NZ/AU examples are typically unaffected by the campaign.

What you would notice

Sudden stall with no preceding warning
Throttle non-responsive or jittery at cruise
P0120 stored fault code with or without active warning light
Intermittent limp-home mode on startup

How to check it

Where to look. Intake throttle body, driver-side engine bay

Cold-start the vehicle and check for immediate smooth idle.
Scan for P0120/P0121/P0122.
Test throttle blade movement by hand with ignition off — it should move freely without sticking.
Request any ETM replacement documentation.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $1,900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the ETM or throttle body been replaced?”
“Any sudden stalling or power loss episodes, even if resolved?”

Now check the Volvo S60 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Volvo S60 buyer questions

Is electronic throttle module (etm) failure serious on a Volvo S60?

We rate it critical and common on the Volvo S60. First-generation S60 T5 and T6 share the identical B5254T/B6294T ETM throttle body as the XC70 and V70 of this era. Internal potentiometer wear produces erratic or absent throttle response. Onset is often intermittent; vehicles sometimes recover after restart before failing permanently. Volvo campaign 22228 covered selected North American vehicles; NZ/AU examples are typically unaffected by the campaign.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volvo S60?

$1,200 to $1,900 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Volvo S60 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2000–2009 Volvo S60. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the vehicle and check for immediate smooth idle. Scan for P0120/P0121/P0122. Test throttle blade movement by hand with ignition off — it should move freely without sticking. Request any ETM replacement documentation. Look here: Intake throttle body, driver-side engine bay