Owners filed 169 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 4 times.
When it fails
08000080,000 milesMedian miles at failure
110 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Vehicle Speed Control
43
1
0
0
Electrical System
31
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
5
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
5
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling
5
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
4
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
4
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
3
0
0
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control06V441000
Filed Nov 15, 2006170,099 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of N.a. Llc.
Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Risk. THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch04V504000
Filed Oct 21, 200497,000 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of N.a. Llc.
Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Risk. THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal00V405000
Filed Dec 6, 2000245,894 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of Na, Inc.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
Risk. THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe98V254000
Filed Oct 14, 199850,835 vehiclesVolvo Cars Of Na, Inc.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH THIRD SEATS. USERS OF THE THIRD SEAT, WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE.
Risk. CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE'S TAILPIPE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE TAILPIPE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Oct 20, 2020160,000 milesNY
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.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Aug 22, 2017158,000 milesCA
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.
Electrical System
Filed Jun 24, 2016CA
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.
Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2014171,550 milesNJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION RANGE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,550.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 30, 2014112,000 milesMD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMEFRAME HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR, EVEN IF THE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 200,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 12, 2014208,000 milesAZ
TRAVELING IN TOWN AT APPR. 45 MPH. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, ETM CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 9, 2012125,000 milesCA
AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CAR STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT ABOVE 25 MPH. IT ALSO STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AT ANY MOMENT. I CONTACTED VOLVO DIRECTLY AND THEY CALLED IT "LIMP HOME MODE" AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, HORRABLE!!. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME. APPARENTLY VOLVO RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT ARE NO LONGER FIXING THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. VOLVO ESTIMATED THAT THE FIX WOULD BE ON THE LOW END $900.00 UP TO ABOUT $1400.00. VOLVO IS NOT TAKING ANYMORE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW IT'S UP TO THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE COST. *TR
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2012156,000 milesFL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, ECM AND THE LIMP HOME MODE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 3, 201293,877 milesCA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN SLOW AND SLUGGISH. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE IN 2006 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,877.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 29, 2011103,300 milesMI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO XC70 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IN 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AND MADE UPDATES TO THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE FAILURE FOR UP TO TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF SERVICE. MOST RECENTLY, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN 2008 AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,300.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 18, 2011204,529 milesMD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,529.
Power Train › Driveline
Filed Mar 12, 2011250,100 milesMA
WHILE DRIVING 1999 VOLVO V70, THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. FRONT DRIVE AXLE WAS RUSTED OUT, BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. REPAIR BILL AVAILABLE; REPAIR TECHNICIAN AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT. *TR
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jul 31, 2010128,000 milesMT
THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR THAT OWNER CAN UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. OTHERWISE, THE CONSUMER MUST RELY ON THE REMOTE. THE BATTERY ON OUR REMOTE FAILED AND THE LOCK HAD BEEN NON-FUNCTIONING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE LOCK ON THE DOORS. A CHILD WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. WE HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH. TO REPLACE THE REMOTE (THEY FAIL FREQUENTLY) IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $300 FOR THE DEVICE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABUSIVE. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Jun 1, 201080,000 milesOR
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
Electrical System
Filed Mar 22, 2010165,000 milesAZ
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
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System2 injured
Filed Feb 25, 2010197,000 milesFL
MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BURNED BY SCOLDING HOT STEAM AND WATER THAT EXPLODED OUT OF OUR A/C HEATING VENTS ON OUR DASHBOARD. WE WERE WAITING IN A DRIVE THRU WITH THE CAR ON, BUT THE A/C HEATING UNIT WAS OFF. THE MAKE , MODEL AND YEAR OF OUR CAR IS A 1999 VOLVO V70. IT WAS TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC WHO SAID THE HEATER CORE WENT BAD AND THE HOSES RUPTURED. HE BYPASSED THE HEATER UNIT TO SAVE MONEY ON REPAIRS. WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME IT RAN HOT, HE PROMPTLY TOOK IT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE RADIATOR FAN WAS INOPERATIVE THE MAIN CABIN FLOOR WAS FLOODED WITH COOLANT AND FOUL SMELLING. WE NO LONGER HAD FAITH IN THE CAR AND SOLD THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC. WE'RE JUST HAPPY WE WEREN'T DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WHEN THAT HAPPENED. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 200996,300 milesPA
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 21, 2009105,000 milesGA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. IN 2008 A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS, EBD SWITCH FAILED AT 105,000 MILES. HE DID NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009 THE FAILURE RECURRED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS PER HIS VIN. THE ABS MODULE AND THE EBD SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $822.26. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/27/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE ABS FEATURE FAILED. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK, HOWEVER, THE SWITCH FAILURE ALSO CAUSED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER AS WELL AS CAUSING THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON AND GO OFF. UPDATED 10/28/09.*JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 26, 200996,273 milesNJ
BRAKES FAILED AFTER COMPLETE REPLACEMENT DUE TO OVERHEATING. REAR CALIPER FAILED AND CAUSED BRAKE LINE TO CLOSE AND PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK 50 MILES TO DEALER. *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 13, 200859,000 milesCT
THE BRAKING SOMETIMES BECOMES DIMINISHED. THE PEDAL IS 'STIFF' AND NORMAL BAKING IS REDUCED. IT OCCURS SO RARELY THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO EXPECT THAT IT WILL PRESENT FOR A MECHANIC ON A TEST DRIVE. OCCURRENCES ARE MANY DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS APART. THE SYMPTOM INVOLVES A DISTINCT VARIATION ON THE NORMAL BRAKING EXPERIENCE: A SLIGHT THROBBING OCCURS AND DIMINISHED STOPPING POWER IS AVAILABLE, I HAVE TO PRESS MARKEDLY HARDER TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. SCARY. THIS SYMPTOM IS SO INTERMITTENT AND FLEETING, IT SEEMS IT WOULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DEMONSTRATE AND TRACK DOWN. BUT EVERY TIME I EXPERIENCE IT, THE VERY SLIGHT PULSING DURING BRAKING AND ACCOMPANYING ADDITIONAL PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE A NORMAL STOP, I WORRY. I'VE EVEN PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TRIED IN AN ABANDON SECTION TO TEST IT AND TO GET IT TO REOCCUR FOR ME, BUT NEVER CAN. SO I WORRY. TO BE CLEAR, THE SITUATION FOR WHICH I'M CONCERNED HERE IS WHEN, ON RARE OCCASIONS, WHILE ROUTINE BRAKING, I EXPERIENCE THE NEED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE THAN IS OTHERWISE TYPICAL AND USUAL. IT SCARES ME A BIT, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, IN ALL THE INSTANCES SO FAR, IT'S OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS W/ RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS INVOLVED AND LIGHT TRAFFIC SITUATIONS; (E.G.: I'M FIRST TO AN INTERSECTION W/ NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, ETC.) BUT FOR FUTURE SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE A CRITICAL BRAKING, I REMAIN NATURALLY, CONCERNED. THE DANGER IS DISPLACED IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM WHERE THE REMEDY HAS BEEN, SIMPLY, APPLYING INCREASED PEDAL PRESSU
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Nov 15, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.