1999 Volvo V70xc

Routine

Owners filed 79 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
80,000 milesMedian miles at failure

63 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control24
000
Electrical System15
001
Fuel System, Gasoline4
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module2
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000

2 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 10, 2018OR

KEY IGNITION IS FAILING WILL OFTEN NOT START THEN AFTER MOVING KEY AROUND IN IGNITION TO FIND THE PERFECT POSITION THE CAR WILL START

EngineFire
Filed Aug 1, 201859,800 milesNY

MY VOLVO V70 WAS ON A TEST DRIVE BY THE MECHANIC BEFORE RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CAR HAD 59,800 MILES. THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ALLEGEDLY DUE TO AN OIL GASKET DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A LOCAL ROAD IN WAINSCOTT, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 15, 2013174,000 milesAL

THE CAR WENT INTO A "LIMP HOME MODE" AS I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC, CAUSING SEVERAL CARS TO HAVE TO SWERVE TO KEEP FROM HITTING ME. I CALLED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THE 99 & 00 ( WHICH I OWN BOTH ) MODELS HAD A RECALL ON THE PART. I CARRIED THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY TO INSTALL A SOFTWARE UPDATE, NOT TO REPLACE THE PART ITSELF. WELL, THEY DID THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE AND ABOUT HALF WAY HOME, 5 MILES OR LESS, THE ETC LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WENT INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE AGAIN, BARELY MAKING IT HOME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE MODULE ITSELF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL ????? THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE BETWEEN $1200-$1300 TO REPLACE. THIS IS EXTREMELY WRONG AND DANGEROUS. AS MUCH AS I CAN GATHER FROM READING COMPLAINTS ON VOLVO FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT SINCE AT LEAST 2004 AND HAS AFFECTED ABOUT 200,000 CARS. IS THERE NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS MATTER ?? PLEASE ADVISE.. PS. THE VIN ON MY 2000 V70 XC IS [XXX] , HAS 145,000 MILES AND HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1999 MODEL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 5, 2011101,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSING IT TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 12, 2011122,000 milesME

MY 1999 V70R WITH 122,000 MILES HAS HAD THE MOST PROBLEMS OF ANY VOLVO I HAVE OWNED IN 44 YEARS; HEATER CORE, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE, STEERING RACK, WHEEL BEARINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, PARKING BRAKE FAILURE, BRAKE LINES AND HOSES, AND NOW? THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED COMPLETELY AFTER A 105,000 MILE CHECKUP BY THE DEALER SHOWED NO ISSUES. 2 MONTHS LATER - WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR AND BUCKS LIKE A HORSE. WHY DO I READ ABOUT MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT SEE NO ACTION - RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT OR FIX FROM VOLVO? *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 12, 2010NH

1999 VOLVO XC V70. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE THE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS CONCERNING THE ETM COMPONENTS. *JB

Fuel System, Other
Filed Dec 9, 2009171,000 milesMA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO V70XC, SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR WENT INTO WHAT'S CALLED LIMP HOME MODE. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS AND SAW THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2006 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED VOLVO TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS REPAIRED. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A THROTTLE MODULE, THE SAME REASON FOR THE RECALL IN 2006. THE MODULE WAS REPLACED AND NEW SOFTWARE INSTALLED AND NOW THE CARD RUNS GOOD. SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW MODULE, $900 SINCE THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED ON THE INITIAL RECALL? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 26, 2009113,000 milesWA

FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ASSEMBLY CAUSING VERY POOR DRIVABLE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND SEVERE THAT THE CAR CAN NOT SAFELY BE DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT A RISK OF ACCIDENT. BRIEF CHRONOLOGY: I HAVE A VERY EARLY PRODUCTION 1999 VOLVO V70XC. IT HAD DRIVABLE PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. NEVER WAS FIXED. (SUPPOSEDLY) REPLACED ETM THE FIRST TIME IN ~ 2004, USING PART WHOSE DESIGN WAS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY. LATER DID SOFTWARE UPDATE (CAMPAIGN 155). DRIVABLE IMPROVED SLIGHTLY, BUT WAS NEVER CORRECT. REPLACEMENT MODULE IS NOW FAILING. CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY. ENGINE RUNS POORLY, RPM LIMITED TO < 2000, ALWAYS IN "LIMP HOME MODE". YOU ARE AWARE (I BELIEVE) THAT THERE IS A RECALL/REPLACEMENT CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY FOR THIS PART. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS THE SAME DESIGN FLAW AS THE ORIGINAL. (I AM ALREADY ON A "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED MODULE). VOLVO IS PRETENDING TO HONOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHILE EITHER: 1) CHANGING THE MODULE'S SOFTWARE TO POSTPONE OR HIDE THE ACTUAL (MECHANICAL) FAILURE MECHANISM. 2) REPLACING A FAILED MODULE WITH ONE HAVING THE SAME FLAWED DESIGN WHICH HAS THE SAME POTENTIAL FOR FAILURE AS BEFORE. THIS RESULTS IN A SERIOUS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BEING QUITE LIKELY TO OCCUR TO A CUSTOMER LIKE MYSELF IN THE FUTURE. WORSE YET, THIS IS OCCURRING JUST AS A NUMBER OF THE VEHICLES ARE NEARING THE END OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE END RESULT OF THIS IS THEY LEAVE A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM UNSOLVED, AND DUCK THE ACTUAL PROBLEM BY USING A SOFTWARE UPDATE

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Oct 18, 2009115,000 milesVA

ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACED AT 115K MILES IN AUGUST 2007 FOR A COST OF $1,000 DUE TO MALFUNCTION INDICATION AND RECOMMENDATION OF MECHANIC. IS THIS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 VOLVO V70? *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 29, 2009142,000 milesPA

1. PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ETM. 2. CAR HAS ROUGH IDLE, STALLS, SURGES IN TRAFFIC. 3. REPLACING THE ETM. FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 24, 2008IN

REAR BRAKE ROTORS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. WE HAD THEM REPLACED IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AND THEY ARE WORN DOWN NOW, DEC 2008. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 25, 2008116,900 milesCA

DRIVING ON FREEWAY 65 MILES PER HOUR, VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE POWER, ETS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. TRIED SEVERAL RESTARTS TO SEE IF ENGINE WILL RUN NORMALLY, AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, STARTED CAR, ENG RAN NORMAL, ETS AND CEL LIGHT STILL ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Sep 1, 2007130,000 milesVA

I BOUGHT THIS VOLVO USED W/ 120K MILES. I SAW RECORDS OF MAJOR WORK DONE AT THE DEALER JUST PREVIOUS TO 100,000 AND FIGURED IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR ANOTHER 100K. AT 131K, IT BEGAN CONSTANTLY STALLING AND LUNGING. I DID A TINY BIT OF RESEARCH AND LEARNED OF THE RECALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME 200 TO DO NOTHING OTHER THAN READ THE CODES AND TELL ME THE ETM SOFTWARE HAD ALREADY BEEN UPDATED, AND THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS BAD. I REPLACED THE MAFS TO NO CHANGE. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Mar 12, 2007114,000 milesNY

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1999 VOLVO V70XC WITH 114000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 65 MPH THE ETS LIGHT TURNED ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO REDUCE SPEED. THE CONTACT PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SPEED WENT DOWN TO 35 MPH, THEN THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Nov 30, 200695,000 milesNY

THE ABS/TRAC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN GO OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND THE ORANGE ARROW STARTS BLINKING. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT IS BLINKING, THE CAR SHIFTS TO WINTER MODE AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE ABS MODULE AND COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE OVER $1000. I HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE REPLACED LAST YEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE A POOR DESIGN, AS I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS ON VOLVOS. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA CONTACT VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS HAZARDOUS ABS AND ACCELERATION SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB

Power Train
Filed Nov 30, 200686,000 milesNJ

1999 VOLVO V70XC'S TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 86, 000 MILES. *TS

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 7, 2006126,000 milesNY

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN SUDDENLY SLOWED, AND SUBSEQUENTLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 15MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THERE WAS NO BRAKE INTERFERENCE TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED WHO WILL BE INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 27, 200689,330 milesCO

CAR WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION MARCH 27, 2006. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL. I HAD TO PURCHASE A REBUILT TRANSMISSION AT A TOTAL COST OF $4004.04. THIS REPRESENTS 20% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE NOT INCLUDING THE ADDITIONAL EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS "CHECKED OUT" AT 82,000 MILES WITH NO APPARENT ISSUES. THIS WAS THE ENDING MILEAGE FORTHE EXTENDING WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 89,330 MILES. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jun 25, 2006110,000 milesKY

THE CAR OUT OF NOWHERE JUST STOPPED MOVING. THE CAR DID NOT DIE JUST NO POWER. AFTER HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON I LEARNED OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IN MOST VOLVOS FROM 99 - 01. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 7, 200653,000 milesMD

ETS WARNING. PRIOR TO THIS LACK OF PERFORMANCE AND POWER. SOON AFTER PURCHASE IT HAD OCCURRED AND DEALER RESET COMPUTER. *NM

20 of 79 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20074000Routine
20063000Routine
20053000Routine
20045010Routine
200312000Routine
200227100Routine
2001144111Fatalities reported
2000103210Routine
1999 — this page79210Routine
199831110Routine

Compare every V70xc year →

Reading this record

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.