2003 Volvo V70xc

Routine

Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › transfer case (4-wheel drive). No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts2
000
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Power Train1
000
Engine1
000
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel1
000
Electrical System1
000
Air Bags › Frontal1
000
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 22, 2021280,582 milesDC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACTIVATING THE PARKING BRAKES. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER VOLVO CARS OF BETHESDA SERVICE CENTER (5415 BUTLER RD, BETHESDA, MD 20814, (301) 750-6100) WHO HAD AN EMPLOYEE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,582.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 12, 2018161,000 milesNH

TAKATA RECALL NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AS OF YET, BUT A WARNING LIGHT IS ON TELLING ME THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE AIRBAGS AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. BEFORE I TAKE IT IN & PAY FOR THE REPAIR I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL. I COULDN'T SEE IT ONLINE BUT I AM CERTAINLY CONCERNED

Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2014130,000 milesOR

WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE REVS UP AND THE CAR ACCELERATES AT A HIGH RATE. LUCKILY, MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND I COULD STOP THE CAR. I HAD TO PRESS DOWN QUITE HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE RETURNS TO A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES OVER, APPROXIMATELY, THE LAST SIX MONTHS. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS TODAY, AUGUST 21, 2014. I ESTIMATED THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2014. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 11, 2013MN

THE CAR IS SHIFTING HARD AND NOW WONT SHIFT AT ALL MECHANICS SAY IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. SO I EMAIL VOLVO FOR HELP IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUES WITH NO HELPING RESPONSE FROM THEM OTHER THAN SORRY HERE IS A LIST OF DEALERS NEAR YOU THAT DO SERVICE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Sep 29, 201260,000 milesIL

DASHBOARD AND SPEEDOMETER WENT BLANK SRS WARNING LIGHT ON. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 1, 2012140,000 milesCA

MY DRIVER INSTRUMENT MODULE BEGAN TO FAIL, ON AND OFF, NOW IT IS COMPLETELY OFF. I CALLED VOLVO BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COST OF REPAIR 1400.00, THEY OFFERED ME 200.00 VERY QUICKLY ALMOST TOO QUICK, SOUNDS TO ME AS IF THEY KNOW THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE DOWN LOW. I PLAN TO MAKE ANOTHER CALL TO THEM AND REPORT THE PROBLEM TO EVERY AGENCY I CAN. I HAVE NO IDEA IF MY AIRBAGS ARE WORKING, BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM, HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE, MILEAGE IS NOT CALCULATING PROPERLY NOTHING WORKS. *JS

Electrical System
Filed Feb 6, 201290,000 milesMN

THE VEHICLES LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. I REPLACED BOTH OF THE BULBS AND THEY STILL DO NOT WORK. THERE ARE MANY ADDITIONAL OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ACCORDING TO VOLVO FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. *TR THE VEHICLES INFORMATION SYSTEM CONTINUALLY READS THAT THERE IS AN AIRBAG PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN ACTIVATED/DEPLOYED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 12, 201151,100 milesME

COMPUTER WHICH CONTROLS THE AIR-BAG SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND IS $1200. TO REPLACE. THE CAR IS 8 YRS. OLD AND HAS 51000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE VOLVO CARS AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY. THE CAR WILL NOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS REPAIR AND SO WE MUST FIX IT. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 28, 201069,838 milesRI

2 SEPARATE SEAT BELT LATCHES/CATCHES ON DIFFERENT SEATS HAVE FAILED ON MY 2003 VOLVO XC70 SINCE MARCH OF 2009. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND REPAIRED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURES. I FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT 2 DIFFERENT SEAT BELT CATCH ASSEMBLIES WOULD FAIL ON THE SAME CAR. I WILL BE SUBMITTING SEPARATE COMPLAINTS FOR EACH INCIDENT, AS THEY HAPPENED ON DIFFERENT DATES TO DIFFERENT PARTS. MARCH 2009 - PASSENGER REAR OUTER SEAT BELT CATCH ASSEMBLY DID NOT WORK; SEAT BELT WOULD NOT CONNECT. ON MARCH 11, 2009 DEALER DEEMED THE SEAT BELT CATCH ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART - PART #9191997. SEAT BELT HAS BEEN WORKING FINE SINCE REPAIR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, IF THE PROPER REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 28, 201098,863 milesRI

2 SEPARATE SEAT BELT LATCHES/CATCHES ON DIFFERENT SEATS HAVE FAILED ON MY 2003 VOLVO XC70 SINCE MARCH OF 2009. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND REPAIRED UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR COLLISION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURES. I FIND IT VERY STRANGE THAT 2 DIFFERENT SEAT BELT CATCH ASSEMBLIES WOULD FAIL ON THE SAME CAR. I WILL BE SUBMITTING SEPARATE COMPLAINTS FOR EACH INCIDENT, AS THEY HAPPENED ON DIFFERENT DATES TO DIFFERENT PARTS. DECEMBER 2010 - DRIVER SEAT BELT CATCH ASSEMBLY DID NOT WORK; SEAT BELT WOULD NOT CONNECT. ON DECEMBER 22, 2010 DEALER CONFIRMED CATCH ASSEMBLY NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART - PART #9191817. SEAT BELT HAS BEEN WORKING FINE SINCE REPAIR. THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL, IF THE PROPER REPAIRS WERE NOT MADE.

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Apr 16, 200874,500 milesMN

LEAKING ANGLE GEAR ON 2003 VOLVO XC70. *TR

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Mar 4, 200670,019 milesCT

WHEN WE BROUGHT OUR 2003 VOLVO XC V70 WAGON INTO THE DEALER AT 62,000 MILES WE COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE AS WE DROVE IT. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REPEAT IT AND NOT TO WORRY. WHEN WE BROUGHT IT BACK AT 69,000 FOR AN OIL CHANGE WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE THAT MEANT WE NEEDED A WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. SO WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THAT CHANGED. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, AT THAT VISIT WE WERE TOLD TO HAVE EACH WHEEL BEARING REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD THE ANGLE GEAR WAS STRIPPED AND ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ON MY OLD MAZDA 323 WHEN IT HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT SO I KNOW IT IS A BIG DEAL. HOW CAN IT BE THAT WE NEEDED ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME? HOW DID THEY MISS IT AT THE EARLIER CHECKUP? WERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS THE REASON WE NEEDED THE ANGLE GEAR REPLACED AS WELL? IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VOLVOS XC WAGONS? THIS WAS VERY EXPENSIVE, SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY ALL THE COSTS?*JB

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20074000Routine
20063000Routine
20053000Routine
20045010Routine
2003 — this page12000Routine
200227100Routine
2001144111Fatalities reported
2000103210Routine
199979210Routine
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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.