Most common 2001 Volvo C70 problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo C70 complaints by model year
Best C70 years: 2010, 2002, 2009. Years to avoid: 2000, 1999, 2001, 2012. Compare all years →
2001 Volvo C70 recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
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.
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 › Turn signal
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front turn signal bulb and socket.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 Volvo C70:
Throttle control malfunction
Pe05-041 was opened on July, 26, 2005, based on 136 consumer complaints to odi alleging throttle control malfunctions in the subject vehicles.odi has now received 591 complaints of etm failures which allege symptoms with potential safety related consequences.these include allegations of engine stall, vehicle surging forward without accelerator input, vehicle hesitation upon acceleration and sudden and unexpected…
Throttle control malfunction
On November 14, 2006 Volvo submitted a defect information report to NHTSA concerning etm failures in model year (my) 1999 through 2001 Volvo models (not including the s40 and v40), my 2002 s60 and v70 with naturally aspirated engines and my 2002 v70s.according to Volvo, ?a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing and/or inefficient software calibration May cause a warning…
What 2001 Volvo C70 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
NHTSA #pe05041. I own a Volvo C70 with the 2.3l hpt. On Tuesday, August 16th while driving, the check engine light iluminated. I then, after making a stop was going to proceed to the dealer to have the code checked. On my way there I went to pull out into traffic from a side lot and when I pressed down the accelerator virtually nothing happened. The car almost stalled pulling into fast moving traffic. It then recovered, and from that point on I noticed that the throttle response was very sluggish. The dealer could not look at the car on the 16th but looked at it on the 17th and found that the code indicated a throttle module failure. They then replaced the throttle module. It should be noted that my car although being a 2001 only has 26,000 miles on it and shows no sign of corrosion or mechanical obstruction of the thottle module. …
Dt: the consumer stated that 2001 Volvo was having a problem with the electronic throttle control module. The vehicle was stalling while driving at a slow speed, and that was happening more frequently in the mornings. Consumer suggested that when the engine was cold in the mornings and upon starting the car it stalled before consumer could get it into reverse. This has been a problem since 2001. Consumer took the car to the dealer and had a new electronic throttle module ( etm) installed , the cost was $1800.00. Consumer was upset over the cost of the replacement part. Even with the new etm the car was having the same stalling issues. NHTSA investigation, pe0504.
Wheels & tires
Vehicle has very poor suspension. Car is unstable when it hits even the smallest of bumps and continually blows out tires and requires replacement of wheels. Very hard ride, unstable, and continually in the shop.
Consumer feels that there is a compatibility defect with the 17 inch rims and the 17 inch tires, two tires and one rim had to be replaced after hitting a very small pot hole, a few thousand miles later, 3 more rims were found to be bent including the one that had been replaced only eight weeks prior, consumer states no dips, potholes, or bumps were hit for the rims to bend and need replacement again.
Engine & cooling
I purchased a 2001 Volvo C70 convertible used with ~ 73,000 miles in 2006. It now has 93,000 miles. Last summer I had to replace the radiator because it cracked. On the evening of Tuesday, December 22 while returning home on the beltway, I began to smell something and an up arrow indicating I should shift gear lit on the dashboard panel. I learned two days later, I needed to replace the transmission. Now I understand there is a fuel pump recall. This seems like a lot of major repair work in a fairly young vehicle with so few miles, and regular oil changes at every 3,000 miles and annual checkups.
Tl contact owns a 2001 Volvo C70 convertible. While driving at any speed, the vehicle stalls, but then drives normally. The failure occurs intermittently and the contact did not notice any difference in the vehicle beforehand. The vehicle has not been in a crash and has not been diagnosed by the dealer. NHTSA campaign id number 06V441000 (vehicle speed control) was referenced. The current mileage was 66,521 and failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 6/2/08 the dealer cleaned the throttle body, but the problem continued.
2001 Volvo C70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Volvo C70 a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 C70 rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the C70 at the same age. It is one of the C70 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Volvo C70?
The speed control & acceleration — 8 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the wheels & tires (4) and engine & cooling (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo C70 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Volvo C70, the most recent from November 15, 2006 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo C70?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2002 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1999, 2001 and 2012. See the full Volvo C70 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Volvo C70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.