Most common 2004 Volvo C70 problems
Share of the 15 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 →
What 2004 Volvo C70 owners say
Electrical system
I was driving down the highway and the battery light came on and the car got a little sluggish and then all of a sudden it went black I was driving at night so I noticed immediately because the headlights went out everything on the dash that was illuminated lost light and the car stalled and then sputter and stall it just was no longer running pulled over to the side of the road put it in park turn the key off waited about 2 minutes turn the key back on to see if I had lights because I thought it was the battery and I had lights and then I tried again the ignition and it started super random that had never happened before I have had some problems with needing a jump leading up to this but I have a brand new battery and I should not be having that problem
Vehicle start then die or just crank and no start. At the time problem thought to be fuel pump relay. Immobilizer was checked but nothing done. Immobilizer continued to be a problem (after warranty expired); keys have been replaced/recoded, immobilizer control module found faulty and replaced, antenna ring found faulty and replaced. This is a safety issue because there is no warning prior to this occurring; it just will not start when the key is put into the ignition (could be day or night - you are just stuck!) recently, on 7-16-2012 the vehicle repeated this action three (3) times on the same day. In the last two (2) months I have recorded not less than ten (10) incidents. Had I called for a road assist each time I would not have any more available calls. For some reason the transmitter and receiver (transponder) are not in synch (anti-theft device is overdoing its job). …
Transmission & drivetrain
Hard shifting between 1st & 2nd gear. Causes the tires to skid feeling like the vehicle has been hit from behind. This happens after the vehicle warms up and in a stop and go environment.
Hard up shifting from 1st to 2nd and down shifting when car is warm. Drives fine at highway speeds.
Air bags
I was driving my 2004 Volvo C70 when I drifted off into a high curb. This caused my passenger airbag to deploy.the loud and disrupting noise then caused me to loose all control of the car. As I then ran through a fence and trees before I came to a stop. I was the only one in the car. So why did the empty passenger seat bag deploy. And why did the drivers airbag not deploy.
I had entered the car, which was in park and not turned on, reached for my seat belt and the driver side airbag spontaneously deployed. There was no impact or reason for the deployment. The deployment caused a minor injury to left arm.
2004 Volvo C70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Volvo C70 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 C70 rates average: 18% fewer complaints than a typical year of the C70 at the same age. 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 2004 Volvo C70?
The electrical system — 4 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (4) and air bags (3).
How many recalls does the 2004 Volvo C70 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2004 Volvo C70. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2004 Volvo C70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 42% 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.