Volvo V70 Problems by Year

We compared every Volvo V70 model year from 1998–2010 using 929 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 22 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 1998, 2001, 1999, 2000 and 2004, which drew far more complaints than other V70 years at the same age. The best years are 2008, 2009 and 2010.

13model years
929complaints
22recalls
1998, 2001worst years
2008, 2009best years

Complaints by model year

199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201018716993221763283212171144
Owner complaints per model year, Volvo V70. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20104−81%3BrakeGood
20094−81%3SteeringGood
200811−81%4ElectricalGood
20077−78%2BrakeGood
200621−44%3ElectricalGood
200521−41%3AccelerationGood
2004833.0×5EngineAvoid
200332−23%5Fuel SystemAverage
2002762.0×6TransmissionCaution
20012218.1×8AccelerationAvoid
2000933.8×5AccelerationAvoid
19991697.0×4AccelerationAvoid
19981878.2×5BrakeAvoid

* Complaints compared with the median V70 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Volvo V70 problems

Latest Volvo V70 recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-800 · Oct 14, 2021 · 194,546 vehicles

Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552.

Seat belts › Front

NHTSA recall 20V-378 · Jun 30, 2020 · 308,260 vehicles

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles.

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.

Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)

NHTSA recall 10V-566 · Nov 8, 2010 · 416 vehicles

Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units May overheat.

Remedy: Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable GPS device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 10V-489 · Oct 13, 2010 · 9,746 vehicles

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 s80, xc70, model year 2011 xc60 and model year 2010 v70 vehicles. There May be an intermittent fault in the driver's airbag clockspring wiring connector for the supplemental restraint system.

Remedy: Dealers will install a metal shim in the driver's air bag clockspring wiring connector. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 20, 2010.

Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump

NHTSA recall 09V-483 · Dec 18, 2009 · 158,733 vehicles

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 xc90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new Mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina,…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge.

All 22 Volvo V70 recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Volvo V70 should you avoid?

1998, 2001, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2002 — these years have the most complaints relative to other V70 years at the same age, led by brakes problems in the 1998.

What is the best year for the Volvo V70?

2008 has the fewest complaints compared with other V70 years at the same age, followed by 2009 and 2010. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Volvo V70 problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the speed control & acceleration (160), electrical system (140) and engine & cooling (134). Acceleration complaints peak in the 2001 model year.

How many recalls has the Volvo V70 had?

22 recalls across 1998–2010. The model year with the most is 2001. See all Volvo V70 recalls by year.

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.