Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Volvo V70 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Volvo V70. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the front driver and passenger seats were melting and black smoke was emerging from the seats. Additionally, there was an abnormal burning smell emerging from the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery was replaced in the vehicle prior to the failure. The contact disconnected the circuits to the seats. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was invalid.
Dt: the contact stated vehicle surged forward after placing it into gear. She tried to stop the vehicle by applying the brakes, but they would not work. She lost control of the vehicle and struck a pole. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine the cause of the problem. Updated 11/29/2005 - the few weeks prior to this accident the vehicle had a computer problem and the passenger door, window and turn signal were inoperative. These problems were fixed by the dealer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Volvo V70. The contact stated that the key fob would not function intermittently, the door locks worked intermittently, and the turn signals worked independently. Also, various other electrical systems began experiencing issues. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
Initially, I took my 2001 Volvo V70 station wagon to the dealer because the cruise control function was not working and the "check engine" light came on. They ran a diagnostic computer check and told me that everything came back fine -even though it was obvious that the cruise control was not working when we drove it around the lot. They said that if the computer did not detect an error they were not able to fix anything, although they suspected that the electronic throttle control might be causing the problem. They reset the computer so that the "check engine" light went off. A month later, I was pulling out into traffic from my driveway with my three-year old in the back seat and lost all power. The max speed I could go was about 10 MPH. Fortunately, I was able to pull off to the side of the road. …
Dt: the consumer was having problems with Volvo 2001 v-70 cross country wagon. The vehicle was stalling at random speeds starting in mid-August of 2004. Consumer took the vehicle to a repair shop, and the mechanic suspected the throttle was the issue. The problem was random and it would not do this for several days. The vehicle stalled on the highway while the consumer was merging into traffic. The vehicle would start after consumer let the car sit for a few minutes. Later that day the car stalled again. Consumer had to have the car towed to a dealership for repairs. This time the car did not start. The dealer replaced the throttle module, loaded software; throttle body, cable tie and etm reloaded. The car was running okay at times, but the engine was racing very high for seconds and then returns back to the normal rate. …
Volvo V70 2001 hesitating to change gear, problem occurs more frequently during slow commute at aprox. 20-40 miles/hr. One day driving through I-285 in atlanta, ga car suddenly stopped. Thank god I was at an exit area and was able to slide car to a non traffic area. Car was able to start engine again aprox. Within 5-10 minutes. Car problem was reported to north point Volvo, alpharetta, ga. The car had a "sensor problem" and was "corrected", per the dealer.. Today car is still having problems - hesitant to change gear. I am worried it will turn off again one day. Researching in the internet found a lot of people with same problems. Volvo company should be investigated.
Repeated skipping and hesitation of our V70 t5 sw along with a "reduced performance error" message resulted in our going to the danbury ct dealership, where they told us the throttle and software needed replacement. The cost was $899.17. We service our car regularly and have the documentation to prove it. We have had no accidents with the car prior to this engine problem. Because of widespread reports of the same problem occurring on other Volvo V70 station wagons, we believe the cause of the engine skipping to be an inherent structural flaw and we request reimbursement of our expenses. The dealer who made the $899.17 repair was Volvo of danbury, [phone].
My 2001 Volvo V70 spontaneously lost power and died. I was stranded far from home with my daughter on a Friday night. After supposedly being repaired at the dealership, several months later on a road trip, again far from home, my car all of a sudden started coughing and losing power, on the highway at highway speed, putting me and my passengers at risk. I was able to cripple it on, and the dealership eventually replaced the throttle body and related computer module, but I understand that it could possible happen again. I live in a remote area and need to be able to depend on my car. I cannot be stranded on the open road at any hour and in any weather.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving the vehicle traveling 30- 40 MPH the vehicle idles roughly. Also while stopped at stop signs the vehicle lurched forward. The vehicle started having different error codes illuminate in the vehicle. It has been taken to the dealership a total of three times. After diagnostics were ran on the vehicle the problem was the electronic throttle body module. All problems with the vehicle are due to the throttle body module failing. The dealership will clean the module but they will not replace it until it completely fails. The manufacturer has been alerted.
Volvo, 2001 V70 - VIN [redacted] this specific vehicle is unreliable and unsafe. Since purchased new, car has had multiple system failures leading to various unsafe driving conditions including brake system failure and engine failure (including loss of braking and steering systems). Manufacturer has acknowledged unusual nature of this particular vehicle quality defects - concerned that car must be taken off road to avoid serious crash. Please advise. Updated 07/17/2012
Electrical complaints in other V70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2001 Volvo V70?
NHTSA has 30 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Volvo V70, 14% of the model year's 221 complaints. The component named most often is ignition (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Volvo V70 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2001 Volvo V70, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Volvo V70 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.