Most common 2008 Volvo V70 problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo V70 complaints by model year
Best V70 years: 2008, 2009, 2010. Years to avoid: 1998, 2001, 1999, 2000, 2004. Compare all years →
2008 Volvo V70 recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front
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)
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
Volvo is recalling 17,614 my 2008-2009 s80, v70, and xc70 vehicles. The engine cooling fan May stop working due to a software programming error in the fan control module (fcm). Depending on driving conditions, the customer May experience reduced air conditioning performance, and/or rapid increase in engine coolant temperature.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan control module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2009. Owners May contact Volvo customer care center at 1-800-458-1552.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain vehicles equipped with rear integrated booster seats fail to comply with the labeling requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 213, "child restraint systems." labels on the affected vehicles are missing warning information indicating that 'death or serious injury can occur' if the manufacturer's…
Remedy: Dealers will install a new label with the correct warning information. The recall began on February 20, 2008. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2008 Volvo V70 owners say
Electrical system
In mid summer of 2021, my car overheated randomly without any warning driving down the interstate. I pulled off immediately and cut the car off but, it was already done. The radiator cracked as a result of the engine overheating. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he replaced the radiator. Since then I've been having a lot of check engine codes. It's now May of 2022, my car is still using and going through a lot of coolant. There are no leaks in the coolant. My mechanic recently said that the radiator fan is malfunctioning which is popping the check engine and also probably making the car overheat. I contacted Volvo dealership after seeing the recall on the radiator fan for my year make and model but, they informed me there is no recall on my car via the vin#. This week I've been watching not only the coolant level but also the fans.... …
Today I received a warning message that my low beam was out. I stopped in the auto parts store and bought the passenger side low beam replacement bulb. When I went to disassemble it I noticed that the wiring harness was burnt. I'm going to replace the wiring harness but this is very concerning. It's not old and just corroded it is actually burnt.
Engine & cooling
In mid summer of 2021, my car overheated randomly without any warning driving down the interstate. I pulled off immediately and cut the car off but, it was already done. The radiator cracked as a result of the engine overheating. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he replaced the radiator. Since then I've been having a lot of check engine codes. It's now May of 2022, my car is still using and going through a lot of coolant. There are no leaks in the coolant. My mechanic recently said that the radiator fan is malfunctioning which is popping the check engine and also probably making the car overheat. I contacted Volvo dealership after seeing the recall on the radiator fan for my year make and model but, they informed me there is no recall on my car via the vin#. This week I've been watching not only the coolant level but also the fans.... …
While driving the warning for engine overheating comes on and advises to stop safely.Volvo dealer states it is the fan control module that is at fault and I believe there is a recall for this particular issue with some 2008-2009 V70 models.the Volvo dealer states that my VIN is exempt from recall but clearly is a huge safety issue which could lead to an accident. I was driving in the city and the A/C was not fully functional windows fog up and the error message displays without any predictability. This could have happened while travelling on the highway leading to more serious consequence.
2008 Volvo V70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Volvo V70 a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 V70 rates better than average: 81% fewer complaints than a typical year of the V70 at the same age. It is one of the best V70 years by this measure. 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 2008 Volvo V70?
The electrical system — 6 complaints, 55% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and lights (1).
How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo V70 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2008 Volvo V70, the most recent from June 30, 2020 (front). 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 V70?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2009 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 2001, 1999, 2000 and 2004. See the full Volvo V70 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Volvo V70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 115,000 miles; 14% 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.