Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 25% | 90,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 36% | 146,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 29% | 70,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 10% | 1,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 10% | 30,000 miles |
| 2004 | 26 | 31% | 86,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 13% | 109,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 7% | 135,000 miles |
| 2001 | 24 | 11% | 69,000 miles |
| 2000 | 16 | 17% | 93,000 miles |
| 1999 | 23 | 14% | 104,000 miles |
| 1998 | 25 | 13% | 106,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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.
I was driving at about 35 MPH. When I slowed down to make a 90 degree right turn, without warning the engine and power steering went off as I was turning. I had to manually steer the car and luckily did not crash because there was no car in the opposite lane. I pulled over to the side of the road, restarted the car, and received no error message. I took the car to the local Volvo dealer where they could find nothing wrong and deny this is a recall issue.
Driving on freeway at 60 MPH, vehicle motor quit- dash lights came on-was able to move to shoulder-where vehicle restarted in neutral then died again- since vehicle has died very often after driving with absoulutly no warning-very very dangerous- was told drive by wire problem- eltronic throttle control, electronic fuel regulator, pedal and or throttle sensors-any number of electric sensor problem--all of this is "drive by wire" unsafe design
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Volvo V70. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds below 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 134,066.
In early May, 2006, my car engine shut down by itself. This occurred three times. I was able to get the car into the dealership where they kept it for two days. The day after I picked it up(May 11th, the engine shut down while I was driving on the freeway. I narrowly missed hitting several cars while attempting to get to the side of the road. When the car cooled down, I was able to start it again and managed to get off the freeway. The engine shut down several times before I managed to get the car to the dealership. The factory inspected the car and held it ten days. The service man called me and stated the factory was aware of the problem and was replacing my transmission. I was able to pick up my car on May 22 and was told the problem had been corrected. Since then, the engine has shut down on three occasions, each time on the freeway. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volvo V70. After starting the vehicle, a loud rumbling noise was heard coming from the engine. In addition, the vehicle accelerated independently and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that the instrument panel was dark and not functioning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle control and driver information module needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 06V441000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
While driving, complainant heard a clunk-type noise from the engine compartment then saw smoke coming out of the engine compartment. Complainant immediately pulled over and got out of the car and notified police. Within minutes the entire engine compartment and passenger compartment were engulfed in flames. Vehicle completely burned.
Related recalls (4)
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.
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel pressure sensor located on the left end of the fuel rail May, at times, transmit incorrect signal regarding the fuel pressure to the engine control module.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pressure sensor free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2007. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, some electric cooling fans May overheat potentially causing heat damage and, in rare instances, a fire in the engine compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cooling fan. The recall began on November 29, 2004. Customers should contact Volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Vehicle description: station wagons equipped with third seats. Users of the third seat, when exiting the vehicle, can come in contact with the tailpipe.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the length of the vehicle's tailpipe and, if necessary, repair the tailpipe.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo V70 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (26), 1998 (25), 2001 (24), 1999 (23) and 2000 (16) model years. Engine complaints make up 31% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Volvo V70 engine problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 09V-218 (fan, Jun 12, 2009); 07V-226 (engine and engine cooling, Jun 5, 2007); 04V-451 (fan, Sep 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo V70 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 89,000 miles; 17% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (30 mentions), followed by the exhaust system (10).
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.