Most common 2001 Volvo V70XC problems
Share of the 144 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo V70XC complaints by model year
Best V70XC years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 2001, 2000, 1999. Compare all years →
2001 Volvo V70XC recalls (1)
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2001 Volvo V70XC:
Throttle control malfunction
Pe05-041 was opened on July, 26, 2005, based on 136 consumer complaints to odi alleging throttle control malfunctions in the subject vehicles.odi has now received 591 complaints of etm failures which allege symptoms with potential safety related consequences.these include allegations of engine stall, vehicle surging forward without accelerator input, vehicle hesitation upon acceleration and sudden and unexpected…
Throttle control malfunction
On November 14, 2006 Volvo submitted a defect information report to NHTSA concerning etm failures in model year (my) 1999 through 2001 Volvo models (not including the s40 and v40), my 2002 s60 and v70 with naturally aspirated engines and my 2002 v70s.according to Volvo, ?a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing and/or inefficient software calibration May cause a warning…
What 2001 Volvo V70XC owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 39 →
My daughter was killed while driving my Volvo when it malfunctioned and she lost control. Per the accident report, she was changing lanes from the far right to middle lane when she accelerated into the left lane, hit and bounded off the left guardrail, collided with a car in the center lane, proceeded over the right guardrail of a bridge, through a treetop, dropped 30 feet, landed upside down, and rolled repeatedly, eventually stopping in a concrete creek bank. She was wearing her seat belt but killed instantly upon impact. It appears she was not speeding significantly prior to the accident but unexpectedly began accelerating as she was changing lanes and lost control of the vehicle. I have had similar problems with the car previously but believed they had been corrected by Volvo when they replaced the electronic throttle module. …
My wife was driving our Volvo xc (2001) back from the grocery store. In exiting the store parking lot she had make a left turn onto rt. 24w in mendham, nj from a stop sign. As she got on to the single lane highway the car stalled leaving her without power in the middle of a single lane highway with our 2 year old son in the back seat. Incoming traffic suddenly had to come to a stop in order not to hit her car. She was able to move the car to the side of the road and restart it and make the 5 minute trip back home. The car was not able to make the slight incline up the driveway. The next morning I was able to start the car and take it to the Volvo dealer. All along the trip the felt like it was going to stall any minute. I kept a constant speed and did not take any chances with sudden acceleration or passing. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 30 →
2001 Volvo V70XC. Transmission lurches and slips. Vehicle involved in major accident in 2002. Volvo inspected vehicle and found no issue with transmission. The vehicle was inspected by dealer on two additional visits with same concern. Dealership could not find a problem. Took vehicle to independent mechanic who made an adjustment to transmission. Vehicle again lurching and slipping. Took to mechanic and informed a service report now indicated we needed to replace a valve assembly. Cost: $1,100-1,800. Call dealership and informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and they could not help. Phoned Volvo cars of north America. Informed the only recall was on fuel pump and the only recall on transmissions having similar problem was on their v90. Because of the age of the vehicle they could not assist me in resolving this claim.
At about 155K miles while driving down the road at 40 miles an hour the transmission on my v70 xc went out im told almost all cars this year model and trim have this problem between 20K and 150K miles my car is pristine except for this issue the transmission jumps in and out of gears lurches forward doesn't move quick enough to merge with traffic Volvo knows about this problem and so do the owners of these cars and at a 4000 dollar price tag to repair or replace these transmissions who can afford that
Electrical system all 27 →
The key came out of the ignition while still in drive with the engine off. The last incident resulted in the vehicle rolling backwards and crashing. Vehicle was totaled from the crash. Vehicle was inspected on 04-12-05 by a Volvo dealership representative, who confirmed this was a problem, but declined to fix the problem.
I was recently told my 2001 v79xc needed ball joints, then sway bars and someone else said struts! Also: I have had the car diagnosed, the system reported throttle module errors and electircal or circuit problems; throttle module cleaned, then replaced; headlights replaced 3 times (wiring causes shorts); gas filter replaced two junes in a row gas propelled out of the tank back at me upon pumping (something about air intake line was clogged), the brackets underneath the car are totally rusted not stainless steel! I had the cooling fan replaced, car overheated into the red! I too have had little time to enjoy my car. The e brake sticks in the winter, because the coating on the lines/cables is cracked, broken/burned due to improper suspension. My sun roof, interior lights and rear hatch door works intermittently in cold weather. …
2001 Volvo V70XC engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Volvo V70XC a good car?
Based on 144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 V70XC rates avoid: 5.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the V70XC at the same age. It is one of the V70XC years we suggest avoiding. 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 2001 Volvo V70XC?
The speed control & acceleration — 39 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about linkages. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (30) and electrical system (27).
How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo V70XC have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Volvo V70XC, the most recent from September 13, 2004 (fan). 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 V70XC?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2000 and 1999. See the full Volvo V70XC years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Volvo V70XC problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 16% 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.