Most common 2003 Volvo XC70 problems
Share of the 24 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo XC70 complaints by model year
Best XC70 years: 2014, 2015, 2013. Years to avoid: 2004, 2001, 2002, 2008. Compare all years →
2003 Volvo XC70 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the second isofix guide was not installed in these vehicles and, in certain cases, the owner's manual isofix information is incorrect.
Remedy: Owners will receive a letter/package consisting of the second isofix guide with installation instructions, and in certain cases, the corrected owner's manual May be provided.
What 2003 Volvo XC70 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Volvo XC70. The contact stated that a strong fuel odor emitted inside and outside of the vehicle continuously however, there was no fuel visible on the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, who both confirmed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure and the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
I purchased this 2003 Volvo XC70 recently and a few weeks after driving it I noticed a bad smell of gas. I looked around and did not see anything leaking. I kept driving daily and smelled gas every single time the car was on. I became very concerned because I drive with my 6 year old daughter in the car. After some time I noticed that there was a gas leak coming from the passenger side rear and this became a very scary and dangerous situation. I automatically drove to the nearest mechanic shop and got the car looked at. The mechanic told me this is very dangerous and can not be driven because the car can catch fire or even explode. After some research and after hearing back from the mechanic I learned that there is a recall on the fuel pump on this model car and this is exactly the problem. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Volvo XC70 2003 transmission is going bad with 80,000 miles on it. Needs a total replacement. Hesitates during shifting and sometimes doesn't go into gear for several seconds. Power booster to the brakes also has a seal issue causing power booster electronic vacuum to constantly run.
I purchased my (2003) Volvo XC70 in late 2006 from I service it regularly and do routine maintenance checks. About a month ago the car began to jerk and hesitate. I took it to the dealer and was told I needed a new transmission for $5700. The car has 71000 miles on it.
Air bags
While driving down the road, a car was attempting to make a left-hand turn across four lanes of traffic. The person, apparently, did not see me and struck the side of my vehicle breaking the tire rod and doing extensive damage to the passenger front and back doors. The glove box was even difficult to open. In all of this, the passenger side airbag did not deploy. My son who is 14 and is 170 pounds was sitting in the passenger seat at the time. He is quite sore along his arm and neck. In 2012, I posted a complaint about the car having a dim problem and how the Volvo mechanic said the dim problem could cause airbag problems, but after having the dim problem fixed, I was told the airbags should deploy. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Volvo XC70. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
2003 Volvo XC70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Volvo XC70 a good car?
Based on 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 XC70 rates average: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the XC70 at the same age. 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 2003 Volvo XC70?
The fuel & propulsion system — 6 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about delivery › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and air bags (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo XC70 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2003 Volvo XC70, the most recent from October 14, 2021 (inflator module). 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 XC70?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2015 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2004, 2001, 2002 and 2008. See the full Volvo XC70 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Volvo XC70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 116,000 miles; 10% 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.