Most common 2005 Volvo XC70 problems
Share of the 27 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 →
2005 Volvo XC70 recalls (2)
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.
What 2005 Volvo XC70 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
The AWD system is not working. The vehicle was to spin the front wheels constantly. Also traveling on the highway, the vehicle wants to drift into the other lanes on its own. Dealer tells me it is the angle gear sleeve on the transfer case or the transfer case gear. To me its obvious that Volvo designed the part to fail. How can gear that is sealed fail with normal use? So the repair will could cost up to $3600. After doing some research on the web. This is so common its ridicules. Never buy a Volvo again. I bought this car to have a safe AWD. Oh it s safe... As long as its in your driveway.
Transmission started clanking on the go again whenever after an abrupt stop. It has problem switching in the low gears, but is fine on the high gears when in highway. It has difficulty going between drive and reverse also. It makes a loud noise as if a hammer hit it. This car was never in an accident. It was regularly serviced by the dealer. But when this problem was first reported to them when it first started, they gave the usual suggestion like the software upgrade which I declined after reading other owners' stories of its ineffectiveness. They further refused to rebuild the transmission because they said they simply do not do that. And when question if the problem could be fixed if replacing the transmission, they said they could not promise that either. The car was then taken to a reputable local mechanic. He refused to work on the car. …
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo XC70. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the instrument panel failed and the ABS, alternator, and urgent warning system indicators illuminated. During the failure, the windshield wipers activated and could not be turned off. An independent mechanic stated that the central electrical module was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 115,000.
My wife's 2005 Volvo XC70 problem is that periodically when you shut off the car and attempt to remove the key you can't. The car makes a noise like it continues to run for several minutes and sometimes you can then remove the key. Unfortunately this problem is happening more frequently.
Speed control & acceleration
Dt*: the contact stated while the brake was depressed and the engine was running, the engine revved up and the vehicle lurched forward. The harder the brake was depressed, the faster the engine would rev and lurch forward, until the transmission was shifted into park and the ignition was switched off. When restarted, everything operated normally. The problem had occurred 5 times and a minor collision happened, although no injuries were sustained and no police report was taken. The service dealer could not recreate the problem or find anything wrong on the computer diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 11/21/2006 -
I was travelling at 75 on the interstate when the car suddenly lost power down to 10 miles per hour and wouldn't exceed that speed. I finally was able to get off the interstate. It happened several times again as I was returning to colorado springs. I have a Volvo v70xc 2001. I had to have the computer replaced at a cost of almost $1000.the situation was very dangerous.
2005 Volvo XC70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Volvo XC70 a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 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 2005 Volvo XC70?
The transmission & drivetrain — 8 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the electrical system (3) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2005 Volvo XC70 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2005 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 2005 Volvo XC70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 35% 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.