Most common 2008 Volvo XC70 problems
Share of the 39 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 →
2008 Volvo XC70 recalls (8)
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010 xc70 vehicles manufactured from December 5, 2006 through October 1, 2009 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: The corrective action is to update the vehicles with a new FMVSS label, tire and loading information label and TPMS software.
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.
Electrical system › Software
Volvo is recalling 12,303 my 2007-2008 s80 and v70 vehicles. The diagnostic software in the central electronic module (cem) May cause a malfunction of the windshield wiper functionality.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the cem and upgrade the software free of charge. The recall began on May 15, 2009. Owners May contact Volvo customer care center at 1-800-458-1552, or customercare@volvoforlife.com.
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.
Show 2 more recalls
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." the wheel information label located on the rear driver's side door pillar was printed missing the wheel size (rim) information.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a correct certification label and installation instructions. If the owner prefers, a dealer can install the label for them. The recall began on January 31, 2008.
Air bags › Frontal
In certain vehicles, two software errors have been found in the supplemental restraint system (SRS) control unit software. This May result in a late deployment of the inflatable curtain (ic) and side impact protection system (sips) air bags in certain side impact crash situations.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a software upgrade of the SRS control unit. The recall began on October 31, 2007. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2008 Volvo XC70 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
Despite fuel gauge reading over 1/4 tank car stopped in middle of a highway and nearly caused a collision; thankfully no one hurt. Despite service bulletins on this issue with 2008xc70 no recall ever issued. Several others have reported this issue to NHTSA, I believe a recall is appropriate due to the obvious safety problems and because this only happens to the 2008 model- obviously it was fixed on all the future models.
Traveling on a busy expway during rush hour in left lane when car started bucking. I was able to switch 2 lanes and almost made it to the shoulder when the car stopped and wouldn't start again. Car information system reported that the battery power was critically low. I put my hazard lights on and called the police. I could not get out of my car because the traffic was going by too quickly (I was at the bottom of a exit ramp.) police called their tow truck to get me off the road quickly. Volvo on line service said it would tale an hour to get a truck to me even though I told them I was in a very hazardous place) car was towed to Volvo dealership where within 5 minutes the person who went out to look at my car called me back and told me the car was out of gas; the gas meter read approx 1/3 full. …
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo XC70. The contact stated that while her husband was leaving a restaurant drive-thru, the vehicle lost motive power without warning while entering the main street. The driver was waiting for a tow truck to tow the vehicle from the scene. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V218000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Have had multiple overheating incidents while driving, which coincided with the air conditioner stopping working. I think learned of Volvo recall #09V218000 which describes exactly the failure I've been experiencing. I contacted Volvo customer service, but they claim that my VIN does not fall under the vehicles recalled. The referenced above was for 17,614 2008-2009 XC70, s80, and v70 vehicles. Evidently was related to a software programming error in the fan control module, and the defect corrective action was supposed to be replacing the fcm. Volvo told me that they will not assist with this effort, even though it's a major safety issue effected by the recall, but apparently not my specific VIN. Any assistance in getting additional vins added to this recall would be greatly appreciated.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo XC70. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof fractured without impact. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,400.
I have noticed water leaking into the inside of my windshield and also noticed that the front and rear carpets are damp and the car is developing a musty smell. Upon closer inspection it appears that the top of the windshield is unbonded from the frame and moves outward when pressure is applied against it. This is a serious safety concern as the windshield is a structural component of the vehicle and the integrity of the vehicle with an unbonded windshield compromises the vehicle safety. Beyond that structural concern, the inside windshield fogs us consistently causing impaired visibility while driving, especially in the rain.
2008 Volvo XC70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Volvo XC70 a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 XC70 rates use caution: 1.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the XC70 at the same age. It is one of the XC70 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 2008 Volvo XC70?
The fuel & propulsion system — 13 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the engine & cooling (6) and windows, wipers & sunroof (5).
How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo XC70 have?
There are 8 recalls for the 2008 Volvo XC70, 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 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 2008 Volvo XC70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 34% 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.