Volvo V70 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 933 owner complaints and 22 safety recalls on file for the Volvo V70, across 21 model years (1996–2016). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (221). The most reported problem area overall is vehicle speed control.
Volvo V70 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical V70 year: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 V70: 221 complaints, 8 recalls
- 1998 V70: 187 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1999 V70: 169 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volvo V70 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 160 | 8 | 8 |
| Electrical System problems | 142 | 13 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 111 | 11 | 0 |
| Power Train problems | 107 | 10 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 88 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 75 | 9 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 63 | 9 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 51 | 11 | 18 |
| Seat Belts | 37 | 8 | 3 |
| Tires | 36 | 11 | 1 |
| Structure | 31 | 10 | 4 |
| Engine | 25 | 11 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 25 | 7 | 2 |
| Suspension | 25 | 7 | 3 |
| Visibility | 25 | 6 | 1 |
| Steering | 22 | 7 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 20 | 6 | 0 |
| Seats | 20 | 7 | 4 |
| Equipment | 13 | 5 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 5 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Volvo V70 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2001: vehicle speed control (61)
- 1999: vehicle speed control (53)
All Volvo V70 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2015 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2014 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2013 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2012 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2011 V70 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2010 V70 | 4 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2009 V70 | 4 | 3 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2008 V70 | 11 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 V70 | 7 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 2006 V70 | 21 | 3 | — | Air Bags | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 V70 | 21 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 V70 | 83 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 V70 | 32 | 5 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 V70 | 76 | 6 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 V70 | 221 | 8 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 V70 | 93 | 5 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 V70 | 169 | 4 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 V70 | 187 | 5 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 V70 | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1996 V70 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
More from Volvo: all Volvo models · Volvo VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo V70 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1998 (187), 1999 (169), 2000 (93), 2001 (221), 2002 (76), 2004 (83) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical V70 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volvo V70?
Vehicle Speed Control, with 160 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Volvo V70 have?
22 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.