Volvo XC70 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 417 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls on file for the Volvo XC70, across 16 model years (2001–2016). The 2004 model year has the most complaints (101). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Volvo XC70 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XC70 year: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2004 XC70: 101 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2001 XC70: 66 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2008 XC70: 39 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2014 XC70: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2015 XC70: 6 complaints, 1 recall
- 2016 XC70: 7 complaints, 2 recalls
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 XC70 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 71 | 12 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 44 | 10 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 9 | 0 |
| Suspension | 43 | 9 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 35 | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 34 | 7 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 24 | 8 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 23 | 13 | 2 |
| Engine | 21 | 10 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 18 | 9 | 0 |
| Wheels | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| Structure | 14 | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| Tires | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Volvo XC70 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 XC70 | 7 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2015 XC70 | 6 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2014 XC70 | 2 | 2 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2013 XC70 | 8 | 2 | — | Visibility/wiper | |
| 2012 XC70 | 14 | 2 | — | Visibility/wiper | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2011 XC70 | 15 | 3 | — | Latches/locks/linkages | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2010 XC70 | 15 | 5 | — | Wheels | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2009 XC70 | 15 | 5 | — | Wheels | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2008 XC70 | 39 | 8 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 XC70 | 25 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 XC70 | 18 | 2 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 XC70 | 27 | 2 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 XC70 | 101 | 3 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 XC70 | 24 | 4 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 XC70 | 35 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 XC70 | 66 | 5 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Volvo: all Volvo models · Volvo VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo XC70 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (66), 2002 (35), 2004 (101), 2008 (39) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical XC70 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 XC70?
Power Train, with 71 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Volvo XC70 have?
19 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.