Owners have filed 17 complaints
about the 2000 Volvo C70 Convertible with NHTSA between 2002 and 2012.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 59
Against the median year of the Volvo C70 Convertible. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 61
11.8% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 31
18% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2000 compares with every other Volvo C70 Convertible
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2000 Volvo C70 Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Acceleration & Cruise Control
635.3%
Median failure at 67,595 miles
Electrical System
317.6%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 57,250 mi
Equipment & Accessories
211.8%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 12,000 mi
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
211.8%
Stability & Traction Control
15.9%
Median failure at 78,100 miles
Tires
15.9%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.9%
Median failure at 54,000 miles
Airbags
15.9%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
19.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
19.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
654.5%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
19.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
218.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2002peak 3Jun 2012
NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Volvo C70 Convertible
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA05021Opened 6 Dec 2005Closed 12 Dec 2006VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO IND...
PE05041Opened 26 Jul 2005Closed 7 Dec 2005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Palm Beach Gardens, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME FROM THEATER, SMELLED ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. TURNED OFF RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER ETC...WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND IT WAS DARK. PARKED CAR. NEXT MORNING WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUSE BOX (MELTED PLASTIC). PRIED OFF AND DISCOVERED A ROW OF FUSES BURNT TO A CRISP. AIR IS NOW NOT WORKING...OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR FIRE. WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR WORK DONE ON CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10196835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Beach Gardens, FLFire
EQUIPMENT
DRIVING HOME FROM THEATER, SMELLED ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. TURNED OFF RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER ETC...WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND IT WAS DARK. PARKED CAR. NEXT MORNING WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUSE BOX (MELTED PLASTIC). PRIED OFF AND DISCOVERED A ROW OF FUSES BURNT TO A CRISP. AIR IS NOW NOT WORKING...OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR FIRE. WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR WORK DONE ON CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10196835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 127,000 milesWindsor, CT
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE SPEED. IN 2010, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #10460820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,523 milesSacramento, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH BACKING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. THE ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT A SLOW SPEED RATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMAL. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHICH STATED THE RECALL EXPIRED AND THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,523. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,909.
NHTSA complaint #10324343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,100 milesHudson, NH
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I HAVE A 2000 C70 VOLVO. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THE ETM - ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. RECALL IS FOR 200K MILES OR 10 YEARS. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 79K MILES. VOLVO RECALL # MR155. NTSB ACTION # PE5041. MY VEHICLE IS SURGING VIOLENTLY WHICH IS SYMPTOMATIC OF THE ETM FAILURE AS INDICATED BY YOUR ACTION # PE5041. I CALLED VOLVO NA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL WAS 10 YEARS/200K MILES. HOWEVER, THEY SAID THAT AFTER CHECKING THE VIN HISTORY ON MY VEHICLE, THEY SAID I WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE SALE DATE OF THE CAR WAS NOV. 1999 AND 10 YEARS HAD ALREADY PASSED ON MY MODEL YEAR 2000 CAR! THIS DEFECT IS SAFETY RELATED AND VOLVO AGREES THEY ARE AT FAULT PER THE RECALL. THE CUT OFF THAT VOLVO IS IMPOSING IS UNFAIR AS MY CAR IS A YEAR 2000 AND 10 YEAR RECALL COVERAGE WOULD ALLOW ME TO BE COVERED THROUGH 2010. ALSO, IN NOV. 2008 VOLVO WAS INSTRUCTED BY NHTSA TO RENOTIFY OWNERS OF VEHICLES ABOUT SAFETY RECALL 06V-441 AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AT THE TIME, OR EVER. REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED AT $1K PER VOLVO OF NASHUA, NH OF WHICH APPROX $600 ARE PARTS AND MATERIAL. FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THIS SURGING WAS IN FEB. 2010. PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE AND IS NOW VIOLENTLY SURGING. SOMETIMES THE GAS PEDAL DOESN'T GIVE GAS TO MAKE THE CAR MOVE AT ALL. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW! MY KIDS DRIVE THIS CAR AS WELL. I PURCHASED VOLVO FOR THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNFAIR AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND BE FIX AT NO CHARGE TO ME.
NHTSA complaint #10319125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Beach Gardens, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME FROM THEATER, SMELLED ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. TURNED OFF RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER ETC...WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND IT WAS DARK. PARKED CAR. NEXT MORNING WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUSE BOX (MELTED PLASTIC). PRIED OFF AND DISCOVERED A ROW OF FUSES BURNT TO A CRISP. AIR IS NOW NOT WORKING...OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR FIRE. WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR WORK DONE ON CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10196835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Beach Gardens, FLFire
EQUIPMENT
DRIVING HOME FROM THEATER, SMELLED ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. TURNED OFF RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER ETC...WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND IT WAS DARK. PARKED CAR. NEXT MORNING WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUSE BOX (MELTED PLASTIC). PRIED OFF AND DISCOVERED A ROW OF FUSES BURNT TO A CRISP. AIR IS NOW NOT WORKING...OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR FIRE. WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR WORK DONE ON CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10196835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lynchburg, VA
AIR BAGS
2000 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE HAS NEEDED TWO AIRBAGS REPLACED IN LESS THAN 5000 MILES. THESE ARE NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. VOLVO INFORMS ME THIS IS ORDINARY AND THEY HOLD NO RESPONSIBILITY. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED AIRBAG REPLACEMENT. TOO BE SUCH A "SAFE" CAR THIS DOESN'T SEEM CORRECT. DO THEY HAVE A RECALL OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT? WHAT CAN BE DONE OTHER THAN PAYING $800.00 EVERY FIVE THOUSAND MILES? CAR HAS 50000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10160179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesIndian Creek, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND DECELERATED WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT BEGAN TO HAPPEN THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH THE RPMS FLUCTUATING. THE DEALER REPORTED THE ISSUE AS A BROKEN THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS UNSAFE AND HAPPENED AT 69K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10141439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,693 milesPittsburgh, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE SOLD VEHICLE TO RETAIL CUSTOMER ON JULY 23, 2005. CUSTOMER COMPLAINED SOON AFTER THAT THEY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER AT TIMES. WE THEN HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT BOBBY RAHAL VOLVO ON 08/11/05 AND THEY REPLACED THE ETM MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10137103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,500 milesCarver, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2000 VOLVO C70 06/28/03. CROSS COUNTRY TRIP FROM AZ TO MN. COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEED- 1ST THROUGH NARROW CANYON WITH LOSS OF BRAKING POWER AND STEERING CONTROL RESULTING IN DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOP. I CONTACTED VOLVO 24HR ASSISTANCE- VOLVO TECH ADVISED ME HOW TO RESET VEHICLE COMPUTER (TURNING DOOR LOCK CYLINDER 3 TIMES). FAILURE RECURRED THROUGHOUT JOURNEY HOME (REMAINING OCCURRENCES WERE ANTICIPATED AND I WAS ABLE TO EXECUTE CONTROLLED STOP). THROTTLE BODY REPLACED BY VOLVO ON 06/30/05 AT A COST OF $896.76. I AM AWARE FROM A RECENT NEWS ARTICLE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN THIS MODEL VOLVO. I HAVE RETAINED VOLVO REPAIR ORDER FROM INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10132310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,500 milesDeerfield, IL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ETS (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WENT ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM WENT OFF AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. I WAS ABLE TO REACH HOME (APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES, BUT THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE WAS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND IT WENT BACK ON WITH SIMILAR RESULTS. BROUGHT IT INTO VOLVO DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE ETS SYSTEM COSTING ME $975.
NHTSA complaint #10131579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesDeerfield, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVING HOME FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN AT 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. SUDDENLY THE ETS (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM) LIGHT OF MY 2000 VOLVO C70 WENT ON, THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OFF AND THE CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOSE POWER. I MANAGED TO GET HOME AND HAVE A LOCAL MECHANIC LOOK AT IT. HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND ONLY REPLACED THE GAS FILTER. THE FOLLOWING (LAST) WEEKEND, MAKING THE SAME TRIP, THE ETS LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON MOST OF THE TRIP. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND THE CAR PERFORMANCE DECLINED DRAMATICALLY. THE DAY AFTER I GOT HOME (MON, AUG1) I TOOK IT TO A VOLVO DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $975 (!!) FOR A NEW ETS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10131404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 67,190 milesFOX Island, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
1. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 16 - UPHILL SLOPE, HEAVY TRAFFIC. 2. SPEED DROPPED FROM 60 TO 30 MPH - NO WARNING. CAR REMAINED VERY SLUGGISH. WARNING FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL CAME ON. PUT FLASHERS ON, MOVED TO RIGHT LANE AT 30 MPH. CLOSE CALL TO AN ACCIIDENT. 3. HAD CAR TOWED TO VOLVO DEALER. ELECTRONIC MODULE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10130367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesRoseville, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
1. ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD OF MY 2000 VOLVO C70 LT CONVERTIBLE. ETS LIGHT SUBSEQUENTLY EXTINGUISHED (ON ITS OWN). 2. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. WAS INFORMED THE ETC MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE, WITH A REPLACEMENT COST OF OVER $1000. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR, SO I INFORMED THE DEALER TO NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD CAUSE ANY SAFETY ISSUES IN DRIVING THE CAR. 3. ON OCTOBER 14, 2004, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES IN TIME TO AVOID A COLLISION. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ACCELERATION SURGE AGAIN. 4. AS STATED ABOVE, I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THIS SITUATION ON THE INTERNET, AND FOUND SIMILAR EXPERIENCES FROM OTHER OWNERS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE VOLVO, AND THAT OTHER OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND POSSIBLE SAFETY SITUATION INVOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10100712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Atlantic Beach, FL
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
IN HOT TEMPERATURES C70 CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW SEAL DEFECTIVE LOOSENS REAR WINDOW WHICH DISLODGES AND OBSCURES REAR VIEW.
NHTSA complaint #10080354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lufkin, TX
VISIBILITY
I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE JUST HAD A VISOR BREAK FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THESE VISORS ARE ATTACHED AT BOTH ENDS AND DON'T "SWING" OUT, THEY SIMPLY FOLD DOWN. BUT FOUR TIMES NOW - TWO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TWO ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE - THE MEDIAL (TOWARD THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR) PIN HAS SHEARED. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VISOR TO HANG DOWN AND OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEW AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ONE TIME I HAD TO RUBBERBAND THE VISOR TO KEEP IT FROM OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW!
NHTSA complaint #10016480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATED THE JACK WAS TOO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE JACK WAS USED, IT COLLASPED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP TO THE GROUND.MR
NHTSA complaint #8021384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sanibel, FL
TIRES:SIDEWALL
ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED SERIOUS SIDEWALL CRACKS SOMETIME BEFORE BEING REPLACED AT 17000 MILES. CAR DEALER TOOK THEM TO PIRELI TIRE DEALER WHO WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE TREAD WAS WARN TO 4/32. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRIES WORE OUT THEN FAILED MUCH TOO SOON ALTHOUGH I HAD ALL RECOMMENDED DEALER SERVICE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES AND SAVED ONE TIRE. NLM
NHTSA complaint #767208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.