Owners have filed 16 complaints
about the 2001 Volvo C70 Convertible with NHTSA between 2003 and 2010.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 3 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 — 56
Against the median year of the Volvo C70 Convertible. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 57
33% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2001 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 2001 Volvo C70 Convertible
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Acceleration & Cruise Control
425.0%
Median failure at 46,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
425.0%
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Tires
212.5%
Median failure at 14,430 miles
Electrical System
212.5%
Median failure at 58,480 miles
Wheels
16.3%
Suspension
16.3%
Median failure at 14,430 miles
Body & Structure
16.3%
Median failure at 31,000 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.3%
Median failure at 93,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
216.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
325.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
541.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
216.7%
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.
Jul 2003peak 6Nov 2010
NHTSA investigations into the 2001 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...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 52,000 milesGrant, MN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STOPS WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. CODES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ARE NOT AVAILABLE VIA ODB 2.
NHTSA complaint #10367783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesAlexandria, VA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE USED WITH ~ 73,000 MILES IN 2006. IT NOW HAS 93,000 MILES. LAST SUMMER I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR BECAUSE IT CRACKED. ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE BELTWAY, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING AND AN UP ARROW INDICATING I SHOULD SHIFT GEAR LIT ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. I LEARNED TWO DAYS LATER, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MAJOR REPAIR WORK IN A FAIRLY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES, AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ANNUAL CHECKUPS.
NHTSA complaint #10312790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 93,000 milesAlexandria, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE USED WITH ~ 73,000 MILES IN 2006. IT NOW HAS 93,000 MILES. LAST SUMMER I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR BECAUSE IT CRACKED. ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE BELTWAY, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING AND AN UP ARROW INDICATING I SHOULD SHIFT GEAR LIT ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. I LEARNED TWO DAYS LATER, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MAJOR REPAIR WORK IN A FAIRLY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES, AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ANNUAL CHECKUPS.
NHTSA complaint #10312790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPort Orange, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS, BUT THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,521 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.
NHTSA complaint #10227140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 60,000 milesPort Orange, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS, BUT THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,521 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.
NHTSA complaint #10227140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 milesTempe, AZ
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NHTSA #PE05041. I OWN A VOLVO C70 WITH THE 2.3L HPT. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 16TH WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILUMINATED. I THEN, AFTER MAKING A STOP WAS GOING TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CODE CHECKED. ON MY WAY THERE I WENT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE LOT AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN THE ACCELERATOR VIRTUALLY NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR ALMOST STALLED PULLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. IT THEN RECOVERED, AND FROM THAT POINT ON I NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS VERY SLUGGISH. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR ON THE 16TH BUT LOOKED AT IT ON THE 17TH AND FOUND THAT THE CODE INDICATED A THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. THEY THEN REPLACED THE THROTTLE MODULE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY CAR ALTHOUGH BEING A 2001 ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF CORROSION OR MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE THOTTLE MODULE. AFTER READING REVIEWS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS I FELT I SHOULD ADD MINE AS IT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY WITH SUCH UNPREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE. ALSO IT MAY HELP DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTUING DEFECT IS THE CAUSE OF SUCH THROTTLE MODULE FAILURES.
NHTSA complaint #10133208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,480 milesKailua, HI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS (3 CITY DRIVING <35 MVPH, AND 1 HWY DRIVING 60 MPH) MY 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE SUDDENLY LOST SPEED TO <5 MPH. ON 3 OCCASIONS, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, ALTHOUGH AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND STILL GET TO MY DESTINATION AND BACK HOME WITHOUT PROBLEMS. DURING THE HIGHWAY TRAVEL, WHICH WAS ON A VERY RAINY EVENING, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING , AFTER DIFFICULTY RESTARTING, AT SLOW SPEED. AND WITH A LOT OF PRAYERS, FINALLY GOT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, CALLED FOR A RIDE HOME, AND ANOTHER RIDE TO PICK IT UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK IT TO HONOLULU VOLVO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE, MODULE AND COMPUTER, AND COST OVER $1000 FOR PARTS ALONE. I DID NOT HAVE IT REPLACED (THEY WERE SPECIAL ORDER FROM THE MAINLAND), AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE. I NOW HAVE A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT WHICH I NEED FOR WORK WHILE THE VOLVO IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY!
NHTSA complaint #10131217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesOakland, ME
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2001 VOLVO WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, AND THAT WAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MORNINGS. CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD IN THE MORNINGS AND UPON STARTING THE CAR IT STALLED BEFORE CONSUMER COULD GET IT INTO REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2001. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ( ETM) INSTALLED , THE COST WAS $1800.00. CONSUMER WAS UPSET OVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. EVEN WITH THE NEW ETM THE CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME STALLING ISSUES. NHTSA INVESTIGATION, PE0504. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10130995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,965 milesHollywood, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: 2001 VOLVO C70 CVA. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AS PRE OWNED IN MAY 2004. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MANY TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A NEW ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10130996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apopka, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 VOLVO C70. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT TOTALLY LOSE POWER, IT LAST FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I BECAME AWARE OF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF A SIMILAR ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10130967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Apopka, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 VOLVO C70. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT TOTALLY LOSE POWER, IT LAST FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I BECAME AWARE OF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF A SIMILAR ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10130967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,000 milesColumbia, MD
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C-70. WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE DOOR OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE LEAK, THEY OBTAINED ANOTHER 2001 VOLVO C-70. WE FOUND WATER LEAKING INTO THE DOOR OF THIS VEHICLE ALSO. THIS IS A DEFECT. I NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE PERSON ON THE 888 NUMBER TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD STILL FILE A COMPLAINT. SHE SAID THE LEAKING WATER MAY BE DAMAGING THE ELECTRONICS INSIDE THE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10129179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, VA
TIRES
- DEALER DIAGNOSIS OF FOUR FAILURES OF TIRE RIMS AND REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES ON 2001 VOLVO C70. *LA UPDATED 6/6/12
NHTSA complaint #10068108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, VA
WHEELS:RIM
- DEALER DIAGNOSIS OF FOUR FAILURES OF TIRE RIMS AND REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES ON 2001 VOLVO C70. *LA UPDATED 6/6/12
NHTSA complaint #10068108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,430 milesPhiladelphia, PA
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR SUSPENSION. CAR IS UNSTABLE WHEN IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS AND CONTINUALLY BLOWS OUT TIRES AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF WHEELS. VERY HARD RIDE, UNSTABLE, AND CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10025653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,430 milesPhiladelphia, PA
TIRES
VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR SUSPENSION. CAR IS UNSTABLE WHEN IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS AND CONTINUALLY BLOWS OUT TIRES AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF WHEELS. VERY HARD RIDE, UNSTABLE, AND CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP.
NHTSA complaint #10025653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.