Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2001 Volvo C70 with NHTSA between 2001 and 2012.
The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.
Across this model's run it ranks 11 of 11 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 — 31
Against the median year of the Volvo C70. 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 — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
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
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
430.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
430.8%
Median failure at 88,741 miles
Wheels
323.1%
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Median failure at 44,900 miles
Electrical System
17.7%
Median failure at 62,227 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
233.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
233.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
116.7%
150,000+ miles
116.7%
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.
Nov 2001peak 4Dec 2012
NHTSA investigations into the 2001 Volvo C70
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...
Recalls on the 2001 Volvo C70
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 200631124,706 units in Canada
Other
On certain vehicles, a combination of throttle position sensor (TPS) irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration, may cause a warning lamp to illuminate and the subsequent onset of "limp home" mode. Correction: Dealers will install an electronic throttle system software upgrade in both the electronic throttle module (ETM) and the engine control module (ECM).
Recall 200110125,883 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
On certain Volvo C70, C70 convertible, C70 coupe, S70 and V70, inadequate contact between the bulb and socket could cause the front turn signal not to function as designed. This would fail to warn an approaching driver that the vehicle is turning and could lead to a crash. Correction: Dealers will replace the left and right front turn signal bulb and socket.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 125,012 milesAnaheim, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD, STUMBLES, STALLS, GOES INTO LIMP MODE, NEARLY REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY WIFE AND CHILD ON BOARD. VOLVO SAYS PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SOFTWARE UPDATED PER RECALL, SO NOTHING CAN BE DONE. "THAT PART PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". BOUGHT CAR AT CARMAX, WHO WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10490241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 189,790 milesPort Ranch, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V411000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 6/6/12
NHTSA complaint #10458815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,900 milesMiami, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2001 VOLVO C70 ETM MODULE MALFUNCTIONED....
NHTSA complaint #10143076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,900 milesMiami, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
MY 2001 VOLVO C70 ETM MODULE MALFUNCTIONED....
NHTSA complaint #10143076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 62,227 milesMorris Plains, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1. ETS (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM) WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN AFFECT DRIVABILITY OF A VEHICLE. 2. THROTTLE BODY FOR VOLVO 2001 C70 HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1075. 3. THIS IS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH VOLVO CARS MADE FROM 1999 TO 2001 AFFECTING MODELS S70, V70, C70, S80 AND S60, BUT VOLVO REFUSES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS OR ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10133101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 52,470 milesAurora, CO
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: VOLVO WAS STALLING AT IDLING AT LOW SPEEDS AS IT WERE ABOUT TO DIE . ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. CONSUME RTOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED ELECTRICAL THROTTLE BODY.
NHTSA complaint #10131363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manhasset, NY
TIRES
LTR FM [XXX] (NY) ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER-IN-LAW [XXX] RE DEFECTIVE TIRES ON A 2001 VOLVO (VIN #[XXX]), REQUEST A DEFECT INVESTIGATION TO NEW YORK, NY OFC. *PH TIRE EQUIPMENT HAS SUFFERED NUMEROUS BLOW OUTS.*MR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10059216 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
TIRES
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
TIRES
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
TIRES
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamilton, VA
WHEELS:RIM
CONSUMER FEELS THAT THERE IS A COMPATIBILITY DEFECT WITH THE 17 INCH RIMS AND THE 17 INCH TIRES, TWO TIRES AND ONE RIM HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER HITTING A VERY SMALL POT HOLE, A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, 3 MORE RIMS WERE FOUND TO BE BENT INCLUDING THE ONE THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED ONLY EIGHT WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER STATES NO DIPS, POTHOLES, OR BUMPS WERE HIT FOR THE RIMS TO BEND AND NEED REPLACEMENT AGAIN. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #563792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.