103 of the 1,177 complaints filed about the Volvo V70 are about the braking system — 9% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.
103
Complaints
9%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
1
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
ALL THE RECALL PROBLEMS IS WRONG WITH MY CAR PLEASE HELP ME
NHTSA complaint #11232645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
PRKING BRAKE FRICTION LINING DELAMINATES FROM BRAKE SHOE, THEN GETS JAMMED INTERMITTENTLY IN THE DISK BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING LURCHING STOPS. PHOTO AVAILABLE OF THE FRICTION LINING FRAGMENTS.OTHERS ON INTERNET REPORT THAT FRAGMENTS HAVE CAUSED ENORMOUS WHEEL DAMAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10811604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE ROTOR HAD CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. MA 10/25/15
NHTSA complaint #10746645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
FIRST TIME, WAS IN A DRIVE THROUGH & JUST TOOK OFF, HOPPED THE CURB, AND HIT TALK BOX. NEXT 2 TIMES WERE STOPPED QUICKLY BY ME PUTTING IN NEUTRAL. LAST TIME WAS JUST LEAVING PARKING SPACE, AND CAR JUMPED CURB AND I STOPPED 4 FT. FROM BRICK WALL. HAVE HAD IT TESTED 2-3 TIMES BY MECHANICS W/O SUCCESS.
NHTSA complaint #10713148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I NOTICED THE TAIL LIGHT BRAKE BULBS WERE BURNING OUT QUICKLY. AFTER GETTING A TICKET I STOPPED DRIVING IT UNTIL I COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE. VOLVO LISTS A BRAKE RELAY RECALL. BRAKE LIGHT FUSES AND RELAYS ARE IN 4 LOCATIONS IN THE CAR. THEY ARE: 1. UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT ECU, 2.THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT A. CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT CCU AND B. FUSE PANEL BY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR POST 3. REAR CONTROL UNIT IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN WHERE A STEEL RACE THAT SURROUNDS THE TAILLIGHT BULBS TRANSFERS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS DESIGNED TO FAIL. AS THE BULB HEATS UP IT TRANSFERS THE HEAT TO THE PLATE AND PLASTIC PINS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE SPRING STEEL PARTS OF THE REMOVABLE BULB SOCKET UNIT. AS THE PLASTIC PINS WEAKEN AND MOVE AWAY UNDER PRESSURE AND HEAT FROM THE BULB SOCKET SPRING STEEL KEEPERS, AND CONDUCTORS OF VOLTAGE AND CURRENT, THE CURRENT IS THROTTLED DOWN TO A PIN POINT AS THE PLATE MOVES AWAY FROM THE BULB CREATING MORE HEAT AND ARCING TO MELT THE STEEL RACE SURROUND THE BULBS THAT SUPPLY THE CURRENT. THE REPLACED BULBS SEEM TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME AS THE CONNECTION IS REESTABLISHED WHEN THE BULB SOCKET IS REMOVED AND REPLACED, AND THE CONNECTION IS REESTABLISHED FOR A TIME, BUT IT WILL SOON OVER HEAT AND FAIL FROM THE WEAKENED AND MELTED PLASTIC LENS. BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE RESULTS NOT FROM A FAILED PART, RELAY, FUSE OR WIRE, BUT FROM AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW THAT WAS RECOGNIZED AND ELIMINATED IN THE 2005 MODELS. FORD AND VOLVO NEVER MENTION THIS. A RECALL COULD AMOUNT TO SIX HUNDRED TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS PER CAR FOR THE 4 LENSES WITH LABOR. THE ARCING IN THE WIRING MAY ALSO CAUSE OTHER COMPUTER FAILURES AS THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IN THE KICKDOWN PROCESS THAT CAUSES AN ABNORMAL DELAY IN NEUTRAL GEAR AND HARD ENGAGEMENT OF THE LOWER GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10667711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING ON COMMUNITY STREET 25MPH HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION . CAR BARELY RAN BUT GOT 1 BLOCK TO AN AUDI DEALER . THEY INSPECTED CAR AND TOLD ME PARKING BRAKE EXPLODED AND GAVE ME LOTS OF METAL PIECES TO SHOW THE VOLVO MECHANIC . CALLED VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA BUT THEY DENIED EVER HEARING ABOUT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND VOLVO DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $1700 TO REPLACE PARKING BRAKES . TALKING TO OTHER VOLVO OWNERS THEY HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND VOLVO REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL . IS THERE ANY WAY YOUR AGENCY CAN ENCOURAGE VOLVO TO DO A RECALL ? THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10495156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
NHTSA complaint #10474249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHY AREN'T YOU DOING ANYTHING ABOUT VOLVO BUILDING CRAP? THEY SHOULD BE IN JAIL. ETM - DESIGN WAS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A DAY ONE. THE ETM IS CAUSING SURGING, STALLING AND MANY OTHER SYMPTOMS. ONCE VOLVO STARTED TO REPLACE SOME OF THEM, THEY USED NEW ONES WITH EXACTLY THE SAME FLAWED DESIGN. ABS MODULE - IS KNOWN FOR CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, EARLY BRAKE PADS WEAR AND DAMAGING TRANSMISSION. FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS - RUST ON CALIPERS IS SQUEEZING RUBBER BOOTS AROUND SLIDING PINS. DAMAGE TO ROTORS, PADS AND WHEEL BEARINGS. FRONT LIGHTS LOW BEAMS - UNACCEPTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT. FRONT SEAT BELTS - ARE CUTTING INTO SIDE TRIM AND SIDE TRIM IS CUTTING INTO SEAT BELTS. WIND SHIELD WIPERS - HIGHEST SPEED IS USELESS IN HEAVY RAIN. CRUISE CONTROL - RPM SURGES WHILE GOING 55MPH AND TURNING ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. DO SOMETHING!
NHTSA complaint #10424559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON DECEMBER 18, 2010 I ENCOUNTERED A TOTAL LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKING CAUSED BY AN ABRADED BRAKE-LINE TO THE RIGHT, FRONT WHEEL OF MY 2010 V70. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED AT NORCO GOODYEAR IN MAMMOTH LAKES, CA. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO COMPLETED THE REPAIR FOUND THAT MY CAR WAS MISSING A BRACKET TO CLAMP THE BRAKE LINE AND HOLD IT AWAY FROM THE TIRE: AS A RESULT, THE BRAKE-LINE (HOSE) WAS SLOWLY ABRADED THROUGH FROM WEARING AGAINST THE TIRE AND CABLE-STYLE SNOW-CHAINS. THE SNOW-CHAINS HAD AMPLE CLEARANCE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE, WHERE THE BRAKE-LINE HOSE WAS INSTALLED THROUGH A RETAINING BRACKET: NO SUCH BRACKET WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE BRAKE HOSE TOUCHED MY TIRE AND SNOW-CHAIN. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY; HOWEVER, THE EMERGENCY MAY HAVE BEEN DIRE IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING DOWNHILL.
NHTSA complaint #10372400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2007 VOLVO V70 WITH LOW MILEAGE -- 19,000 MILES, VIN # [XXX]. NORMALLY MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR JUST AROUND WHERE WE LIVE SINCE SHE DOES NOT WORK - JUST A FEW MILES A DAY. LAST WEEK, WHILE GOING TO THE LOCAL GROCERY STORE WITH MY 20 MONTH OLD GRANDSON IN THE CAR, SHE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN BRAKING THE CAR FROM ABOUT 50 MPH. SO I BEGAN DRIVING THE CAR TO WORK WHICH IS ABOUT 20 MILES AWAY. WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGH MEDIUM TO HIGH SPEEDS 45-70 MPH, FRONT WHEEL SHIMMY SHAKE IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE CAR TO BRAKE IMPROPERLY AND CAUSE CAR TO SEVERELY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS ALSO ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK TWICE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEMONTROND VOLVO, HOUSTON, TEXAS. THEIR SHOP FOREMAN SAID THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO RUST BUILDUP ON THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. I SAID WHAT? YOU MUST BE KIDDING. VOLVO REFUSES TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY CITING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I CONTEND THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR HAVING OWNED CARS SINCE 1965 WITH NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES DUE TO RUST BUILDUP, WITH ALL OF THOSE BEING VOLVOS SINCE 1985. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS IN MY LIFE -- RUST BUILDUP ON ROTORS AND PADS CAUSING A BRAKING PROBLEM. VOLVO ALSO STATES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DRIVEN MORE FREQUENTLY TO PREVENT THE RUST BUILDUP. THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, I TOLD THE SALES MANAGER AT DEMONTROND VOLVO THAT MY WIFE ONLY DRIVES A CAR ABOUT 6,000 MILES PER YEAR. I HAD NOTICED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WOULD START TO RUST BEFORE I COULD FINISH WASHING THE CAR WHEN I WASHED THE CAR MYSELF. BEING A SAFETY ENGINEER, MY CONTENTION IS THIS RUST BUILDUP ON 2007 VOLVO V70 BRAKE ROTORS AND PAD IS A SAFETY DEFECT. LIKEWISE, FROM SEARCHING THE INTERNET, OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH VOLVOS.
NHTSA complaint #10343494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. IN 2008 A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS, EBD SWITCH FAILED AT 105,000 MILES. HE DID NOT REPLACE THE SWITCH. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009 THE FAILURE RECURRED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS PER HIS VIN. THE ABS MODULE AND THE EBD SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $822.26. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/27/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY THE ABS FEATURE FAILED. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK, HOWEVER, THE SWITCH FAILURE ALSO CAUSED INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER AS WELL AS CAUSING THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON AND GO OFF. UPDATED 10/28/09.
NHTSA complaint #10284727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE DURING SLOW-TO-STOP WHILE MOVING VEHICLE INTO GARAGE. BRAKES WENT STIFF WITH LITTLE BRAKING ACTION. LIFTED AND REPLANTED ON PEDAL REGAINED BRAKING ABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10283047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES FAILED AFTER COMPLETE REPLACEMENT DUE TO OVERHEATING. REAR CALIPER FAILED AND CAUSED BRAKE LINE TO CLOSE AND PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK 50 MILES TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10278357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2002 V70 VOLVO BRAKE LIGHT RELAY. I AM EXPERIENCING A SAFETY ISSUE WHERE I STEP ON MY BRAKES AND SOMETIMES MY SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK AND MOST TIMES THEY DO NOT. THE HATCH BRAKE LIGHT ALWAYS WORKS. THERE WAS A 2004 RECALL FOR 2002 VOLVOS BUT ACCORDING TO VOLVO MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD IT CONFIRMED BY A MECHANIC. IS THERE A WAY TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER THIS RECALL? THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10258761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKING SOMETIMES BECOMES DIMINISHED. THE PEDAL IS 'STIFF' AND NORMAL BAKING IS REDUCED. IT OCCURS SO RARELY THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO EXPECT THAT IT WILL PRESENT FOR A MECHANIC ON A TEST DRIVE. OCCURRENCES ARE MANY DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS APART. THE SYMPTOM INVOLVES A DISTINCT VARIATION ON THE NORMAL BRAKING EXPERIENCE: A SLIGHT THROBBING OCCURS AND DIMINISHED STOPPING POWER IS AVAILABLE, I HAVE TO PRESS MARKEDLY HARDER TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. SCARY. THIS SYMPTOM IS SO INTERMITTENT AND FLEETING, IT SEEMS IT WOULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DEMONSTRATE AND TRACK DOWN. BUT EVERY TIME I EXPERIENCE IT, THE VERY SLIGHT PULSING DURING BRAKING AND ACCOMPANYING ADDITIONAL PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE A NORMAL STOP, I WORRY. I'VE EVEN PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TRIED IN AN ABANDON SECTION TO TEST IT AND TO GET IT TO REOCCUR FOR ME, BUT NEVER CAN. SO I WORRY. TO BE CLEAR, THE SITUATION FOR WHICH I'M CONCERNED HERE IS WHEN, ON RARE OCCASIONS, WHILE ROUTINE BRAKING, I EXPERIENCE THE NEED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE THAN IS OTHERWISE TYPICAL AND USUAL. IT SCARES ME A BIT, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, IN ALL THE INSTANCES SO FAR, IT'S OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS W/ RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS INVOLVED AND LIGHT TRAFFIC SITUATIONS; (E.G.: I'M FIRST TO AN INTERSECTION W/ NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME, ETC.) BUT FOR FUTURE SITUATIONS THAT MIGHT REQUIRE A CRITICAL BRAKING, I REMAIN NATURALLY, CONCERNED. THE DANGER IS DISPLACED IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM WHERE THE REMEDY HAS BEEN, SIMPLY, APPLYING INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE AND FEELING LUCKY NOT TO BE IN A CRITICAL BRAKING SITUATION. THEN I DON'T SEE THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR SOME TIME. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER MENTIONS OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 V70 GLT VOLVOS?
NHTSA complaint #10238089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHILE TRYING TO SLOW ON AN INCLINE OF APPROXIMATELY 8%. ACCOMPANIED BY "CLICKING" THAT SOUNDS LIKE ABS ENGAGING. RELEASING BRAKE AND REAPPLYING RESOLVED. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 15MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10216989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
LOSS OF BRAKING POWER WHILE TRYING TO SLOW ON AN INCLINE OF APPROXIMATELY 8%. ACCOMPANIED BY "CLICKING" THAT SOUNDS LIKE ABS ENGAGING. RELEASING BRAKE AND REAPPLYING RESOLVED. SPEED APPROXIMATELY 15MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10216989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-60 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT APPLIED. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED NORMALLY. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT (PART NUMBER 860266) WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR 30,000 MILES BEFORE IT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA complaint #10206298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. NO OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE REPLACEMENT. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
NHTSA complaint #10196011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
1) PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY 2) COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE 3)TBD - CAR AT DEALERSHIP, BUT DEALERSHIP AND VOLVO USA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10191979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.