142 of the
1,177 complaints filed about the Volvo V70
are about the electrical system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
In mid summer of 2021, my car overheated randomly without any warning driving down the interstate. I pulled off immediately and cut the car off but, it was already done. The radiator cracked as a result of the engine overheating. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he replaced the radiator. Since then I’ve been having a lot of check engine codes. It’s now May of 2022, my car is still using and going through a lot of coolant. There are no leaks in the coolant. My mechanic recently said that the radiator fan is malfunctioning which is popping the check engine and also probably making the car overheat. I contacted Volvo dealership after seeing the recall on the radiator fan for my year make and model but, they informed me there is no recall on my car via the vin#. This week I’ve been watching not only the coolant level but also the fans…. My car has two fans on the front, one of which is not cutting on when it should be , the smaller one seems to be working fine. I think the same recall issue is also effecting my car but, Volvo is not helping me.
NHTSA complaint #11463285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THROUGOUT THIS CARS HISTORY (FROM THE FIRST YEAR 20 + YEARS AGO THROUGH TO TODAY) THE ENGINE RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THOUGH THIS HAPPENS WHEN USALLY WHILE DECLERATING AND BRAKING TO ROUND A STREET CORNER. ONCE IT CUTS OUT, OF COURSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE VIRTUALLY INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, BY SIMPLY PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY THE CARE ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS.
NHTSA complaint #11365304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TODAY I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE THAT MY LOW BEAM WAS OUT. I STOPPED IN THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM REPLACEMENT BULB. WHEN I WENT TO DISASSEMBLE IT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. I'M GOING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS BUT THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. IT'S NOT OLD AND JUST CORRODED IT IS ACTUALLY BURNT.
NHTSA complaint #11219631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK. NO FUEL GAUGE TACHOMETER TEMPERATURE OR SPEEDOMETER. I'VE TALKED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THAT EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT CUTS IN AND OUT RANDOMLY BUT THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING OR HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS A FEW TIMES WHILE MOVING SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN THERE. I KEEP WORRYING ABOUT GETTING A TICKET SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING
NHTSA complaint #11218246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE MELTING AND BLACK SMOKE WAS EMERGING FROM THE SEATS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING SMELL EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE CIRCUITS TO THE SEATS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11217130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MIRRORS PASSENGER MIRROR FELL FROM THE MOUNT ON SEPT 2015 DRIVER MIRROR FELL FROM THE MOUNT MARCH 2019 BOTH INCIDENTS WERE WHILE DRIVING 2 LANE ROADS. FLAT AND SMOOTH
NHTSA complaint #11192573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PASSING SMOG AND HAD TROUBLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO THE SMOG DEALER TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WAS TRYING TO PASS SMOG, BUT THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING VERY GOOD IN SPITE OF THE SMOG PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN IMAGINE AT A COST OF OVER 10,000 DOLLARS WHICH BOTH OF US SPENT IN A TWO MONTH PERIOD. BUT AFTER THEY GOT IT TO PASS SMOG I NOTICED ANOTHER MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, IT WOULD STOP RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THIS NEW PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACED THE KEY AND IT STILL STOPPED ON ME 3 X ON THE FREEWAY AND STREETS. I RETURNED THE CAR GOING DOWN THE MAIN STREETS FOR 2 HOURS AND LIFT IT WITH THE COMPANY. MCKEVITT VOLVO IN SAN LEANDRO CA. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME BUT I TOLD THEM MY ARE DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM UNTIL THEY WORKED ON IT! I NEED A WORKING CAR AND I AM IN DEPT AS A RESULT OF THEIR WORK. I AM A 65 YEAR OLD RETIRED TEACHER BUT I CAN'T AFFORD THIS DEPT. 11
NHTSA complaint #11165020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #11018946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, THE DOOR LOCKS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #11005928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT TAMPER DEVICE FAILED AND IMPACTED THE RADIATOR. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCLUDED THE VEHICLE FROM A SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF THE DEALER'S SOLUTION WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED TO SERVICE THE ENGINE AND SERVICE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (VOLVO CARS CAPE COD, 270 NORTH ST, HYANNIS, MA 02601, 508-815-5400) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #10994522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT USED VEHICLE JUST PURCHASED (2004 VOLVO V70) HAD A BAD REM MODULE; RENDERING FUEL GAUGE, REAR DOOR LOCKS, FUEL DOOR LATCH, AND HATCHBACK LOCK INOPERATIVE. THE REAR HATCHBACK HAS NO MANUAL METHOD TO LOCK IT; MAKING VEHICLE UNSECURABLE. INVESTIGATION ONLINE INDICATES THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. DEALER WANTS AROUND $200 TO UPDATE SOFTWARE TO FIX PROBLEMS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SINCE AT LEAST TWO CRITICAL ITEMS (HATCHBACK AND FUEL DOOR LATCHES) DEPEND ON FUNCTIONING REM TO SECURE THEM. I BELIEVE THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDLESS OF AGE.
NHTSA complaint #10979600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER CAUGHT ON FIRE TODAY AND SMOLDERED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT. I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE MORNING AROUND 9:15AM.
NHTSA complaint #10949873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE IGNITION SWITCH FREQUENTLY JAMS, LOCKED, IN THE "OFF" POSITION. THE KEY CAN BE INSERTED, BUT THE IGNITION LOCK WILL NOT TURN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START AND OPERATE THE VEHICLE OR TURN ON ACCESSORIES OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, RENDERING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE TURNED OFF WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. WHEN IT IS "OFF," HOWEVER, IT FREQUENTLY CAN NOT BE TURNED "ON". A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10884834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED DRASTICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10876462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD RUMBLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DARK AND NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND DRIVER INFORMATION MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #10838581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH. WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE RIGHT TURN, WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING WENT OFF AS I WAS TURNING. I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER THE CAR AND LUCKILY DID NOT CRASH BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CAR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RESTARTED THE CAR, AND RECEIVED NO ERROR MESSAGE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER WHERE THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND DENY THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10716829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
NHTSA complaint #10679647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30AM, IT WAS STILL DARK, AND MY DASHBOARD WOULD NOT DISPLAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. I PANICKED BECAUSE IT TELLS ME ALL THE CRITICAL THINGS ABOUT THE MOVING VEHICLE. THEN ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER IT CAME ON. THIS NON-DISPLAY OF THE DASHBOARD WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HAPPEN WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER THE NEXT MONTH. I COULD NOT DETECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WENT ONLINE AND OTHER VOLVO V70 OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE DIM (DRIVE INFORMATION MODULE). THE PROBLEM EXISTS FOR YEARS 2000 TO 2009. SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY VOLVO MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DIM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE MECHANIC REPLACE THE DIM BECAUSE I HAD NO CHOICE. I COULD NOT DRIVE WITHOUT A DASHBOARD. I CALLED VOLVO AND ASKED WHAT THEY WERE DOING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID NOTHING. BUT THEY WOULD REPORT IT TO NHTSA WITH THEIR NEXT REPORT. I PERSONALLY THINK THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND FOR SO MANY YEARS. IT COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR SPEED, IF THE VEHICLE HAS GAS OR ANY OTHER WARNINGS DISPLAYED IF THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10659009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.