FaultScore

Volvo V70 headlight problems

75 of the 1,177 complaints filed about the Volvo V70 are about the lighting — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

75

Complaints

6%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

2

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1998 V70 38 50.7%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

1999 V70 9 12.0%

Median failure at 74,800 miles

2000 V70 3 4.0%

Median failure at 143,000 miles

2001 V70 10 13.3%

Median failure at 86,000 miles

2002 V70 7 9.3%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

2003 V70 3 4.0%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

2004 V70 3 4.0%

Median failure at 90,000 miles

2006 V70 1 1.3%
2008 V70 1 1.3%

Median failure at 132,000 miles

What owners said

2008 Volvo V70 at 132,000 miles East Aurora, NY Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

2001 Volvo V70 at 206,000 miles Arlington, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING CHECK REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V051000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000.

NHTSA complaint #11144519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Volvo V70 at 90,000 miles Washington, DC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT FOR AIRBAG IS ALARMING SINCE MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY IN MY 2017 CAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR WAS HIT FROM REAR, FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE. CAR WAS TOTAL. SEAT BEAT AND AIRBAG FAILURE IN VEHICLE DURING ACCIDENT WHILE MOVING. THIS VEHICLE HAD A SMALL TAP ACCIDENT BUT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO APPEAR BUT AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY..

NHTSA complaint #11054857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 at 80,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, WHICH INCLUDED THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. THE "POSITION LIGHT FAILURE, STOP LIGHT AND MULTIPLE BULBS FAILURE" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BULBS HAD BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT SEVERAL LIGHT SOCKETS WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10991399 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 at 100,000 miles Park Forest, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TAKATA RECALL: FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10888823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volvo V70 at 128,000 miles Grass Valley, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

2003 Volvo V70 Naples, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE TURN SIGNAL IS SOMEHOW NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY TO THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THE DRIVER USES THE TURN SIGNAL, THE BRIGHTS TO THE CAR GO ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY, AS THE DRIVER FLASHES BRIGHTS TO OTHER DRIVERS AS THE TURN SIGNAL GOES ON WITH THE BRIGHTS TO THE CAR. TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE, AND THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER. WILL FIX THE PART AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10572931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 at 155,000 miles Belair, MD

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V051000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #10537506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Volvo V70 at 117,000 miles Saunderstown, RI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE DIM/DRIVER INFORMATION MANUAL/DASHBOARD DISPLAY BROKE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE LOSS OF WARNING LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL DISPLAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10476922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Volvo V70 at 91,700 miles Redlands, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WITHOUT WARNING THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, TEMPERATURE GAUGE, DRIVER INFORMATION) STOP WORKING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GO OUT. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE SPEED OR OTHER CRITICAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10433598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo V70 Minneapolis, MN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

1998 Volvo V70 at 159,000 miles Gainesville, GA, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING, BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. FUSES ARE GOOD AND BULBS ARE GOOD AS WELL! BRAKES HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE THE DRIVE HOME HEADLIGHTS GO IN AND OUT. COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT!

NHTSA complaint #10386483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Volvo V70 at 143,000 miles Woodbridge, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I OWN A 2000 VOLVO V70 WAGON AND THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT FUNCTIONING. BEFORE SEEING THE CAR, THE MECHANIC PREDICTED THE PROBLEM WOULD BE THE LIGHT HARNESS, BECAUSE THE LED LAMPS ARE TYPICALLY LONG LIVED. (BUT DOES THIS ALSO SUGGEST THE PROBLEM IS COMMONPLACE?) TOOK THE CAR TO BE DIAGNOSED. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THE COST TO REPLACE IT WILL BE ABOUT $425. WHILE I AM WAITING FOR THE PART TO COME IN, I CONTINUE TO BE WITHOUT THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10335800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Volvo V70 KEY West, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHT LENSES OF MY 2006 VOLVO V70 HAVE BECOME CLOUDY AND THEREFORE REDUCE MY NIGHT VISIBILITY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10296775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 at 104,000 miles Astoria, OR

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. HE STATED THAT TWO OF THE THREE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED. WHEN THE THREE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, ALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DECELERATING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL # 04V051000, EXTERIOR LIGHTING BRAKE LIGHTS; HOWEVER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM AND THAT HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. HE PURCHASED THE PARTS AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #10285233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 at 30,265 miles Chicago, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. AFTER HE EXITS THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICES THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHTS DIM ONLY AFTER REPEATED PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V051000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS). THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,265.

NHTSA complaint #10225882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Volvo V70 Milford, NH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE CENTER BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONS BUT NOT THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM WAS SHOWN UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 04V051000. MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL WHEN I CHECKED WITH VOLVO VIA VIN NUMBER. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE.

NHTSA complaint #10207279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volvo V70 at 84,000 miles Stoughton, MA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

2001 V70 HEADLIGHT BULB SOCKET ON RUNNING LIGHTS H& BULB BURNED UP. THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE TO FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10193103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Volvo V70 at 86,000 miles Washington, DC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

I HAVE A 2001 VOLVO V70. I GOT A MESSAGE THAT THE LEFT HAND TURN SIGNAL BULB WAS OUT. I BOUGHT A NEW BULB TO REPLACE IT, AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER FOUND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SOCKET, AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED IT. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT A RECALL FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM WAS ISSUED FOR VOLVO V70S FROM 1998-2000, (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 00V405000 ). IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS RECALL SHOULD BE CHANGED TO INCLUDE 2001 MODELS, AS CLEARLY, THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED WITH THE NEW MODEL YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10188673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Volvo V70 Jersey City, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #10171494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Volvo V70 problems