2001 Volvo V70: problems, recalls and reliability
9 recalls and 221 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is vehicle speed control (23% of complaints); the 2000 and 2002 and 2003 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 221 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2001 Volvo V70. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the engine caught fire. The air bag warning light was illuminated. There was damage to the garage. There were no reported injuries. The fire department extinguished the fire and confirmed the origin of the fire was the engine. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 178,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2022
“Received an airbag recall. There is no local dealer but there are authorized non-dealer service shops that do replace airbags. Under the recall a Volvo dealer must do the replacement. The nearest Volvo dealer is 300 miles away. Volvo will only reimburse for 25 miles of towing. The recall states "If you are unable to have this procedure performed without charge....". Towing cost would be approximately $800.00. How do I, and several others in my area, resolve this issue?”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2022
“I was notified of the recall. Because I live 300 miles away from the nearest volvo dealership, there is no option for me to replace the airbag free of charge. Additionally, there is no plan in place to provide me with a safe vehicle until such a time that my volvo can be repaired. Until I undertake a great risk by traveling 300 miles at great inconvenience and expense, to have this problem resolved, I am expected to take a daily risk by driving this unsafe vehicle.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2021
Show 7 more owner reports
“Been trying to get the airbags serviced and replace since I received the notice from Volvo on Dec.14 2021. I have made several appointments in my area to get this matter fixed, Dealers in my area either don't have replacement in stock or don't know of the recall contract Volvo CarUSA LLC they could not help me, now I am receiving text message on dash saying SRS Airbag service Urgent. Any help would be appreciated. Sincerely [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2021
“Heater core burst causing severe burn on drivers right foot. An inch and a half deep puddle of boiling hot antifreeze poured out with no warning from center console over gas pedal. Passenger floor area also had boiling antifreeze. Daughter was driving and taken to hospital treated for second degree burns.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jun 2021
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo v70. The contact noticed a fuel odor around and inside the vehicle. The contact also noticed fuel leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Apr 2019
“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.”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2018
“When I am driving in 5th gear the transmission will drop into 4th gear, at that time I loose 1st, 3rd and 5th gears I can shift between 4th and 2nd. The shift is very hard and causes a jerk and clunking noise. I have to stop and shut off the vehicle. I turn the car immediately back on and all the gears are functional. I'm not sure why there's so many complaints about this issue yet no action has been taken to fix this problem”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2018
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo v70. While operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the top of the fuel tank was leaking and the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer (maple hill volvo in kalamazoo, mi) were notified of the failure. The contact was informed by the dealer that the vehicle was previously inspected per NHTSA campaign number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the failure still occurred. The failure mileage was 160,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 9 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: WAGONS. THE BOLTED JOINT, USED FOR ATTACHING THE BRACKET THAT IS PART OF THE INSTALLATION HARDWARE FOR THE ISOFIX-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT, MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ANCHORAGE BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO THE CORRECT TORQUE LEVEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS AND WAGONS. THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ANCHORAGE BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO THE CORRECT TORQUE LEVEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
How other years compare
Check your exact V70 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Volvo V70 reliable?
NHTSA has 221 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Volvo V70. The most complained-about area is vehicle speed control (23% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Volvo V70 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 81,532 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Volvo V70 have open recalls?
9 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling:cooling system:fan. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.