2003 Volvo XC70 problems
The 2003 Volvo XC70 has 28 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (21%) concerns fuel system. After that come transmission (18%) and air bags (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 28 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 1 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 1 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 115,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 2 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 21 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 115,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a crash; 1 injury reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Volvo XC70 with enough data (3 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving down the road, a car was attempting to make a left-hand turn across four lanes of traffic. The person, apparently, did not see me and struck the side of my vehicle breaking the tire rod and doing extensive damage to the passenger front and back doors. The glove box was even difficult to open. In all of this, the passenger side airbag did not deploy. My son who is 14 and is 170 pounds was sitting in the passenger seat at the time. He is quite sore along his arm and neck.
Front under carriage air dam/splash panel abruptly pulled away from chassis while traveling at high speed (passing). This resulted in pieces of heavy duty plastic breaking off and bouncing under the car, catching on the pavement. Disconcerting--I thought at first I blew a tire (lound noise and then sustained wind noise). It appeared the plastic became fatigued and pulled away from the anchoring bolts. Dealer parts manager reports that he has replaced several of these...
1) while my 2003 volvo xc70 was parked in the driveway noticed that there were two pipes that were hanging low on the car which was new. Car was taken to the dealer and was told that it was the fuel lines and they had come loose. The car is used only for local and highway driving, so it is unclear why the fuel line was loose. 2) if the fuel line had caught on something there could have been a fire an/or explosion.
Catastrophic parking brake failure caused right real wheel to lock up while vehicle was moving. This could have LED to loss of control, but did not in this instance. I have noticed several other volvo customers have filed this same complaint. Cost of repair is unreasonable at over $1000 due to poor design and inferior materials used. Brake linings delamination was the root cause. The vehicle is a 2003 volvo xc70.
I purchased my (2003) volvo xc70 in late 2006 from I service it regularly and do routine maintenance checks. About a month ago the car began to jerk and hesitate. I took it to the dealer and was told I needed a new transmission for $5700. The car has 71000 miles on it.