Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Volvo C-Class problems
Owners filed 31 complaints about the 1999 Volvo C-Class with NHTSA between Jun 2000 and Jul 2014. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (9).
Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control9
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Power train2
- Structure2
- Equipment2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Tires2
- Service brakes, electric1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Seat belts1
- Fuel system, other1
- Air bags1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
1
0
2
2
15
3
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Vehicle speed control
9 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE ETS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000....UPDATED 05/22/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LIMP MODE AFFECTS THE BREAKING SYSTEM, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES. UPDATED 06/505/2013 *JS”
Electrical system
6 reports1 crash
“THE CAR REDUCED THE SPEED AND NOW IT STOPPED RUNNING BECAUSE THE ETM IS NOT WORKING. I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY SAID THAT THE WARRANTY IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN OVER 10 YEARS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER IN OCTOBER 2013 AND THEREFORE I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $900 TO FIX IT. THEY SAID THE WARRANTY STARTED FROM THE DAY THE FIRST CAR WAS BOUGHT WHICH WAS AUGUST 25, 1999 BUT IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE FROM THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED WITH THE ETM THAT CAUSED VOLVO TO RECALL AND BUY THE CARS BACK. VOLVO MADE APPROXIMATELY 300,000 CARS AND REPAIRED AND BOUGHT BACK AROUND 165,000 CARS. THIS MEANS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY VOLVO THAT THE CAR I CURRENTLY OWN THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED IN NORTH CAROLINA. AS I SEE IT THEY NEGLECTED TO CHANGE THE THROTTLE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THIS CAR CAN CAUSE MY FAMILY TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE REGIONAL MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE CAR COULD NOT BE FIXED AND THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR AND THE PARTS. THEY ARE OFFERING TO GIVE ME A DISCOUNT ON THE REPAIRS BUT I FEEL THEY NEED TO…”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED IN FEBRUARY 2005 THE ENGINE SURGED WHILE IDLING AT STOP SIGNS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ELECTRIC THROTTLE MODULE. IN 2002 AND ON JULY 25, 2005 THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, ON JANUARY 20, 2005 THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT. UPON INSPECTION THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT BECAUSE IT HAD WEAKENED. ALL THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.”
Power train
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY REDUCED SPEED WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.”
Structure
2 reports
“CONVERTIBLE TOP BACK BAR STRUCTURE CRACKED IN HALF AND TOP WILL NOT OPERATE(CLOSE OR OPEN) NOW. WHILE THE TOP BROKE, AS I WAS OPENING IT, IT ALSO FELL ON THE SENSOR FOR THE LOCK AND BROKE THAT ALSO. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE ONLY FIX IS ORDERING A NEW BAR AT THE COST OF $1500, WHICH I DON'T HAVE. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I CANT DRIVE OR REPAIR. *TR”
Equipment
2 reports
“I WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. SO I GOT OUT THE FACTORY JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LIFT UP THE CAR. THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR ARE "SCISSOR-TYPE" AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE. SO, THE CAR WAS LIFTED ON ONE SIDE AND I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT TIRE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE JACK GAVE WAY AND THE CAR CAME DOWN. LUCKILY THE FRONT TIRE WAS HALFWAY IN THE WHEEL-WELL, SO THE CAR JUST SETTLED ON THE TIRE WITH THE ROTOR PUSHING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE RIM (I NOTICED SCRATCHES INSIDE THE RIM AFTER I REMOVED THE TIRE). WELL, I TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE JACK AND SAW THAT THE BIG, LONG SCREW BROKE IN HALF. I JUST COULDN'T IMAGINE THAT THE JACK VOLVO GIVES OUT WITH THEIR CARS WOULD SIMPLY BREAK, ESPECIALLY IF EVERYTHING WAS DONE PROPERLY. THE CAR WAS EMPTY, SO WEIGHT COULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THERE WAS SOME LOWER BODY PANEL DAMAGE FROM THE JACK WHEN IT BROKE. ALSO, MY FINGERS GOT BRUISED AND SCRATCHED UP A BIT FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CAR FALLING ON THE FRONT TIRE THAT I WAS REMOVING AT THE TIME. *NLM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.