Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Volvo C-Class problems
Owners filed 42 complaints about the 2000 Volvo C-Class with NHTSA between Mar 2001 and Jun 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (15).
Complaints
42
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system15
- Vehicle speed control11
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Equipment3
- Visibility3
- Tires3
- Air bags2
- Wheels2
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Fuel system, other1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Exterior lighting1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Steering1
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
5
3
3
18
1
1
1
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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
Electrical system
15 reports1 fire
“THE CAR LOSES POWER, SHUTS OFF, AND/OR WON'T ACCELERATE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS WITHOUT WARNING. VOLVO HAS DETERMINED THE ETM'S IN THESE MODELS TO BE DEFECTIVE BUT CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR WORKMANSHIP. THEY HAVE NOT HAD TO TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACCIDENTS, INCIDENTS CAUSED BY THEIR DEFECTIVE PARTS. THE CONSUMER WHO HAS BOUGHT THE CARS, TRUSTING THE VOLVO NAMES IS BEING MADE TO PAY FOR TRUSTING THEM. THE PUT ALL OF THESE RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE TO KEEP FROM FIXING WHAT THEY. MESSED UP INITIALLY. THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE SOFTWARE, IF YOUR CAR BREAKS IN TIME AND YOU KNOW ABOUT THE RECALL. WE, THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE FORCED TO TAKE MONETARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PARTS, WORK, OR THE INCONVENIENCE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. WE LIKE OUR CARS AND THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED AGAINST US. WE HAVEN'T EVEN ADDRESSED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THIS DEFECT, LIKE CHEVROLET. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
11 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION UP TO 75 MPH. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. IN MARCH OF 2009 THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 VOLVO C70 UP A HILL 80 MILES INTO A ROAD TRIP AND THE CAR LOST POWER AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AND I THOUGHT GAS WAS NOT GETTING TO THE ENGINE, I PULLED OFF GOT GAS, THEN PROCEEDED BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE AND UNDER THE HOOD, ALSO THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE PLACE. THERE WAS STILL NO WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR AND THE CAR WAS NOW IDLING ROUGH AND SKIPPING SO I DROVE 1 MILE TO A SERVICE STATION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED 80 MILES BACK TO MY HOME. THE MECHANIC INFORMED MET THAT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WHICH ONLY HAS 100,700 MILES. IT WILL COST $4500 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE, $6000-$7000 IF REBUILT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA. *TR”
Equipment
3 reports1 fire
“DRIVING HOME FROM THEATER, SMELLED ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL. TURNED OFF RADIO, AIR CONDITIONER ETC...WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME AND IT WAS DARK. PARKED CAR. NEXT MORNING WENT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND FOUND A HOLE IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUSE BOX (MELTED PLASTIC). PRIED OFF AND DISCOVERED A ROW OF FUSES BURNT TO A CRISP. AIR IS NOW NOT WORKING...OBVIOUSLY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT OR FIRE. WE HAVE HAD NO MAJOR WORK DONE ON CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. *TR”
Visibility
3 reports
“IN HOT TEMPERATURES C70 CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW SEAL DEFECTIVE LOOSENS REAR WINDOW WHICH DISLODGES AND OBSCURES REAR VIEW. *AK”
Tires
3 reports
“ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED SERIOUS SIDEWALL CRACKS SOMETIME BEFORE BEING REPLACED AT 17000 MILES. CAR DEALER TOOK THEM TO PIRELI TIRE DEALER WHO WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING SINCE TREAD WAS WARN TO 4/32. THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. TRIES WORE OUT THEN FAILED MUCH TOO SOON ALTHOUGH I HAD ALL RECOMMENDED DEALER SERVICE. I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES AND SAVED ONE TIRE. 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.