Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Volvo C-Class problems

Owners filed 7 complaints about the 2003 Volvo C-Class with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and May 2020. The most-cited component is power train (4).

Complaints
7
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train4
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Engine1
  4. Steering1
  5. Interior lighting1
  6. Engine and engine cooling1
  7. Visibility1

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20031
20040
20050
20060
20072
20080
20091
20100
20111
20121
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20201

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES WHILE STARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARMER WEATHER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEIKIN MOTOR COMPANIES (38750 MENTOR AVE #1, WILLOUGHBY, OH 44094), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2020Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11326325

Electrical system

3 reports
“THE KEY WON'T TURN FOR THE IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT VOLVO WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP IS APPROX 800 DOLLARS. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL LEAVE U STRANDED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I FEAR THIS WILL PROGRESS AND LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2012Steering, Electrical systemODI 10473005

Engine

1 report

Steering

1 report

Interior lighting

1 report
“2003 C70 CONV. CAR BATTERY GOES DEAD MULTIPLE TIMES. CHANGED BATTERY AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. DETAILED CHECK DISCOVERED A SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR. PLASTIC PIVOT SHAFT HAS TORQUED OFF AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRES EMBEDDED IN THE SHAFT THAT POWER THE VISOR LIGHT. REPLACEMENT SUN VISOR COSTS AROUND $200 AND THE WEAK SHAFT IS THE SAME, SO FAILURE WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR GREATER TORQUE WHEN LOWERING THE SUN VISOR. REMOVAL OF THE BULB IN THE AFFECTED VISOR ELIMINATED THE BATTERY DRAIN. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2011Electrical system, Interior lightingODI 10383915

Engine and engine cooling

1 report
“TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR FAILURE. COOLANTS MIXING WITH EACH OTHER AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AT LOWER SPEEDS. DEALER SAYS $5000.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE BOTH TRANNY AND RADIATOR. I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 VOLVO C-70 CONVERTIBLE IN 6 MONTHS PRIOR COMPLAINING OF A LOW WHIRRING NOISE WHICH THEY COULD NOT DETECT OR WOULD NOT DETECT. I ASKED ABOUT WARRANTY/OR SECRET WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE AND THAT VOLVO WOULDN'T PAY FOR REPAIR, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING QUITE A BIT. CONSUMERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2009Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10260420
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.