Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Volvo V70 problems

Owners filed 221 complaints about the 2001 Volvo V70 with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and Feb 2022. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (61).

Complaints
221
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control61
  2. Power train45
  3. Electrical system30
  4. Fuel system, gasoline24
  5. Engine and engine cooling22
  6. Exterior lighting10
  7. Visibility8
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  9. Suspension7
  10. Air bags6
  11. Fuel/propulsion system5
  12. Tires5
  13. Structure5
  14. Steering5

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
20003
200117
20026
20032
20049
200573
200621
200718
20089
20097
20107
201117
20126
20134
20144
20153
20163
20171
20183
20192
20201
20212
20223

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

Vehicle speed control

61 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“I STARTED THE CAR, PLACED THE CAR IN DRIVE GEAR AND IDLED THROUGH THE PARKING LOT TRAFFIC TO THE INTERSECTION BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION THOUGH THE CONDITION RESTORED AFTER I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED IT. THEN THE ACCELERATOR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY.HAD A SEMI TRUCK BEEN COMING ALONG, I WOULD NOT BE HERE TO WRITE YOU THIS LETTER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10586226

Power train

45 reports1 crash
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2018Power train, Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11093551

Electrical system

30 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE MELTING AND BLACK SMOKE WAS EMERGING FROM THE SEATS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BURNING SMELL EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE CIRCUITS TO THE SEATS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2019Electrical system, SeatsFire reportedODI 11217130

Fuel system, gasoline

24 reports1 related recall
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 18, 2019Fuel system, gasolineODI 11280896

Engine and engine cooling

22 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2022Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 11451932

Exterior lighting

10 reports
“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 complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 31, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11144519
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.