Problems · by component
2001 Volvo V70 electrical system problems
30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Volvo V70 cite electrical system, 14% of all 221 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
30
14% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB WOULD NOT FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, THE DOOR LOCKS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE TURN SIGNALS WORKED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, VARIOUS OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.”
“I NOTICED THE TAIL LIGHT BRAKE BULBS WERE BURNING OUT QUICKLY. AFTER GETTING A TICKET I STOPPED DRIVING IT UNTIL I COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE. VOLVO LISTS A BRAKE RELAY RECALL. BRAKE LIGHT FUSES AND RELAYS ARE IN 4 LOCATIONS IN THE CAR. THEY ARE: 1. UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT ECU, 2.THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT A. CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT CCU AND B. FUSE PANEL BY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR POST 3. REAR CONTROL UNIT IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT. THE PROBLEM WAS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN WHERE A STEEL RACE THAT SURROUNDS THE TAILLIGHT BULBS TRANSFERS THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS DESIGNED TO FAIL. AS THE BULB HEATS UP IT TRANSFERS THE HEAT TO THE PLATE AND PLASTIC PINS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE SPRING STEEL PARTS OF THE REMOVABLE BULB SOCKET UNIT. AS THE PLASTIC PINS WEAKEN AND MOVE AWAY UNDER PRESSURE AND HEAT FROM THE BULB SOCKET SPRING STEEL KEEPERS, AND CONDUCTORS OF VOLTAGE AND CURRENT, THE CURRENT IS THROTTLED DOWN TO A PIN POINT AS THE PLATE MOVES AWAY FROM THE BULB CREATING MORE HEAT AND ARCING TO MELT THE STEEL RACE SURROUND THE BULBS THAT SUPPLY THE CURRENT. THE REPLACED BULBS SEEM TO WORK FOR A SHORT TIME AS THE CONNECTION IS…”
“2001 VOLVO V70. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPAIRS UNDER RECALL NOTICE EA05021 *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM OF THE VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD HAD BEEN UNDIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY MECHANICS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DISCLOSE THE RECALL AND SHE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM. *JB”
“VOLVO V70 2001 HESITATING TO CHANGE GEAR, PROBLEM OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SLOW COMMUTE AT APROX. 20-40 MILES/HR. ONE DAY DRIVING THROUGH I-285 IN ATLANTA, GA CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. THANK GOD I WAS AT AN EXIT AREA AND WAS ABLE TO SLIDE CAR TO A NON TRAFFIC AREA. CAR WAS ABLE TO START ENGINE AGAIN APROX. WITHIN 5-10 MINUTES. CAR PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO NORTH POINT VOLVO, ALPHARETTA, GA. THE CAR HAD A "SENSOR PROBLEM" AND WAS "CORRECTED", PER THE DEALER.. TODAY CAR IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS - HESITANT TO CHANGE GEAR. I AM WORRIED IT WILL TURN OFF AGAIN ONE DAY. RESEARCHING IN THE INTERNET FOUND A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEMS. VOLVO COMPANY SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR”
“REAR LIFT GATE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS HAS WIRES SEVERED DUE TO THE LIFTGATE HINGE. THIS PROBLEM RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE CENTER REAR MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT, A WARNING INDICATOR THAT THE REAR GATE IS AJAR, AND FAILURE OF THE REAR DEFROSTER. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INDICATED THAT VEHICLE HINGE CUT THE WIRING HARNESS AND THAT THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS AND DESIGN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM”
Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.