Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Volvo V70 problems
Owners filed 47 complaints about the 2003 Volvo V70 with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and May 2023. The most-cited component is power train (10).
Complaints
47
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
- Power train10
- Electrical system8
- Air bags6
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Vehicle speed control4
- Exterior lighting4
- Engine3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Seat belts3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Tires2
- Structure1
- Fuel system, other1
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
5
2
5
2
4
5
2
1
6
1
3
0
2
1
1
0
0
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 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
Power train
10 reports
“WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THE TRANSAXLE DOWNSHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR, IT WILL LURCH AND A LOUD 'CLUNK' SHAKES THE VEHICLE. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING, SHIFTING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR; THE TRANSAXLE WILL HESITATE, ENGINE WILL REV AND MAKES A LOUD 'CLUNK' THAT SHAKES THE VEHICLE WHEN THE GEAR CHANGE FINALLY OCCURS. ALSO, IF I NEED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES SUDDENLY AND THEN RE-ACCELERATE, IT REALLY MAKES A LOUD 'CLUNK' AS THE ENGINE WILL REV AND GO NOWHERE, EVENTUALLY SLAMMING ITSELF INTO 2ND GEAR AND FRIGHTENING THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOUD NOISES AND LURCHING. *JS”
Electrical system
8 reports
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN FLASHED BACK ON. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THEN THE DISPLAY INDICATED THE SEAT BELTS WEREN'T WORKING. *TR”
Air bags
6 reports1 related recall
“I live 5 hours from the closest Volvo dealership so I called to see if they could send me the the air bag that has been recalled. The airbag is very easy to be replaced in less then 10 minutes. Because of this it is absolutely absurd for me to travel for ten hours to get something done that I can do myself in 10 minutes. They said I can buy the airbag and they could send it. But this being a recall is'nt it their responsibility to fix it in any way possible. I just feel like this is wrong that they are doing this and am addressing it in this compliant.”
Fuel system, gasoline
6 reports1 related recall
“NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM MY 2003 VOLVO V70. MY MECHANIC FOUND THE ISSUE BEING A LEAKING FUEL PUMP. VOLVO HAS ISSUED RECALL NOTICES ON 2001 TO 2002 VOLVO V70, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 2003 MODELS. THE ISSUES APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME EVEN THOUGH VOLVO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2003 MODEL. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACTIVATING THE PARKING BRAKES. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER VOLVO CARS OF BETHESDA SERVICE CENTER (5415 BUTLER RD, BETHESDA, MD 20814, (301) 750-6100) WHO HAD AN EMPLOYEE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AND WAS RETURNED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 280,582.”
Exterior lighting
4 reports
“THE TURN SIGNAL IS SOMEHOW NOT CONNECTED PROPERLY TO THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THE DRIVER USES THE TURN SIGNAL, THE BRIGHTS TO THE CAR GO ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY, AS THE DRIVER FLASHES BRIGHTS TO OTHER DRIVERS AS THE TURN SIGNAL GOES ON WITH THE BRIGHTS TO THE CAR. TRIED TO FIX THE ISSUE ONCE, AND THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER. WILL FIX THE PART AGAIN. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.