Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Volvo V70 problems
Owners filed 89 complaints about the 2004 Volvo V70 with NHTSA between Jan 2004 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (22).
Complaints
89
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Electrical system12
- Fuel system, gasoline12
- Fuel/propulsion system11
- Steering9
- Seats9
- Engine6
- Power train6
- Suspension5
- Seat belts4
- Air bags4
- Exterior lighting3
- Tires3
- Vehicle speed control3
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
6
6
3
4
4
9
10
11
8
3
3
8
1
6
3
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 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
Engine and engine cooling
22 reports1 related recall
“DRIVING HOME FROM DETROIT TO INDIANAPOLIS ON HIGHWAY... CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN WENT OUT A LITTLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD... LATER CAME ON AGAIN... ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE... THEN SUDDEN POWER LOSS....ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPPED... COASTED TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY WITH NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES... RESTARTED ENGINE... ENGINE RAN WELL ENOUGH TO GET ME TO NEXT EXIT BEFORE LOSING POWER AGAIN... THIS TIME IT WOULDN'T RUN WELL ENOUGH TO DRIVE IT AFTER RESTARTING.... AFTER EXPENSIVE TRIP TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, FOUND OUT ISSUE WAS A FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR THAT FAILED... THIS IS KIND OF LIKE HAVING YOUR CAR LOSE POWER AND STOP RUNNING BECAUSE YOUR COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAILED... ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SHOULD NOT SHUT CAR OFF IN RESPONSE TO THIS FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FAIL... THIS GAUGE IS USED TO OPTIMIZE FUEL CONSUMPTION... IT'S NOT A PRESSURE REGULATOR... UNEXPECTED AND COMPLETE POWER LOSS ON A HIGHWAY CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS... ENGINE CONTROL MODULE SHOULD NOT BE PROGRAMMED IN THIS WAY... *TR”
Electrical system
12 reports1 fire
“AFTER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT USED VEHICLE JUST PURCHASED (2004 VOLVO V70) HAD A BAD REM MODULE; RENDERING FUEL GAUGE, REAR DOOR LOCKS, FUEL DOOR LATCH, AND HATCHBACK LOCK INOPERATIVE. THE REAR HATCHBACK HAS NO MANUAL METHOD TO LOCK IT; MAKING VEHICLE UNSECURABLE. INVESTIGATION ONLINE INDICATES THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. DEALER WANTS AROUND $200 TO UPDATE SOFTWARE TO FIX PROBLEMS. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, SINCE AT LEAST TWO CRITICAL ITEMS (HATCHBACK AND FUEL DOOR LATCHES) DEPEND ON FUNCTIONING REM TO SECURE THEM. I BELIEVE THESE ITEMS SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDLESS OF AGE.”
Fuel system, gasoline
12 reports1 related recall
“WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN, THERE IS OFTEN A LOSS OF POWER AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD FOR UP TO 5 TO 10 SECONDS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL ALREADY BUT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WITH MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. HOWEVER OUR VEHICLE IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I HAVE SPOKEN TO VOLVO BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNWILLING TO WORK WITH US TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. I FEEL AS THOUGH THE PREVIOUS RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPANDED BUT I AM UNSURE. THANK YOU *TR”
Fuel/propulsion system
11 reports1 crash
“This vehicle, a 2004 V70 wagon, is exhibiting the exact safety defect described in Campaign 09V483000 / R220 (fuel odor, leaking flange, residual pressure loss). But because my VIN is not specifically on the list (it has been registered in CT, not in a "warm climate"), Volvo is refusing to fix. It is clear that this vehicle has the issue described in the recall (the top of the tank has been visualized). The issue started in January 2026 and has steadily worsened. With the amount of gasoline leaking, this is not only a safety issue but also an EMISSIONS issue.”
Steering
9 reports1 related recall
“I have recevievide from Volvo called the number and said they cannot say it was free.I called the number 1 800 458 1552 said could promise I had to talk to the manager at the dealer. I asked them if found other problems with steering that I would have to pay if they tear into steering comlun. You guys need to fix this now. I want to make sure Im cover here . EWhat am suppose to do if they break my steering down and ask me to pay for other problmems with the car it doesnot state that on the recall letter. What kind of airbag do they put in to the car I ant to its preminum airbags that are put in high in vehicles here. I want to know if I get protected documentation from this recall. Also do I get the old airbag back so i can seek legal consel as well. It just says free it should state that im protected from labor and parts costs as well.”
Seats
9 reports6 fires
“I WAS AT OUR AUTOMOTIVE SHOP AND HAD TO GIVE A CUSTOMER A RIDE TO WORK. I HAD THE SEAT WARMERS ON BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. ABOUT A MINUTE INTO THE DRIVE, I FEEL A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LEFT OUTER THIGH. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT. THE BURNING SENSATION GOT WORSE, I STATED, "SOMETHING'S BURNING ME!" THE CUSTOMER STATES SHE SMELLS SOMETHING BURNING, LIKE WIRES. I PULL OVER, HOP OUT OF THE CAR TO NOTICE A BURN HOLE IN MY SEAT. LUCKILY, I DID NOT GET SEVERELY BURNT, HOWEVER, MY THIGH WAS SORE FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEAT. THERE WAS NOT. AFTER GOOGLING THIS SITUATION, I FOUND THAT MY 04 VOLVO V70 WASN'T THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE.”
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.