Research · Midsize Station Wagons

2005 Volvo V70Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 21 owner complaints for the 2005 Volvo V70. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (4) and air bags (3). The EPA rates it 18–22 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
18–22mpg
EPA · 8 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Oct 2021
Owner complaints
21
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$3,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Oct 14, 2021NHTSA 21V800000

Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)

Free remedy

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

EquipmentReported Nov 8, 2010NHTSA 10V566000

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 29, 2007NHTSA 07E023000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

21 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2005 – Jan 2022
  1. Vehicle speed control4
  2. Air bags3
  3. Power train3
  4. Fuel system, gasoline2
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  6. Engine and engine cooling2
  7. Fuel/propulsion system1
  8. Service brakes1
  9. Structure1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each V70 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998187
1999169
200093
2001221
2002106
200347
200489
200521
200624
200711
200811
20094
20104
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MODULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR GAUGE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2015Vehicle speed controlODI 10764613

Air bags

3 reports
“Volvo do not want to replace the recall airbag with the same original logo on the airbag. This logo is the “R” on the airbag. The airbag without the “R” is for a regular Volvo.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 31, 2022Air bagsODI 11449620

Power train

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RADIATOR FLUID WOULD LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND PERFORM SLUGGISH. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2011Power trainODI 10430917
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

8 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.5L 5-cyl turbo · 2.4L 5-cyl · 2.4L 5-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (S5) · Manual 5-spd · Automatic 5-spd · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
V70 FWD
Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
182722$3,600404
V70 FWD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192722$3,600404
V70 FWD
Auto 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
V70 AWD
Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
V70 FWD
Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
V70 FWD
Man 6-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
V70 R AWD
Man 6-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162319$4,200468
V70 R AWD
Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162218$4,400494
  • V70 FWD
    Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,600/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 27 hwy · $3,600/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Auto 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • V70 AWD
    Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Man 6-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • V70 R AWD
    Man 6-spd, 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    16 city · 23 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • V70 R AWD
    Auto (S5), 5 cyl, 2.5 L, Turbo
    16 city · 22 hwy · $4,400/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Volvo V70 as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 1557
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2005 V70 questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Volvo V70 have?

4 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2005 Volvo V70 problems?

Owners filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (4), air bags (3), power train (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Volvo V70 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Volvo V70 at 18–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (8 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026