Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Volvo V70 problems
Owners filed 11 complaints about the 2008 Volvo V70 with NHTSA between Jul 2013 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (6).
Complaints
11
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system6
- Engine3
- Tires1
- Exterior lighting1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Other / unknown1
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
1
1
1
0
2
0
3
0
0
1
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 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
Electrical system
6 reports1 fire
“In mid summer of 2021, my car overheated randomly without any warning driving down the interstate. I pulled off immediately and cut the car off but, it was already done. The radiator cracked as a result of the engine overheating. I had the car towed to my mechanic and he replaced the radiator. Since then I’ve been having a lot of check engine codes. It’s now May of 2022, my car is still using and going through a lot of coolant. There are no leaks in the coolant. My mechanic recently said that the radiator fan is malfunctioning which is popping the check engine and also probably making the car overheat. I contacted Volvo dealership after seeing the recall on the radiator fan for my year make and model but, they informed me there is no recall on my car via the vin#. This week I’ve been watching not only the coolant level but also the fans…. My car has two fans on the front, one of which is not cutting on when it should be , the smaller one seems to be working fine. I think the same recall issue is also effecting my car but, Volvo is not helping me.”
Engine
3 reports
“WHILE DRIVING THE WARNING FOR ENGINE OVERHEATING COMES ON AND ADVISES TO STOP SAFELY.VOLVO DEALER STATES IT IS THE FAN CONTROL MODULE THAT IS AT FAULT AND I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH SOME 2008-2009 V70 MODELS.THE VOLVO DEALER STATES THAT MY VIN IS EXEMPT FROM RECALL BUT CLEARLY IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY AND THE A/C WAS NOT FULLY FUNCTIONAL WINDOWS FOG UP AND THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYS WITHOUT ANY PREDICTABILITY. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE.”
Tires
1 report
“225/55R 95H On the highway in center lane going 70mph. Car was starting to shake and then heard loud noise coming from the back. Next thing the tire blew. Tread ripped off the bumper, side rear panel, taillight and trim under the door. We were lucky to be able to pull over to the shoulder. We had to get a flat bed tow back home. Took the tire to the Goodyear place where we had purchased the tires. There was 12000 mile on the tires. We purchased a new tire. Driving home there was the same shake. Went back to the tire place and they put the passenger rear tire on the front passenger side to see if it was truly the tire. Yes it was, so we purchased 3 new Goodyear tires, the same ones that was replaced from flat. The Goodyer guy told us to send the tire to Goodyear, because it felt it was defected. Maybe they would pay the over $5000.00 to repair our car. He told me that they have had a lot of problems with that tire. Goodyear sent a certified letter to us stating " Tire condition occured as a result of substantial impact causing overdeflection of the tire and fracture of sidewall rubber and/or fabric plies and/or liner material". They will not pay. If we had hit…”
Exterior lighting
1 report1 fire
“TODAY I RECEIVED A WARNING MESSAGE THAT MY LOW BEAM WAS OUT. I STOPPED IN THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM REPLACEMENT BULB. WHEN I WENT TO DISASSEMBLE IT I NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. I'M GOING TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS BUT THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. IT'S NOT OLD AND JUST CORRODED IT IS ACTUALLY BURNT.”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE OVERHEATING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAIT BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL FUNCTION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CONTROL AND MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED IN JULY 2009, FAILED. ON OCTOBER 16, 2014, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING, DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE FAN CONTROL MODULE AND COOLING FAN. SHE ALSO EXPERIENCED REDUCED AIR CONDITIONING PERFORMANCE AND AIR CONDITION FAILURE DURING SLOW TRAFFIC. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS COST $1200. UPDATED 12/02/14 *JB”
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.