Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Volvo XC70 problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2003 Volvo XC70 with NHTSA between Jul 2003 and Feb 2016. The most-cited component is power train (5).
Complaints
24
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 train5
- Air bags4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Electrical system4
- Suspension3
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Exterior lighting1
- Visibility1
- Equipment1
- Parking brake1
- Service brakes, air1
- Structure1
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 Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
6
6
1
2
1
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 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
5 reports
“I PURCHASED MY (2003) VOLVO XC70 IN LATE 2006 FROM I SERVICE IT REGULARLY AND DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECKS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND HESITATE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $5700. THE CAR HAS 71000 MILES ON IT. *TT”
Air bags
4 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC70. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.”
Electrical system
4 reports
“I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY GAS GAUGE DROPPED BELOW EMPTY AND ALL MY GAUGES STOPPED WORKING INCLUDING THE CLOCK, BLINKERS, SPEEDOMETER AND THE DIGITAL INFORMATION COMPUTER PANEL THAT INDICATES HOW MANY MILES LEFT TO A GALLON, ETC. THIS WAS QUITE DANGEROUS AS I COULD NO LONGER SEE THE SPEED OF TRAVEL, HOW MUCH GAS I HAD LEFT, THE TIME NOR COULD I USE MY BLINKERS TO INDICATE LANE CHANGES. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT THE SPEEDOMETER PANEL WOULD JUST DIE OUT! *TR”
Suspension
3 reports
“RIGHT HAND SIDE, FRONT COIL SPRING CRACKED IN TWO. *TR”
Fuel/propulsion system
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXPERIENCE HESITATION WITH STARTING AND DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.