Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Volvo XC70 problems
Owners filed 39 complaints about the 2008 Volvo XC70 with NHTSA between Dec 2007 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (9).
Complaints
39
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
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
- Fuel system, gasoline9
- Engine4
- Electrical system4
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Air bags4
- Visibility/wiper3
- Service brakes3
- Visibility2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Exterior lighting2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Wheels2
- Equipment2
- Tires2
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
2
3
2
2
4
2
1
2
4
1
3
4
4
2
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 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
Fuel system, gasoline
9 reports
“FUEL GAUGE ERRATICALLY MOVES DOWNWARD INAPPROPRIATELY. SEEMS TO RESET WHEN CAR RESTARTED, BUT TOTALLY UNDEPENDABLE IN TERMS OF ACCURACY. AUTO IS 3.5 YEARS OLD BUT OUT OF WARRANTY AT 60K MI. DEALER RECOMMENDS NEW FUEL TANK (WHICH INCLUDES SENDING UNIT) AND FUEL PUMP. RECOMMENDED AGAINST USED PART AS "OLD PART HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED" IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A DEFECT WHICH HAS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL/CAMPAIGN. NOTE: REPAIR WITH PARTS AND LABOR IS $2100.00.”
Engine
4 reports1 fire
“HAVE HAD MULTIPLE OVERHEATING INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING, WHICH COINCIDED WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPING WORKING. I THINK LEARNED OF VOLVO RECALL #09V218000 WHICH DESCRIBES EXACTLY THE FAILURE I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING. I CONTACTED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT THEY CLAIM THAT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE VEHICLES RECALLED. THE REFERENCED ABOVE WAS FOR 17,614 2008-2009 XC70, S80, AND V70 VEHICLES. EVIDENTLY WAS RELATED TO A SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING ERROR IN THE FAN CONTROL MODULE, AND THE DEFECT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACING THE FCM. VOLVO TOLD ME THAT THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH THIS EFFORT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE EFFECTED BY THE RECALL, BUT APPARENTLY NOT MY SPECIFIC VIN. ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING ADDITIONAL VINS ADDED TO THIS RECALL WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.”
Electrical system
4 reports1 related recall
“THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE DOOR LATCHES QUIT WORKING AND UNABLE TO SECURE DOORS WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, DOORS COULD LATCH BUT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE LOCKS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE OR LEAVE THE VEHICLE IF THE DOORS ARE UNABLE TO ENGAGE. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS FALLING/FLYING OFF THE MOUNT WHILE IN MOTION AND THEN SHATTERING ON THE ROAD WAY. WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY THE REAR DOOR NOT CATCHING WHEN FULLY OPEN AND AUTOMATICALLY CLOSES IN RAPID MOTION. THE AM RADIO TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION MOTOR STOPPING,”
Fuel/propulsion system
4 reports1 crash
“PRIOR TO A 165 MILE ROAD TRIP THE FUEL GAUGE READ 1/4 TANK - 120 MILES TO EMPTY. I FILLED THE TANK TO FULL BEFORE HEADING OUT. AFTER REFUELING, I CLOSED THE GAS CAP BUT FORGOT TO SHUT THE FUEL DOOR. THE FUEL DOOR OPEN ERROR LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FUEL GAUGE STILL READ 1/4 TANK - 120 MILES TO EMPTY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING SHUT THE FUEL DOOR. THE FUEL DOOR OPEN ERROR LIGHT WAS STILL LIT AND THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT CHANGE. I DROVE TOWARDS HOME ON WINDING MOUNTAIN ROADS IN HIGH SPEED L.A. TRAFFIC. THE INDICATOR READ 50 MILES TO EMPTY AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR CAME ON EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS STILL 3/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. AT THE APPROXIMATELY 120 MILE MARK WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH IN 5 LANES OF FAST-MOVING L.A. TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER THROUGH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND STOP SAFELY ON THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE FUEL DOOR OPEN INDICATOR REMAINED ON EVEN THOUGH I HAD CLOSED THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WHO ROUTINELY SERVICES IT. I AM WAITING TO HEAR THE RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF…”
Air bags
4 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC70. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE "SRS URGENT NEEDS SERVICE" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (PORTLAND VOLVO CARS, LOCATED AT 9 US ROUTE 1, SCARBOROUGH, ME 04074) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.”
Visibility/wiper
3 reports
“I have noticed water leaking into the inside of my windshield and also noticed that the front and rear carpets are damp and the car is developing a musty smell. Upon closer inspection it appears that the top of the windshield is unbonded from the frame and moves outward when pressure is applied against it. This is a serious safety concern as the windshield is a structural component of the vehicle and the integrity of the vehicle with an unbonded windshield compromises the vehicle safety. Beyond that structural concern, the inside windshield fogs us consistently causing impaired visibility while driving, especially in the rain.”
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.