Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Volvo XC70 problems

Owners filed 15 complaints about the 2011 Volvo XC70 with NHTSA between Aug 2011 and May 2022. The most-cited component is structure (2).

Complaints
15
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure2
  2. Visibility/wiper2
  3. Seat belts2
  4. Power train2
  5. Wheels2
  6. Latches/locks/linkages2
  7. Steering1
  8. Suspension1
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  10. Service brakes1
  11. Other / unknown2

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20113
20120
20130
20140
20150
20161
20171
20182
20193
20200
20211
20224

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

2 reports
“Front Passenger side door is opening while driving. Has happened numerous times in the last couple weeks”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2022StructureODI 11451853

Visibility/wiper

2 reports
“The windshield seal has failed causing rain water and melting snow and ice to come in the car and flow down the windshield and impair vision through the windshield. This has become a safety concern when driving in snow and rain. The water dripping down on the controls is also a safety concern and distraction while driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2022Visibility/wiperODI 11451398

Seat belts

2 reports1 related recall
“WIFE WAS RIDING IN PASSENGER SEAT. WE HAD TAKEN HER CAR AND I WAS DRIVING. SUDDENLY THE SHOULDER HARNESS GOT TIGHT, SHE TRIED TO ROLL IT BACK TO RELEASE IT AS IS NORMAL BUT, IT STUCK HALFWAY OUT, TOO SHORT TO USE AND CANNOT BE EXTENDED. DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD SEAT BELT RE TRACTOR. PRICE TO FIX $700. THIS IS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT ON A 54K MILE CAR. IT RARELY GETS USED AS WIFE IS USUALLY THE DRIVER AN SOLE OCCUPANT. THAT BELT PROBABLY HASN'T BEEN USED 500 TIMES. CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW, NO CRASHES, WELL MAINTAINED. THIS SHOULD NEVER FAIL, LET ALONE WITH HARDLY ANY USE. AT THE TIME OF HAPPENING I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. . WE WERE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE, RETURNING FROM RELATIVES HOUSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2019Seat beltsODI 11194254

Power train

2 reports
“"TAKATA RECALL" AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE JERKY. I TOOK INTO VOLVO SERVICE WHITE PLAINS NY. THEY FOUND ERROR CODE TCM-P074468 AND RESET. THEY TOLD ME IF PROBLEM PERSISTS I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND WELL MAINTAINED WITH 104063 MILES. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I THEN DID FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MY VECHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THAT SAME PROBLEM AND ERROR MESSAGE. BUT MY VIN # WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. VOLVO IS NOT ACKNOWLEGING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I'VE ENCLOSED MY VEHICLE SERVICE INVOICE WHICH SHOWS THE CODE AND THE RECALL LETTER FROM VOLVO SHOWING THE SAME CODE. PLEASE ADVISE, THANK YOU.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Power trainODI 11155873

Wheels

2 reports
“THE CAR MAKES A LOUD ROARING SOUND AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS "PROBABLY THE TIRES" BUT DOING SOME RESEARCH THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND ADD TO THIS IT RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTS WHILE BRAKING (OR MAYBE IT IS THE BRAKES) WHEN COMING TO A STOP WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL ON A SNOW/ICE/SLIPPERY SITUATION, THIS HAPPENS AT A SLOWER SPEED AND ONLY WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OUT ON THE INTERNET AND NO REAL SOLUTIONS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2017Power train, Wheels, Service brakesODI 11025157

Latches/locks/linkages

2 reports
“BACK DOOR LATCH IS DEFECTIVE. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 26, 2011Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10421605
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.