Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reports
70,000 miles · Jun 19, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. SPORADICALLY, IT WOULD SEEM TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. SPORADICALLY, IT WOULD SEEM TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT EVENTUALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10462312
57,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE JERKS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT 60,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE JERKS. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10253604
108,550 miles · Oct 21, 2008
Structure
DURING SUN ROOF RETRACTION A 30" METAL BRACE FELL FROM THE INTERNAL ROOF SLOT FOR THE SUN ROOF ON MY HEAD. THE METAL MEMBER APPEARS TO BE A STURDY CROSS BRACE HELD IN PLACE BY SOME TYPE OF ADHESIVE. I WAS IMMENSELY DISTRACTED AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246246
3,500 miles · Aug 10, 2004
Steering
VOLVO C70 - 2002 -- LEAKS POWER-STEERING FLUID SO FAST I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. THE VOLVO COMPANY REFUSES TO GIVE ME ANY ASSISTANCE AS FAR AS REPURCHASING THE CAR. THE DEALER THAT HAS WORKED ON IT HAD N…
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VOLVO C70 - 2002 -- LEAKS POWER-STEERING FLUID SO FAST I CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO THE VOLVO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. IT IS UNDRIVEABLE. THE VOLVO COMPANY REFUSES TO GIVE ME ANY ASSISTANCE AS FAR AS REPURCHASING THE CAR. THE DEALER THAT HAS WORKED ON IT HAD NOT GIVEN VOLVO HEADQUARTERS THE REASONS FOR THE CAR BEING IN THEIR SHOP.
NHTSA ODI #10086549
Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON VOLVO DEALER NOTIFIED. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED NEXT DAY. OWNERS' MANUAL INSTRUCTS DO NOT USE COOLANT OTHER THAN VOLVO COOLANT. NEITHER MANUAL NOR DEALER ADVISE NOT TO DRIVE CAR. THAT DAY WHILE DRIVING, OIL LIGHT FLICKERS WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. ENGINE SEIZED AND…
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COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON VOLVO DEALER NOTIFIED. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED NEXT DAY. OWNERS' MANUAL INSTRUCTS DO NOT USE COOLANT OTHER THAN VOLVO COOLANT. NEITHER MANUAL NOR DEALER ADVISE NOT TO DRIVE CAR. THAT DAY WHILE DRIVING, OIL LIGHT FLICKERS WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER. ENGINE SEIZED AND DESTROYED. CAR HAD ONLY 2250 MILES AND ONLY 60 DAYS OLD. VOLVO DISCLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY. DT
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
2002 Volvo C70 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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