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: 13 of 15 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.
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
15 reports
118,000 miles · Nov 6, 2019
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR GOT A LITTLE SLUGGISH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT BLACK I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT SO I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT EVERYTHING ON THE DASH THAT WAS ILLUMINATED LOST LIGHT AND THE CAR STALLED AND THEN SPUTTER AND STALL IT JUST WAS NO…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR GOT A LITTLE SLUGGISH AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WENT BLACK I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT SO I NOTICED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT EVERYTHING ON THE DASH THAT WAS ILLUMINATED LOST LIGHT AND THE CAR STALLED AND THEN SPUTTER AND STALL IT JUST WAS NO LONGER RUNNING PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PUT IT IN PARK TURN THE KEY OFF WAITED ABOUT 2 MINUTES TURN THE KEY BACK ON TO SEE IF I HAD LIGHTS BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND I HAD LIGHTS AND THEN I TRIED AGAIN THE IGNITION AND IT STARTED SUPER RANDOM THAT HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH NEEDING A JUMP LEADING UP TO THIS BUT I HAVE A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THAT PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #11278377
60,000 miles · Jul 7, 2019
Power Train
HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. CAUSES THE TIRES TO SKID FEELING LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS HAPPENS AFTER THE VEHICLE WARMS UP AND IN A STOP AND GO ENVIRONMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11229926
1,270,000 miles · Nov 7, 2018
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)
THE AIRBAG SYMBOL APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AS WELL. EVEN WHEN I GET IT(ELECTRICAL) REPAIRED: IT REAPPEAR AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS.{WHILE DRIVING THESE SYMBOLS APPEAR STILL AS OF THIS DAY. PLEASE CAN YOU ADVICE ME WHERE I SHOULD HAVE IT FIX. I LIVE IN MARENGO, IOWA 52301
NHTSA ODI #11149905
165,000 miles · Aug 9, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control
I THOIGHT MY TRANMISSION WAS GOING AT FITST THE CSR WOULD BUCK. THE OTHER DAY THE CSR JUMPED FORWARD. RACED LIKE BRIEFLY. TODAY MY ETS LIGHT WENT ON. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SERVICE LIGHT. READING UP ON THIS STATES PROBLEMS NOTED BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS I HAVE TO PAY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR. I FEEL IT SHOULD B A RECALL. THIS IS D…
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I THOIGHT MY TRANMISSION WAS GOING AT FITST THE CSR WOULD BUCK. THE OTHER DAY THE CSR JUMPED FORWARD. RACED LIKE BRIEFLY. TODAY MY ETS LIGHT WENT ON. ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SERVICE LIGHT. READING UP ON THIS STATES PROBLEMS NOTED BUT DEALERSHIP SAYS I HAVE TO PAY REPLACEMENT PARTS AND LABOR. I FEEL IT SHOULD B A RECALL. THIS IS DADANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE
NHTSA ODI #11014058
135,000 miles · May 19, 2015
Air BagsInjury
I HAD ENTERED THE CAR, WHICH WAS IN PARK AND NOT TURNED ON, REACHED FOR MY SEAT BELT AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR REASON FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. THE DEPLOYMENT CAUSED A MINOR INJURY TO LEFT ARM.
NHTSA ODI #10717377
98 miles · Sep 1, 2014
EnginePower Train
THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT HARD. NOW AT LESS THAN 125, IT NEEDS A NEW ONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629861
118,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Power Train
HARD UP SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND DOWN SHIFTING WHEN CAR IS WARM. DRIVES FINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10608772
87,000 miles · Aug 2, 2013
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrash
I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 VOLVO C70 WHEN I DRIFTED OFF INTO A HIGH CURB. THIS CAUSED MY PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY.THE LOUD AND DISRUPTING NOISE THEN CAUSED ME TO LOOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE CAR. AS I THEN RAN THROUGH A FENCE AND TREES BEFORE I CAME TO A STOP. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR. SO WHY DID THE EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT BAG DEPLO…
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 VOLVO C70 WHEN I DRIFTED OFF INTO A HIGH CURB. THIS CAUSED MY PASSENGER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY.THE LOUD AND DISRUPTING NOISE THEN CAUSED ME TO LOOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE CAR. AS I THEN RAN THROUGH A FENCE AND TREES BEFORE I CAME TO A STOP. I WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE CAR. SO WHY DID THE EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT BAG DEPLOY. AND WHY DID THE DRIVERS AIRBAG NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533177
11,341 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
VEHICLE START THEN DIE OR JUST CRANK AND NO START. AT THE TIME PROBLEM THOUGHT TO BE FUEL PUMP RELAY. IMMOBILIZER WAS CHECKED BUT NOTHING DONE. IMMOBILIZER CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM (AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED); KEYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED/RECODED, IMMOBILIZER CONTROL MODULE FOUND FAULTY AND REPLACED, ANTENNA RING FOUND FAULTY AND RE…
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VEHICLE START THEN DIE OR JUST CRANK AND NO START. AT THE TIME PROBLEM THOUGHT TO BE FUEL PUMP RELAY. IMMOBILIZER WAS CHECKED BUT NOTHING DONE. IMMOBILIZER CONTINUED TO BE A PROBLEM (AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED); KEYS HAVE BEEN REPLACED/RECODED, IMMOBILIZER CONTROL MODULE FOUND FAULTY AND REPLACED, ANTENNA RING FOUND FAULTY AND REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRING; IT JUST WILL NOT START WHEN THE KEY IS PUT INTO THE IGNITION (COULD BE DAY OR NIGHT - YOU ARE JUST STUCK!) RECENTLY, ON 7-16-2012 THE VEHICLE REPEATED THIS ACTION THREE (3) TIMES ON THE SAME DAY. IN THE LAST TWO (2) MONTHS I HAVE RECORDED NOT LESS THAN TEN (10) INCIDENTS. HAD I CALLED FOR A ROAD ASSIST EACH TIME I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY MORE AVAILABLE CALLS. FOR SOME REASON THE TRANSMITTER AND RECEIVER (TRANSPONDER) ARE NOT IN SYNCH (ANTI-THEFT DEVICE IS OVERDOING ITS JOB). VOLVO.COM WAS CONTACTED BUT SO FAR HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AND A PRICEY ONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10466981
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH UNDER 90K MILES AND VEHICLE RECEIVING REGULAR SERVICE FROM VOLVO DEALERSHIPS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AMONG C70 VOLVO OWNERS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10427594
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2004 Volvo C70 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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