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2000 Volvo S70

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

127 reports with mileage · 37 unknown

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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

164 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2004
Structure

THE LEATHER ON THE DOOR INSERTS PULLED AWAY FROM THE MOLDING. IT COST 400.00 PER DOOR FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE. THIS HAPPENS 100 PERCENT OF THE TIME. MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067644

Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2004
Power Train

WHEN ACCELERATING CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE, AND VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067278

65,200 miles · Dec 3, 2003
Electrical System

IN EARLY OCTOBER 2003 THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) LIGHT APPEARED ON MY CAR'S PANEL. THIS AFFECTED THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2000. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY…

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IN EARLY OCTOBER 2003 THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) LIGHT APPEARED ON MY CAR'S PANEL. THIS AFFECTED THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MAY 2000. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $900 TO REPAIR IT. I DECLINED THE SERVICE. THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON FREQUENTLY (I.E., EVERY 2ND OR 3RD DAY OF THE WEEK). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I WILL PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR FOR A MOMENT. WHEN I START IT UP AGAIN, THE LIGHT DOES NOT APPEAR AND DRIVABILITY IS NORMAL. AS A VOLVO OWNER FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY SIMILAR MALFUNCTIONS. I HAVE OWNED A 1982 VOLVO 240, A 1992 VOLVO 240 AND MY CURRENT VOLVO S70. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD RESEARCH THIS MALFUNCTION TO DETERMINE IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED (OR THE MANUFACTURER) COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10049150

34,800 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Electrical System

12 VOLT ADAPTER NEEDED TO USE HANDS FREE CELL PHONE AS REQUIRED BY LAW IN NEW YORK & MOST OTHER STATES FAILED DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10043870

52,000 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

SPEED CONTROL. HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF SPEED/ENGINE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ENGINE WOULD DIE. ENGINE WOULD CAUSE "BUCKING". ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THROTTLE BODY AND AIR MASS METER REPLACED. THROTTLE BODY COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR AIR MASS METER REPLACEMENT. CURRENT PROBLEM TRAVELING @ 55 TO 60 MPH PRESS ON ACC…

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SPEED CONTROL. HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF SPEED/ENGINE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ENGINE WOULD DIE. ENGINE WOULD CAUSE "BUCKING". ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THROTTLE BODY AND AIR MASS METER REPLACED. THROTTLE BODY COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR AIR MASS METER REPLACEMENT. CURRENT PROBLEM TRAVELING @ 55 TO 60 MPH PRESS ON ACCELERATOR AND CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE BUT WILL SLOW DOWN WITH RPMS HESITATING AT 5000 AND 4500 WITHOUT ACCELERATING. CAR SLOWS DOWN,LOSES POWER. THIS OCCURS USUALLY UNDER A HILL CLIMBING SITUATION BUT HAS OCCURRED ON FLAT TERRAIN. IN HILL CLIMBING ONCE MORE GRADUAL SLOPE REACHED, CAR ACCELERATES.*AK UPDATED 01/03/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10036988

39,000 miles · Aug 22, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VOLVO REFUSED TO SEND THE CONSUMER AN ANALYSIS REPORT. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10030086

25,000 miles · Jun 16, 2003
Seat Belts

THE SEAT BELT (DRIVERS SIDE, SHOULDER) CONTINUES TO 'JAM' OR 'LOCK' IN PLACE AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR USE. TO CORRECT, VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN INTO NEAREST/LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ADJUSTMENT AND REPAIR. THUS FAR, THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES OVER THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL REPAIRS/LABOR HAS BEEN C…

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THE SEAT BELT (DRIVERS SIDE, SHOULDER) CONTINUES TO 'JAM' OR 'LOCK' IN PLACE AND IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR USE. TO CORRECT, VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN INTO NEAREST/LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ADJUSTMENT AND REPAIR. THUS FAR, THIS HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES OVER THE PREVIOUS TWELVE MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL REPAIRS/LABOR HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER VEHICLE WARRANTY, HOWEVER, TECHNICIANS CANNOT SEEM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND MAKE FINAL REPAIRS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10023123

10 miles · May 12, 2003
Visibility

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE WIPERS WOULDN'T GO ON. ALWAYS HAPPENS IN THE MORNING. WASHING AND CLEANING DOESN'T HELP. DEALER DOESN'T HAVE A CLUE. PLEASE HELP! *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018554

47,000 miles · Jan 29, 2003
Exterior Lighting

THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL, TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR HAS FAILED 3-4 TIMES. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5-6 TIMES. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PH

NHTSA ODI #10005898

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2000 VOLVO S70 IN WHICH THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DID DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH, I WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME DURING THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10000006

Official recalls

3

06V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Nov 15, 2006

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.

04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 21, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

00V405000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Dec 6, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.

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

3

EA05021 · Throttle Control Malfunction

Opened Dec 6, 2005 · Closed Dec 12, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?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.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

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.

RQ04004 · Headlight Failure

Opened Jun 8, 2004 · Closed Nov 5, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.

Exterior Lighting:headlights

ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.