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2003 Volvo V70

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 8 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

6 reports
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99,000 miles · Dec 3, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

1. STRONG FUEL ODOR AROUND VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IN GARAGE. 2. LEAKING FUEL PUMP ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. 3. FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY VOLVO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294391

62,775 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM MY 2003 VOLVO V70. MY MECHANIC FOUND THE ISSUE BEING A LEAKING FUEL PUMP. VOLVO HAS ISSUED RECALL NOTICES ON 2001 TO 2002 VOLVO V70, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 2003 MODELS. THE ISSUES APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME EVEN THOUGH VOLVO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2003 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293242

127,000 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY 2003 VOLVO V70 WITH ~127,000 MILES STARTED LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. THE PLASTIC HOUSING FAILED ON ITS OWN. STRONG GASOLINE FUMES ENTERED THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCESS PANEL AND SEAL WERE INTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEVER HAD ANY SERVICE REPAIR WORK ON OR NEAR THE FUEL TANK. I'VE …

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MY 2003 VOLVO V70 WITH ~127,000 MILES STARTED LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. THE PLASTIC HOUSING FAILED ON ITS OWN. STRONG GASOLINE FUMES ENTERED THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCESS PANEL AND SEAL WERE INTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEVER HAD ANY SERVICE REPAIR WORK ON OR NEAR THE FUEL TANK. I'VE HAD SEVERAL CARS OVER THIS MILEAGE WITH NEVER A FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILURE OF ANY TYPE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT IS EITHER A DESIGN, QUALITY OR ASSEMBLY PROBLEM.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10290427

95,500 miles · Sep 18, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

GASOLINE OVERFLOWS FROM THE FILL NECK SPILLING DOWN THE CAR AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE RISK AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH VARIOUS PUMPS AT VARIOUS GAS STATIONS. THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OTHER CAR IN 30 YEARS. I HAVE FOUND OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10242872

62,000 miles · Sep 9, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AT MY OWN EXPENSE - A LENGTHY REPAIR THAT COST MORE THAN $1000. ALTHOUGH VOLVO RECALL 181 DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, I WONDER WHETHER THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE IN VOLVO RECALL 181 SHOULD APPLY TO MORE VEHICLES SUCH AS MY OWN. T…

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CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AT MY OWN EXPENSE - A LENGTHY REPAIR THAT COST MORE THAN $1000. ALTHOUGH VOLVO RECALL 181 DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, I WONDER WHETHER THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE IN VOLVO RECALL 181 SHOULD APPLY TO MORE VEHICLES SUCH AS MY OWN. THIS MAY BE WORTH MORE INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10241655

36,136 miles · Sep 7, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

8/16/05-CAR STALLED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER 3 TIMES WHILE CAR WAS OPERATING AT LOW SPEED ON CITY ROADS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. EACH TIME IT STALLED, THE CAR RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND, AFTER THE THIRD STALL TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 8/17/05-8/18/05-CAR REPAIRED AT SESI VOLVO DEALERSHIP, ANN…

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8/16/05-CAR STALLED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER 3 TIMES WHILE CAR WAS OPERATING AT LOW SPEED ON CITY ROADS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. EACH TIME IT STALLED, THE CAR RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND, AFTER THE THIRD STALL TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 8/17/05-8/18/05-CAR REPAIRED AT SESI VOLVO DEALERSHIP, ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AND REAR OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. SERVICE DEPT SAID CAR CLEARED THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND TEST DRIVE WAS OK. SERVICE PERSON INCORRECTLY WROTE ON THE SERVICE INVOICE THAT "CUSTOMER SAYS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME" THIS IS NOT CORRECT. I DID NOT AT ANY TIME SEE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NOR REPORT THAT IT WAS ON TO SERVICE PEOPLE. 9/03/05-CAR STALLED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65 M.P.H. ON THE HIGHWAY AT 10 PM AT NIGHT. CAR HAD TRAVELED 150 MILES FROM OWNER/DRIVER'S HOME AT TIME OF STALLING AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE STALL. DRIVER ABLE TO STEER CAR TO SHOULDER, EVEN WITH LACK OF POWER STEERING AND AVOID TRAFFIC PROCEEDING AT HIGH SPEED BEHIND VEHICLE. CAR RESTARTED FOR A FEW SECONDS 3 TIMES BEFORE FAILING TO START AT ALL. MOTORIST, 52 YEAR OLD WOMAN, TRAVELING ALONE, WAS STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE. CAR COASTED INTO GAS STATION, MOTORIST PHONED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND CAR WAS TOWED 1 HOUR LATER TO SEGNA VOLVO NEAR COLUMBUS, OHIO. 9/7/05 SEGNA MOTORS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO OWNER THAT CAR TODAY STARTS FINE, TEST DRIVES FINE AND NO COMPUTER CODES ARE SHOWING UP IN THE COMPUTER'S DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. THEY SAY THE CAR SEEMS FINE, YET THEY ARE PLANNING TO CONTACT VOLVO CORPORATION FOR A THE COMPANY'S TECHNICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. OWNER SEVERELY DISSATISFIED THAT AFTER REPAIR OF PROBLEM IT RECURRED AND DRIVER WAS IN DANGEROUS POSITION OF LOSING POWER SUDDENLY AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND BEING STRANDED ALONE AT NIGHT, WILL NOT ACCEPT A DIAGNOSIS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135557

Official recalls

5

21V800000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Oct 14, 2021

Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.

Air Bags:frontal

Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.

10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Nov 8, 2010

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2009

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

07V226000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jun 5, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: MISFIRE MAY OCCUR DURING DRIVING THAT, IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE ENGINE TORQUE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.