IllustrationREAR BRAKE ROTORS WEAR DOWN QUICKLY. WE HAD THEM REPLACED IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AND THEY ARE WORN DOWN NOW, DEC 2008. *TR
1999 Volvo V70XC
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V70XC years →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
30–25K
125–50K
2350–75K
1675–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
64 reports with mileage · 15 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 9 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 reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
6 reportsTHE ABS/TRAC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN GO OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND THE ORANGE ARROW STARTS BLINKING. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT IS BLINKING, THE CAR SHIFTS TO WINTER MODE AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. THE DEALER TOL…
Read full complaint
THE ABS/TRAC AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THEN GO OFF AFTER A FEW MINUTES. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING AND THE ORANGE ARROW STARTS BLINKING. SOMETIMES WHEN THE ORANGE LIGHT IS BLINKING, THE CAR SHIFTS TO WINTER MODE AND YOU CANNOT ACCELERATE AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE ABS MODULE AND COST OF REPAIR WOULD BE OVER $1000. I HAD THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE REPLACED LAST YEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE A POOR DESIGN, AS I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS ON VOLVOS. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA CONTACT VOLVO HEADQUARTERS AND DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS HAZARDOUS ABS AND ACCELERATION SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB
ABS CONTROL UNIT SPORADICALLY FAILS, ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GO ON NOTIFYING DRIVER THAT THESE SYSTEMS ARE NOT WORKING. IF THE SYSTEM FAILS AT A CRITICAL TIME, COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *NM
MILEAGE APPROX 115,000 WHEN PURCHASED NOW 120,000 WITHIN 8 MONTHS. HARDLY HARD USE. FAILURE OF ECM AND O2 SENSORS, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE SECOND WITHIN 1000 MILES AND 1 MONTH OF FIRST REPAIR. CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE, IF RESTARTED MIGHT STALL AND GENERALLY BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NO WARNING OF FAILURE. VOLVO DEALERSHIPS WELL AW…
Read full complaint
MILEAGE APPROX 115,000 WHEN PURCHASED NOW 120,000 WITHIN 8 MONTHS. HARDLY HARD USE. FAILURE OF ECM AND O2 SENSORS, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE SECOND WITHIN 1000 MILES AND 1 MONTH OF FIRST REPAIR. CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE, IF RESTARTED MIGHT STALL AND GENERALLY BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NO WARNING OF FAILURE. VOLVO DEALERSHIPS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM AND OFFERED IMMEDIATE AND CORRECT DIAGNOSIS PRIOR TO CHECKING THE COMPUTER CODES, WITHOUT NEEDING MUCH INVESTIGATION. 2 DEALERS WORKED ON THE CAR ONE DON BAYER IN WASHINGTON AND INDEPENDENCE VOLVO IN CHARLOTTE. INSTRUCTED INDEPENDENCE VOLVO DEALER TO MAKE CAR SAFE AND ROADWORTHY. UPLOADED FAULTS AND DOWNLOADED ONTO VEHICLE, NEW SOFTWARE. WITHIN 1 MONTH NEW SYMPTOMS APPEAR. AT VARIOUS TIMES THESE LIGHTS SHOW AND RESET ABS WARNING, ENGINE WARNING, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING, SPEEDO FAILURE, CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE WARNING (EVEN THOUGH SERVICE IS JUST CARRIED OUT).SYMPTOMS INCLUDE LACK OF THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN PULLING AWAY, WHEN SPEEDO FAILS. NO WARNING OF CHANGE IN STATUS MEANS THIS HAPPENS DURING TURNING MANEUVERS WITH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS OR LETHAL CONSEQUENCES. CHECKING VARIOUS SOURCES NOTE THAT ABS MODULE FAILURE IS COMMON MAKING THE CAR POTENTIALLY UNSAFE IN EMERGENCY, NOT ONLY FOR BRAKING BUT DURING ACCELERATION AS THE CARS ABILITY TO PULL AT ITS NORMAL RATE IS VASTLY REDUCED, ADDING THROTTLE DOES NOTHING, BUT IF THE SYSTEM TURNS BACK ON AGAIN NO WARNING, THE SPEEDOMETER JUST COMES BACK TO LIFE ) THIS CAN CAUSE UNNEEDED FIERCE ACCELERATION. I NOTED ONE DEATH ON THE HIGHWAY OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO APPEARED TO ACCELERATE OFF THE ROAD DURING A BENIGN MANEUVER AND AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ON/OFF SPEEDOMETER/ABS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE RATHER THAN THE ECM CURRENTLY THE FOCUS OF THE INVESTIGATION. *NM
I JUST RECEIVED WORD FROM A DEALER THAT THE ABS CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED. I WAS QUOTED APPROX 900 FOR THIS REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PART AND THEREFORE I THINK NHTSA SHOULD FORCE THE QUESTION TO VOLVO AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS PART WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND/OR WHY DO SO MANY OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM.. *NM
MY ABS/TRAC DASH LIGHTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY COMING ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS IS NO LONGER WORKING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER (LATE 1990'S AND ON) VOLVOS DUE TO A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER MODULE AND VOLVO ISN'T COVERING THE REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL. THE COST OF THE MODULE IS $500 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR COSTS). I'M…
Read full complaint
MY ABS/TRAC DASH LIGHTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY COMING ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS IS NO LONGER WORKING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER (LATE 1990'S AND ON) VOLVOS DUE TO A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER MODULE AND VOLVO ISN'T COVERING THE REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL. THE COST OF THE MODULE IS $500 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR COSTS). I'M REQUESTING NHTSA CONTACT VOLVO HEADQUARTERS TO DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS HINDERING ABS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB
Official recalls
206V441000 · 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.
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
2EA05021 · 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.