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2001 Volvo V70XC

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

122 reports with mileage · 22 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 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

144 reports
148,000 miles · Jan 31, 2018
Power Train

AT 148,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL TO UPSHIFT AFTER GETTING WARMED UP (ABOUT 20 MINUTES DRIVING) THEN FAILED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. DEALER SAID NO REPAIR/REBUILD WAS AVAILABLE AND SUGGESTED COMPLETE REPACEMENT. ESTIMATED COST WAS MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11066019

155,698 miles · Nov 24, 2017
Power Train

AT ABOUT 155K MILES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MILES AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION ON MY V70 XC WENT OUT IM TOLD ALMOST ALL CARS THIS YEAR MODEL AND TRIM HAVE THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN 20K AND 150K MILES MY CAR IS PRISTINE EXCEPT FOR THIS ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS LURCHES FORWARD DOESN'T MOVE QUICK ENOUGH TO…

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AT ABOUT 155K MILES WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MILES AN HOUR THE TRANSMISSION ON MY V70 XC WENT OUT IM TOLD ALMOST ALL CARS THIS YEAR MODEL AND TRIM HAVE THIS PROBLEM BETWEEN 20K AND 150K MILES MY CAR IS PRISTINE EXCEPT FOR THIS ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEARS LURCHES FORWARD DOESN'T MOVE QUICK ENOUGH TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC VOLVO KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND SO DO THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS AND AT A 4000 DOLLAR PRICE TAG TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THESE TRANSMISSIONS WHO CAN AFFORD THAT

NHTSA ODI #11048274

187,000 miles · Feb 17, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

CAR STALLS WHILE TURNING OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOSES POWER WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED IN PARKING LOTS WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THIS USUALLY TAKES PLACE DURING ACCELERATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON STATE HIGHWAYS, LOCAL, AND PARKING LOTS. I DO NOT DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE ON A RE…

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CAR STALLS WHILE TURNING OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE CAR COMPLETELY LOSES POWER WHEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED IN PARKING LOTS WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS. THIS USUALLY TAKES PLACE DURING ACCELERATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON STATE HIGHWAYS, LOCAL, AND PARKING LOTS. I DO NOT DRIVE THE AUTOMOBILE ON A REGULAR BASIS; IT IS ONLY DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY (ONCE A WEEK). I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY SO FAR THAT NOBODY HAS REAR-ENDED ME.

NHTSA ODI #10955312

118,000 miles · Feb 26, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. SAME PROBLEM AS DEC 18, 2009 RECALL. WAS FIXED ON 10/14/10. GAS DRIPPING ON GROUND, INSIDE SMELLS OF GAS.

NHTSA ODI #10838671

101,050 miles · Mar 22, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION HARSH SHIFTING AND GOING ON LIMP MODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700909

98,000 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10641190

135,347 miles · Apr 5, 2014
Suspension

FRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING SNAPPED AND TORE APART THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10577628

160,000 miles · Sep 5, 2013
EngineFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTAINED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CONTAINED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10542127

134,000 miles · May 1, 2013
EngineService BrakesSteering

I OWN A 2001 XC 70 VOLVO WHICH I JUST BOUGHT WITH 133900 MILES LAST FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INCLUDING A 3 MONTH OLD CALIFORNIA SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT. ON APRIL 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL STRETCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER, KICKED LIKE IT WANTED TO J…

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I OWN A 2001 XC 70 VOLVO WHICH I JUST BOUGHT WITH 133900 MILES LAST FRIDAY APRIL 26, 2013. THE DEALER SHOWED ME THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS INCLUDING A 3 MONTH OLD CALIFORNIA SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT. ON APRIL 27, 2013, I WAS DRIVING ON A DOWNHILL STRETCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR ENGINE LOST POWER, KICKED LIKE IT WANTED TO JUMP AHEAD OF ME, ALL INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED, AND THE CAR STALLED AND SHUT DOWN RENDERING THE BRAKE AND STEERING SYSTEM INOPERABLE. I HAD NO MEANS TO CONTROL THE CAR AS IT ROLLED DOWN HILL. I ENGAGED THE REVERSE GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I CALLED DEALER RIGHT AWAY. HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO HIS MECHANIC THE FOLLOWING MONDAY ON 04/29/2013. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND TEST-DROVE IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HE PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER TEST AND GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE INDICATING AN AIR INTAKE PROBLEM. HE ASKED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING SO HE CAN TEST DRIVE IT MORE AND FIND OUT MORE. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY. IT WAS DANGEROUS...LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE, SO IMMEDIATELY I COASTED TO THE SIDE, WITH MY HAZARDS LIGHTS ON AND PULLED TO THE SIDE WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED ITSELF. IMAGINE DRIVING 80MPH ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, THE ENGINES KICK JUMPS, AND WITHOUT YOUR INPUT, ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE A HIGHER GEAR BUT THEN STALLS AND IMMEDIATELY SHUTS DOWN AND THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL JAMS.. THAT IS NOT SAFETY. AS I AWAIT FOR THE MECHANIC TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A CAR THAT PASSES A SAFETY INSPECTION TEST SHOULD NOT BE ABRUPTLY SHUTTING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND RENDER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND STEERING WHEEL INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510314

130,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED HOWEVER, THE EXTERIOR LOWER BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE FOR THE 2002 V70 MODEL YEARS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V0510…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED HOWEVER, THE EXTERIOR LOWER BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE FOR THE 2002 V70 MODEL YEARS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V051000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) BUT NOT FOR THE 2001 MODEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10505367

Official recalls

1

04V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan

Sep 13, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS 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

2

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.