DURING ACCELERATION THE GEARING SLIPS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR CAUSING A VERY HARD SHIFT (DUE TO ENGINE ACCELERATION) WHEN THE 2ND GEAR ENGAGES. IT IS DANGEROUS AT TIMES IN ICE OR SNOW. *TR
2004 Volvo XC70
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 XC70 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
84 reports with mileage · 17 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/propulsion System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
11 reportsNOTICED A SEVERE CHANGE FOR THE WORSE IN THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF MY VOLVO XC 70 AWD VEHICLE. LOST AWD CAPABILITY, CONFIRMED BY FRONT WHEELS SLIPPING IN LIGHT SNOW. DEALER INSPECTION IDENTIFIED FAILED ANGLE GEAR AND COUPLER, REPAIR PRICE $2500.00 NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OWNER REPLACED ANGLE GEAR WITH REBUILD UNIT F…
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NOTICED A SEVERE CHANGE FOR THE WORSE IN THE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF MY VOLVO XC 70 AWD VEHICLE. LOST AWD CAPABILITY, CONFIRMED BY FRONT WHEELS SLIPPING IN LIGHT SNOW. DEALER INSPECTION IDENTIFIED FAILED ANGLE GEAR AND COUPLER, REPAIR PRICE $2500.00 NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OWNER REPLACED ANGLE GEAR WITH REBUILD UNIT FROM SALVAGE AND A NEW COUPLER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. SHE THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WERE WILLING TO TAKE THE LIABILITY FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,544 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A VIOLENT JERK WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A VIOLENT JERK WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS ALSO A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL AFTER SHE TRIED TO DECELERATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE ABS MODULE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS FOR THE ABS MODULE HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,000. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/14/11
VOLVO XC-70 (2004) TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - JERKY GEAR TRANSMISSION AT SLOWER SPEEDS. *TR
ANGLE GEAR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON SIDE STREET. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND ANGLE GEAR IN TRANSMISSION REPLACED. CAR HAD PERFECT DEALER MAINTENANCE RECORD AND TRANSMISSION HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 4000 MILES PRIOR TO FAILURE - EXACTLY AS MANUFACTURER SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED. *TR
SHAKING OF VEHICLE, CLUNKING AND SLIPPING OF TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILED. TRANSMISSION REPLACED WITH FACTORY REMANUFACTURED UNIT.. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE WHEEL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS CRACKED. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK AND TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE WHEEL MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS CRACKED. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FAILURE WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK AND TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME CAUTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 89,150.
I HAVE A 2004 XC70 WITH 56,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO APPARENT CHANGE IN HANDLING OR ACCELERATION. THE LIGHT THEN WENT OFF THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THIS TIME ALONG WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO ACCELERAT…
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I HAVE A 2004 XC70 WITH 56,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO APPARENT CHANGE IN HANDLING OR ACCELERATION. THE LIGHT THEN WENT OFF THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THIS TIME ALONG WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO ACCELERATION. I GOT THE CAR TO LIMP ALONG AT ABOUT 5 MPH WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO THE CLOSEST GARAGE, WHERE I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT. THE MECHANIC RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER AND THE CODE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY APPEARED. HE CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY BUT INDICATED THAT MIGHT NOT TOTALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IF IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE AT A DEALER. (OTHER THAN SEVERAL OIL CHANGES, ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT A VOLVO DEALER.) THE CAR WORKED WELL FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN THE "CHECK ENGINE" AND "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE VOLVO DEALER. INITIALLY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THEY DROVE IT ABOUT 20 MILES AND CLAIMED NO LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE COMPUTER DID NOT SHOW ANY DIAGNOSTIC CODES. THEY UPGRADED THE SOFTWARE TO SMOOTH OUT THE GEAR SHIFTING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND AT MY REQUEST DID THE 60,000 MILE SERVICING. THEN, WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE CAR UP, BOTH LIGHTS CAME BACK ON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER I STARTED THE CAR. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE SHOP, RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS AGAIN AND CONFIRMED THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. AFTER A FEW DAYS IN THE SHOP, THE CAR IS NOW WORKING WELL BUT I NO LONGER TRUST IT - HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
VOLVO XC70 ANGLE GEAR BURNED UP! 2004 WITH 90K ON IT. SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH VOLVO'S - NEED TO PURCHASE NEW OR USED PART. PRICE IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1000 - $2000. NOT GOOD. VOLVO CLAIMS NO REAL ISSUE. *TR
Official recalls
321V800000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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