1999 Volvo C70: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
63,174 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 23 complaints (17.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Tires: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 11; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004534 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ETS LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, SOON AFTERWARD THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO HESITATE. THE MECHANIC CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES SHE HAS HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP, GET IT OUT AND THEN WHEN SHE GET IN THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO HESITATE. SHE SAYS NOW THERE IS A RINGING SOUND THAT COMES ON ABOUT EVERY 8 SECONDS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019032 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
I WOKE UP THIS MORNING TO FIND OUT THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. SO I GOT OUT THE FACTORY JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO LIFT UP THE CAR. THE JACK THAT CAME WITH THE CAR ARE "SCISSOR-TYPE" AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE. SO, THE CAR WAS LIFTED ON ONE SIDE AND I PROCEEDED TO TAKE OFF THE FRONT TIRE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE JACK GAVE WAY AND THE CAR CAME DOWN. LUCKILY THE FRONT TIRE WAS HALFWAY IN THE WHEEL-WELL, SO THE CAR JUST SETTLED ON THE TIRE WITH THE ROTOR PUSHING AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE RIM (I NOTICED SCRATCHES INSIDE THE RIM AFT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057344 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE DRIVER HAD DIFFICULTY STEERING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 23,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057344 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074257 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
THE VEHICLES ABS LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING ON AND OFF. THE ABS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. *NM THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089474 · 2004-08-23 (August 23, 2004)
THE VEHICLE IS NOT ACCELERATING. THE ETS LIGHT IS ON. THE ETS MODULE WAS REPLACED, BUT VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE IS STILL POOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 581,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10089474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108997 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
WHILE DRIVINGTHE DASHBOARD WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY BECOME LOOSE AND BOUNCED UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED REPLACEMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115943 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
ON 12/31/2004 WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE ETM DASH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO "LIMP" MODE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME, AND SINCE IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT, I COULD NOT CALL MY LOCAL GARAGE. ON MONDAY I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD THE "ERROR CODE OF DEATH", THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST BIG CITY VOLVO GARAGE. THEY HAD SEEN MANY OF THESE TB PROBLEMS. I HAD IT TOWED TO SMC, INC. WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ETM UNIT FAILED AND IT WAS MY FAULT FOR "USING CHEAP GAS" AND "FAILING TO S…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,348 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130991 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING ON GALLATIN RD IN TN , A BUSY 4 LANE BUSINESS DISTRICT, WHEN MY VOLVO C70 LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO COAST INTO A CHURCH PARKING LOT - I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF THE INCIDENT UNTIL I SAW A SIMILAR STORY REPORTED ON YAHOO NEWS. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER UNDER WARRANTY AND IT IS WORKING FINE NOW (2 YRS LATER), BUT HAD THIS BEEN A BUSY HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A TRAFFIC PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130991 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V405000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2000-12-06 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 2004-10-21 (October 21, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗06V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2006-11-15 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗