1999 Volvo V70: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
157 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 110 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 157 complaints (33.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 47 | 29.9% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 13.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.9% |
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 | 52 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 52; Electrical System: 36; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 35 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 12
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 47 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 | 8 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 74 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 9; 2002: 8; 2003: 7; 2004: 9; 2005: 74; 2006: 10; 2007: 9; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2014: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 47 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10000967 · 2003-01-12 (January 12, 2003)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM,'SRS' WARNING LIGHT IS CONTINUOSLY ON DURING OPERTATION OF VEHICLE.THIS CONDITION HAS PREVAILED FOR OVER ONE YEAR DESPITE ATTEMPTS BY DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO CORRECT. BOTH DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSONNEL AGREE THAT 'SRS' SYSTEM MAY BE COMPROMISED.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007291 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009819 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
ON SUNNY DAYS THE WINDSHIELD WOULD GIVE OFF REFLECTIONS SO BRIGHT THAT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016202 · 2003-04-19 (April 19, 2003)
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WE BOUGHT OUR NEW VOLVO V70 GLT WAGON IN 1999 FROM KRAMER MOTOR, SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. JUST RECENTLY THE AIRBAG SAFETY LIGHT (SRS) WENT OFF AND I WAS TOLD BY THE AUTHORIZED VOLVO SERVICE DEALER (RUSNAK, PASADENA) THAT IT MEANT SOMETHING WAS WRONG IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND VOLVO WOULD REPLACE THE AIRBAG. ON THE DAY OF THE REPAIR THE DEALER CALLED AND TOLD ME THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY SEAT COVERS - THE COVERS WERE NOT AUTHORIZED VOLVO SEAT COVERS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER) AND THEREFORE THE VOLVO AIRBAG FEATURE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031540 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH DOES NOT WORK. THE SWITCH CAME APART AND THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT COME ON AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040416 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKES DIDN'T ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS COMPLETE AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ABS UNIT THAT WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE LIGHT. *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044814 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063142 · 2004-03-12 (March 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AND TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. AND MECHANIC REPLACED ABS MODULE BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063142 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 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 ↗98V254000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Reported: 1998-10-14 (October 14, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STATION WAGONS EQUIPPED WITH THIRD SEATS. USERS OF THE THIRD SEAT, WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE.
Consequence: CONTACT WITH THE TAILPIPE CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LENGTH OF THE VEHICLE'S TAILPIPE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE TAILPIPE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗