2002 Volvo V70: complaints, problems and recalls

WITHIN THE FIRST 5-1/2 MONTHS OF OWNING MY NEW VOLVO STATION WAGON, I HAD TO REPLACE 2 PIRELLI TIRES DUE TO SIDEWALL BUBBLING. 5 MONTHS LATER, WITH 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR, ONE OF THOSE BRAND NEW TIRES HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THAT VOLVO RECOMMENDED THESE TIRES TO ME DESPITE THE FACT THAT I INDICATED THAT I LIVE IN REDDING, CT, PRIMARILY DRIVE ON BACK ROADS, AND THAT MY MAIN REASON FOR BUYING THE CAR WAS SAFETY. THEY TOLD ME I WAS BETTER OFF WITH "HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES". I'VE CONTACTED VOLVO …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016879 at NHTSA ↗

THREE TIMES DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JUMPED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK WINDOWS SQUEAK WHEN ROLLED DOWN. STEERING WHEEL BOOT WAS NOT IN PLACE.*TS

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034087 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS AND WILL BE SEEKING A PHYSICIANS CARE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042270 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2002 VOLVO V70. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE POWER LOCKS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. AT TIMES, WE ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITHOUT THE USE OF A REMOTE CONTROL. AT OTHER TIMES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE DOORS UTILIZING THE POWER LOCK CONTROLS. THE LOCKS LAST BROKE ON 11/03/2003. WE HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE AND PROBLEMS WITH A BRAKE POSITION SENSOR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WE ARE FEARFUL THAT THIS CAR MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045369 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE WHEEL SEPARATED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND CITED THE CONSUMER. VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHAFT BROKE, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO COME OFF, AND THE COLLISION TO OCCUR. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047949 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER WINDOWS, AND FAULTY BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSORS.*MR (NAR) *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048466 at NHTSA ↗

MY NEW VOLVO V70 WITH ONLY 7000 MILES ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY 18 MONTH OLD SON'S LIFE! I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FOUR LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER MOTIONED ME TO PULL ASIDE. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE SO I PULLED OVER. THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! WHEN I LOOKED BACK THE CAR HAD FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE CAR AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED! I WAS ABLE TO TAKE NOTHING WITH ME, I LOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR DOWN TO MY PURSE! THE SADDEST PART ABOUT MY S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049178 at NHTSA ↗

DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER NOTICED A HESITATION WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SLIGHT "CRUNCHING" SOUND. AT A LATER DATE, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35-45 MPH ON A ROAD WITH HILLS (UP AND DOWN). WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SAME HESITATION AND HEARD A HORRIBLE "PUNCHING" SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM THE REAR. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD TO SWERVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE CON…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055370 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE HIGH POSITIONED BRAKE LIGHT AND ALL OTHER TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON, THERE WILL BE NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS TO INDICATE TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT RELAY WITH TWO RELAYS OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

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.

Reported: 2009-12-18 (December 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: 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.

Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 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: 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.

Reported: 2021-10-14 (October 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: 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.