2003 Volvo V70: complaints, problems and recalls

BRACKET FOR EMERGENCY BRAKE COMES APART AND EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE SHIELD COMES IN CONTACT WITH TIRE. TIRE HAS WORN THROUGH THE RUBBER AND STARTED TO WEAR THROUGH THE STEEL SHIELD. THE BRACKET IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I REPLACED IT MYSELF WITH A STEEL BRACKET. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY,BUT I DID NOT WANT THE SAME BRACKET INSTALLED . ALSO THIS DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DO WARRANTY WORK ON MY CAR BEFORE.

Owner-reported narrative. 48,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016470 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A LEASED 2001 VOLVO V70 T5 THAT WEARS THROUGH TIRES EVERY 3 TO 5 THOUSAND MILES. I AM TIRED OF HAVING TO DRIVE ON BALD TIRES AND HAVE ASKED VOLVO TO ALLOW ME TO TERMINATED THE LEASE. THEY REFUSED MY REQUEST CLAIMING THE PROBLEM IS THE TIRES NOT THE CAR. I DISAGREE WITH THEM. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR THE CHOOSE TO IGNORE. COULD YOU PLEASE PROVIDE ANY HELP TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017088 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE EXITING THE PARKING AREA VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TAPPED THE BRAKES AND SPEED INCREASED. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL, VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, AND LANDED ON A SNOW BANK. DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER CHIP OF THE THROTTLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055598 at NHTSA ↗

AT APPROXIMATELY 7,000 MILES, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP IN SHIFTS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. DEALER "READAPTED" TRANSMISSION USING MANUFACTURER'S PROCEDURE IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT SLIPPAGE. MANUFACTURER'S TERM FOR THIS PROBLEM IS "SHIFT FLAIR" IN WHICH ENGINE RPM INCREASES DURING A SHIFT MAKING THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT HAS TEMPORARILY LOST DRIVE OR THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE RPM WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND DURING THAT PERIOD THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER. ONLY T…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056232 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER'S 3 1/2 YEAR OLD SON GOT STUCK IN HIS SEAT BELT. IT HAD BECOME DOUBLED AROUND HIS WAIST AS HE TRIED TO TAKE IT OFF. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059137 at NHTSA ↗

MICHELIN 195/65 R15 MXV4 + ENERGY RADIAL XSE DEVELOPED RADIAL CRACK ON OUTSIDE SIDEWALL OF TIRE. INSTALLED ON 2003 VOLVO V70. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS TIRE DEFECT (BELT SEPARATION). DEALER (DISCOUNT TIRE) REFUSED ADJUSTMENT ON TIRE WITH APPROX 9K MILES. HAD TO BUY NEW TIRE. LATER OFFERED 75% DISCOUNT AT SEARS ON NEW TIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066189 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO SLIP, ENGINE REVS INCREASE AND VEHICLE LOOSES MOMENTUM. DEALER HAS WORKED ON THE CAR THREE TIMES. THE LAST REPAIR LASTED SEVERAL MONTHS BUT PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096162 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115433 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: 2007-06-05 (June 5, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR LOCATED ON THE LEFT END OF THE FUEL RAIL MAY, AT TIMES, TRANSMIT INCORRECT SIGNAL REGARDING THE FUEL PRESSURE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IF THE SIGNAL IS OUTSIDE OF THE PRE-PROGRAMMED ALLOWABLE LIMITS, A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE MAY BE SET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE SOLDERED JOINTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR MAY CRACK DUE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS.

Consequence: MISFIRE MAY OCCUR DURING DRIVING THAT, IN TURN, WILL REDUCE THE ENGINE TORQUE AND IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, THE ENGINE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. IN CERTAIN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS COULD CAUSE AN UNSAFE SITUATION AND POSSIBLY A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2007. 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.