2003 Volvo XC70: complaints, problems and recalls

FRONT UNDER CARRIAGE AIR DAM/SPLASH PANEL ABRUPTLY PULLED AWAY FROM CHASSIS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED (PASSING). THIS RESULTED IN PIECES OF HEAVY DUTY PLASTIC BREAKING OFF AND BOUNCING UNDER THE CAR, CATCHING ON THE PAVEMENT. DISCONCERTING--I THOUGHT AT FIRST I BLEW A TIRE (LOUND NOISE AND THEN SUSTAINED WIND NOISE). IT APPEARED THE PLASTIC BECAME FATIGUED AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE ANCHORING BOLTS. DEALER PARTS MANAGER REPORTS THAT HE HAS REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028409 at NHTSA ↗

1) WHILE MY 2003 VOLVO XC70 WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY NOTICED THAT THERE WERE TWO PIPES THAT WERE HANGING LOW ON THE CAR WHICH WAS NEW. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE FUEL LINES AND THEY HAD COME LOOSE. THE CAR IS USED ONLY FOR LOCAL AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, SO IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THE FUEL LINE WAS LOOSE. 2) IF THE FUEL LINE HAD CAUGHT ON SOMETHING THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE AN/OR EXPLOSION. BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINES UNDER THE CAR IT IS HARD TO NOTICE IN EVERYDAY USE IF IT IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE. 3)THE D…

Owner-reported narrative. 34,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128803 at NHTSA ↗

SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING FAILURE IN THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM ON MY 2003 VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY WAGON. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND STATED THE CENTRAL COMPUTER ON THE AUTO HAD FAILED RESULTING IN A $980 REPAIR. DEALER INDICATED THAT IF COMPUTER WAS NOT REPAIRED, AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND PRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER INDICATED AUTOMOBILE WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT COMPUTER REPLACEMENT. SINCE WHEN DO CENTRAL SRS COMPUTERS JUST STOP WORKING? I BELIEVE THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY VOLVO AND NOT THE CONSUM…

Owner-reported narrative. 67,815 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250583 at NHTSA ↗

OVERWHELMING SMELL OF GASOLINE, POOR STARTING, BROUGHT AUTOMOBILE TO VOLVO MECHANIC (SINCE 1976) DETERMINED FACTORY VOLVO FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE HOUSING, GASOLINE ALL OVER BACK SEATS, TOP OF GAS TANK, ENGINE.. SAME OCCURRED JULY, 2009 ON A 2002 XC70, BELONGING TO MY MOTHER, MINE IS A 2003. MECHANIC AND SELF CONTACTED VOLVO FOR DEFECT WARRANTY OR RECALLS AS SO DANGEROUS. NO COOPERATION FROM VOLVO. I KEPT THE DEFECTIVE PART AFTER REPLACING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 124,718 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289746 at NHTSA ↗

NOTICED RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURN. TOOK TO SERVICE STATION, THEY NOTICED BROKEN STRUT COIL SPRING AND SUGGESTED MANUFACTURER DEFECT. TOOK TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REMARKED A POTHOLE MUST HAVE BEEN HIT TO CREATE DAMAGE. HAD THIRD OPINION, NO WAY TO CREATE THE BREAK IN SPRING DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. HAVING BOTH COILS REPLACED TO BE SAFE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 67,131 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326536 at NHTSA ↗

VOLVO XC70 2003 TRANSMISSION IS GOING BAD WITH 80,000 MILES ON IT. NEEDS A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. HESITATES DURING SHIFTING AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T GO INTO GEAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. POWER BOOSTER TO THE BRAKES ALSO HAS A SEAL ISSUE CAUSING POWER BOOSTER ELECTRONIC VACUUM TO CONSTANTLY RUN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347876 at NHTSA ↗

VOLVO 2003 XC 70 TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM, LOSS OF 1ST GEAR ALONG WITH HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 2-3RD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349152 at NHTSA ↗

SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING FAILURE IN THE SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM ON MY 2003 VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY WAGON. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND STATED THE CENTRAL COMPUTER ON THE AUTO HAD FAILED RESULTING IN A $1300 REPAIR. DEALER INDICATED THAT IF COMPUTER WAS NOT REPAIRED, AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT AND PRESENTS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER INDICATED AUTOMOBILE WOULD NOT BE SAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT COMPUTER REPLACEMENT. SINCE WHEN DO CENTRAL SRS COMPUTERS JUST STOP WORKING? I BELIEVE THIS REPAIR SHOULD BE COVERED BY VOLVO AND NOT THE CONSUMER A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10357281 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: 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.