2005 Volvo XC70: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
78,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 27 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Electrical System: 3; Air Bags: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Power Train: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Suspension: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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 10132721 · 2005-08-13 (August 13, 2005)
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ON ONE OCCURRENCE THEN STARTED AGAIN LATER THAT DAY THEN A WEEK LATER IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MILES AND THE ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT OUR EXPENSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140773 · 2005-10-25 (October 25, 2005)
I WAS TRAVELLING AT 75 ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER DOWN TO 10 MILES PER HOUR AND WOULDN'T EXCEED THAT SPEED. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN AS I WAS RETURNING TO COLORADO SPRINGS. I HAVE A VOLVO V70XC 2001. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPUTER REPLACED AT A COST OF ALMOST $1000.THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10140773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145308 · 2005-12-15 (December 15, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT INTERMITTENT POWER FAILURE WHILE ACCELERATING. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST, HOWEVER, AFTER THE THIRD OCCURRENCE , THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE IN TANK THE FUEL PUMP PART # 30741993 NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT FELT THIS PART WAS FAULTY BY DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE DUE TO HIGH DEMAND.*AK UPDATED 02/07/06.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167920 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
TRANSMISSION HAD A JERK TO IT WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF A STOP. WHEN YOU ACCELERATED FROM A STOP THE ENGINE THEN WOULD STOP. WE HAVE THE DEALER SHIP VOLVO ( BARRIER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS STILL HOWEVER A SMALL JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION AND A SLIGHT HESITATION IN THE ENGINE TO ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170524 · 2006-10-11 (October 11, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. THE HARDER THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, THE FASTER THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND LURCH FORWARD, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED OFF. WHEN RESTARTED, EVERYTHING OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED 5 TIMES AND A MINOR COLLISION HAPPENED, ALTHOUGH NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM OR FIND ANYTHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251508 · 2008-12-11 (December 11, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. HE CANNOT SWITCH THE LEFT BLADE WITH THE RIGHT BLADE OR PURCHASE A BLADE FROM SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN THE DEALER AT A LOWER PRICE. IT WOULD COST $60 TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BLADE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THIS MANNER; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE WINDSHIELD HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 31,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296299 · 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)
THIS IS A CORRECTION TO COMPLAINT #10296298. VEHICLE IN CONNECTION TO THIS COMPLAINT IS A 2005 VOLVO XC70, NOT A 2009. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10340224 · 2010-06-26 (June 26, 2010)
OUR XC70 BEGAN OVERHEATING AND WAS TAKEN IN FOR DIAG. IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS BUILT INTO THE RADIATOR AND IT BEGAN EXCHANGING ENGINE COOLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS IS A HORRIBLE DESIGN. WHY WOULD THEY NOT BE SEPARATE LIKE MY VW TOUAREG. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AND NOW I AM LOOKING AT A $7000 REPAIR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT AFTER TALKING TO THE DEALER AND CORPORATE VOLVO THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. THE CAR HAS 78,000 MILES ON IT. I'M SO UPSET BY THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340224 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V566000 · Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V800000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Air Bags:Frontal
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗