U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Volvo V70 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

83 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

84,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 83 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Engine operation	22	26.5%
Steering behavior	12	14.5%
Braking behavior	8	9.6%
Fuel system concerns	5	6.0%
Electrical and battery issues	4	4.8%
Transmission and shifting	2	2.4%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Electrical System

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel/Propulsion System

Seats

Steering

Engine

Air Bags

Engine And Engine Cooling: 19; Electrical System: 11; Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Seats: 7; Steering: 7; Engine: 5; Air Bags: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 22; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 8

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 15 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.

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2021

2022

2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 8; 2010: 10; 2011: 11; 2012: 7; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 6; 2016: 1; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10157659 · 2006-05-16 (May 16, 2006)

VOLVO V70 2004 WAGON - DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. CAR STALLED 3X AND LOST STEERING CONTROL 2 X. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER (POWER VOLVO, TORRANCE CA) BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEMS (ALL 3 INCIDENTS HAPPENED WITHIN 10 MINS OF EACH OTHER WHEN I WAS DRIVING). TOLD ME THE NEXT DAY THE THROTTLE WAS "STICKING" AND THEY WOULD "CLEAN" IT. THIS MAKES ME NERVOUS DUE TO THE PAST THROTTLE PROBLEMS WITH VOLVOS, AND ALSO BECAUSE I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD, AND AM 9 MO. PREGNANT. THOUGHT YOU GUYS SHOULD KNOW! *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 35,844 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157659 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10247735 · 2008-11-05 (November 5, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V226000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,9…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247735 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066621 · 2004-03-31 (March 31, 2004)

THE NUT SECURING THE FRONT CONTROL ARM TO THE SPINDLE MAY LOSE ITS INITIAL AXIAL TENSION WHICH COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *PH IT ALSO LEADS TO A POTENTIAL FRONT END NOISE. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING THE NUT; HOWEVER, AS CONSUMER CALLED DEALER AND SAID THAT THEY CAN PERFORM REPAIRS AS PER AGREEMENT WITH NHTSA. CONSUMER IS JUST ASKING TO GET THE NUT AND LET A LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066621 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10089726 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE PROBLEM WAS SO-CALLED CORRECTED, BUT THE FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER 4-5 TIMES TO CORRECT THE STEERING SAFETY ISSUE. ON THE LAST VISIT, THE LEFT FRONT MCPHERSON STRUT SPRING WAS CHANGED. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089726 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10136560 · 2005-09-15 (September 15, 2005)

IN THE SUMMER OF 2004 I THOUGHT I FELT MY BRAKES FREEZE UP, BUT JUST THOUGHT IT WAS ME, THINKING "I'M IN A YEAR OLD VOLVO, THERE'S NO WAY THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED." A FEW MONTHS LATER IT DID HAPPEN AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THAT WAS 11/19/04. ON 2/28/05 I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. THEN, THE END OF APRIL I WAS GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 50 MPH, AND HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES, AND THEY FROZE UP…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10136560 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10141034 · 2005-10-20 (October 20, 2005)

2004 VOLVO V70 ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED WHEN PLACED ON DRIVE AND CONSUMER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE BRAKE. CONSUMER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TS THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A CEMENT BARRIER BLOWING OUT THE TWO REAR TIRES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10141034 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10066252 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)

MY 2004 VOLVO V70 WAGON SPEWED AND SPIT GAS WHEN BEING FILLED WITH GASOLINE. WHEN THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FROM THE GAS PUMP ENGAGED, GAS FROM THE TANK AND THE FILLER LINE GUSHED AND POURED OUT OF THE TANK. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS INCLUDING THE VERY FIRST TIME I FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GAS. IT ALSO OCCURRED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO FILL THE GAS TANK SLOWLY SO THAT PRESSURE WOULD NOT EJECT GASOLINE FROM THE TANK. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED (SMITH CO. MOTORS - CHARLESTON, WV) FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED …

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066252 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10159455 · 2006-06-01 (June 1, 2006)

2000 V70XCAW CROSS COUNTRY WAGON ETM SYSTEM FAILED. *TS THE AC HOSE COMPRESSOR CONDENSER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GAS AND THE O-RING SEAL ON THE PUMP SENDER WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW WAS INOPERABLE WHEN TRYING TO USE THE MASTER CONTROLS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE SWITCH. THE ENGINE WOULD WHINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE ACCELERATING. THE BATTERY, OIL PAN, UPPER TORQUE MOUNT, ANGLE GEAR, ROTORS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL TANK, FUEL SEAL AND STRUTS WERE ALL REPLACED. THE CV BOOT WAS LEAKING. THE TURBO CHARGER WAS REPLACED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159455 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10164680 · 2006-08-07 (August 7, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED, AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE SERVICE AIR BAG MESSAGE READOUT ILLUMINATED, THE BRAKES BECAME SPONGY, AND THE STEERING STIFFENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164680 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10252080 · 2008-12-17 (December 17, 2008)

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT AT TIMES CAUSING LURCHES (SOMETIME VIOLENT) ESPECIALLY WHEN UNDER HEAVIER LOADS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252080 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10395191 · 2011-04-07 (April 7, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/16/11

Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395191 at NHTSA ↗