1999 Volvo V70XC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
79 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 64 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 79 complaints (34.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 21 | 26.6% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 27 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 27; Electrical System: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 18 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 49; 2006: 8; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10073218 · 2004-05-26 (May 26, 2004)
CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. FOUND TO BE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. THIS IS TANTAMOUNT TO HAVING THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAP. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND VOLVO KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO 'FESS UP. LUCKILY WE WERE UNHURT BUT THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE AND DEMANDS ATTENTION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103366 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
WHILE PULLING ONTO AN EXIT RAMP AT 45 MPH THERE WAS AN OVERHEATING SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, FOLLOWED BY THE VEHICLE STALLING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP FROM THE EXIT RAMP THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE ENGINE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, THE EXPANSION TANK AND ENGINE COVER MELTED, AND THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AT THE SIDE TANK. RADIATOR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE WAS RELATED TO COOLING FAN RECALL 04V451000, BUT THE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED.*AK...........*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041427 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
MY ABS/TRAC DASH LIGHTS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY COMING ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS IS NO LONGER WORKING. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NEWER (LATE 1990'S AND ON) VOLVOS DUE TO A FAULTY ABS COMPUTER MODULE AND VOLVO ISN'T COVERING THE REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL. THE COST OF THE MODULE IS $500 (NOT INCLUDING LABOR COSTS). I'M REQUESTING NHTSA CONTACT VOLVO HEADQUARTERS TO DEMAND A RECALL ON THIS HINDERING ABS SAFETY PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065890 · 2004-04-10 (April 10, 2004)
I HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY MY VOLVO DEALER (DON BEYER VOLVO, FALLS CHURCH, VA) DURING ROUTINE SERVICE THAT THERE IS AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS MODULE IN MY 1999 VOLVO V70 WAGON. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROSPECTIVE REPAIR IS $951. I UNDERSTAND FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER 1999 AND 2000 VOLVO OWNERS, AS WELL AS A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH VOLVO'S DURING THIS PRODUCTION PERIOD. SINCE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT DETERIATE FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BUT, INSTEAD IS A COMPUTER BASED SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD LAST…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131054 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
DT: 1999 VOLVO WAGON VXC. SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER . THE CAR DID NOT STALL EXCEPT AT A STOP SIGN WHEN GIVING IT A LOT OF GAS TO GET IT GOING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR TWO MONTHS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $1753.00 TO FIX IT. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY WOULD PUT IN A NEW STEERING ROD/ FRONT END ALIGNMENT/ VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR/ THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY/ AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND DRAIN AND REFILL THE COOLANT. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139024 · 2005-10-07 (October 7, 2005)
MILEAGE APPROX 115,000 WHEN PURCHASED NOW 120,000 WITHIN 8 MONTHS. HARDLY HARD USE. FAILURE OF ECM AND O2 SENSORS, ON TWO OCCASIONS THE SECOND WITHIN 1000 MILES AND 1 MONTH OF FIRST REPAIR. CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE, IF RESTARTED MIGHT STALL AND GENERALLY BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NO WARNING OF FAILURE. VOLVO DEALERSHIPS WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM AND OFFERED IMMEDIATE AND CORRECT DIAGNOSIS PRIOR TO CHECKING THE COMPUTER CODES, WITHOUT NEEDING MUCH INVESTIGATION. 2 DEALERS WORKED ON THE CAR ONE DON BAYER IN WASHINGTON AND INDEPENDENCE VOLVO IN CHAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131903 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
FROM FEBRUARY 2004 TO APRIL 2005, I HAVE HAD VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1999 VOLVO XC70 AND HAVE LITTLE HELP FROM THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN THE MATTER. I TWICE HAD TO CALL AAA BECAUSE I STALLED MY CAR AT SCHOOL. ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT IT MAY BE AN IGNITION PROBLEM, BUT AFTER TWO TRIPS TO JIM CULLIGAN, IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A STEERING CONMPONENT PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, AS THE RECORDS AT JIM CULLIGAN WILL CLEARLY DOCUMENT (AND MY OWN), I CAME BACK WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND TOLD THEM SO, BUT THEY SAID MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. ALL TOLD, …
Owner-reported narrative. 64,859 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137812 · 2005-09-27 (September 27, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER WANTED THE ETM REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH THE CONSUMERS REQUEST, BECAUSE THE PART HAD NOT FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A DRINK WAS SPILLED IN IT, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DISAGREED WITH THAT THEORY. THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AFTER SHOWING SIGNS OF BEING WEAK, HOWEVER THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. UPDATED 12/14/05. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139764 · 2005-10-15 (October 15, 2005)
CHARRED BATTERY CABLE - COULD CAUSE FIRE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131407 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER WERE DRIVING IN OUR VOLVO V70XC (1999) ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN IT STALLED SUDDENLY. SHE COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED PLENTY OF FUEL SO RUNNING OUT OF GAS WAS RULED OUT. SHE CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP & INJECTOR. THE FUEL PUMP AND INJECTOR WERE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $1800. WITHIN 3 DAYS IT HAPPENED AGAIN. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410476 · 2011-07-05 (July 5, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSING IT TO FAIL INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER NOR TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410476 at NHTSA ↗