2001 Volvo V70XC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
71,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 122 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 144 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 40 | 27.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 21.5% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 12.5% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 7.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.1% |
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 | 36 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 36; Electrical System: 25; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Power Train: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 72 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 72; 2006: 9; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 1; 2010: 8; 2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 40 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 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 10016994 · 2003-05-04 (May 4, 2003)
THE XC70 HAS STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED TWO DIFFERENT SENSORS. THE DEALER FEELS THE CARE IS FINE, THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE READILY REPRODUCED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES IT STALLED, IT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRED LAST MONTH. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, AND IT JUST STALLED AS SHE REMOVED HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I AM VERY CONCERNED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104147 · 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)
FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ON VOLVO 2001 XC V70. THE ELECTRONIC MODULE CONTROLS THE THROTTLE. THE FAILURE OF THIS ELECTRONIC AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAN CAUSE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER OR A SURGE IN POWER RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE PREVALENT IN VOLVO CARS. THE RESOLUTION IS EXPENSIVE ($1K). I AM SURPRISED THAT A RECALL WAS NOT MADE FOR THIS FAULTY COMPONENT WHICH HAS SAFETY CONSEQUENCES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10104147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116346 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. I BLOCKED TRAFFIC ON SC 278 FOR ~ 30 SEC. THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DID NOT MOVE. I COULD RUN THE ENGINE BUT NO POWER MADE IT TO THE WHEELS. IT FINALLY LIMPED TO A PARKING LOT. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAROLINA VOLVO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED ONE FROM VOLVO.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131031 · 2005-08-02 (August 2, 2005)
ON SEVERAL INCIDENTS OVER THE PAST 9 MONTHS THE CAR HAS STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY. IT LOOSES POWER AND EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. ONCE I STOP IT RESTARTS. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WILL NOT "SHUT OFF" COMPLETELY BUT THE ENGINE WILL LOOSE ITS POWER AND THEN THE RPM WILL REV BACK UP SUDDENLY. VOLVO HAS ATTACHED A "BLACK BOX" TO THE ENGINE AND AS A RESULT REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND IT IS BACK. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS JULY 20TH. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 69,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036737 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
I WAS RECENTLY TOLD MY 2001 V79XC NEEDED BALL JOINTS, THEN SWAY BARS AND SOMEONE ELSE SAID STRUTS! ALSO: I HAVE HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED, THE SYSTEM REPORTED THROTTLE MODULE ERRORS AND ELECTIRCAL OR CIRCUIT PROBLEMS; THROTTLE MODULE CLEANED, THEN REPLACED; HEADLIGHTS REPLACED 3 TIMES (WIRING CAUSES SHORTS); GAS FILTER REPLACED TWO JUNES IN A ROW GAS PROPELLED OUT OF THE TANK BACK AT ME UPON PUMPING (SOMETHING ABOUT AIR INTAKE LINE WAS CLOGGED), THE BRACKETS UNDERNEATH THE CAR ARE TOTALLY RUSTED NOT STAINLESS STEEL! I HAD THE COOLING FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131250 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)
THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING OUR 2001 VOLVO VXC70 STATION WAGON. ON A BUSY ROAD, DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR LOST ENGINE POWER AND NEARLY CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEMS FAILED AND THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF DIFFICULTY TO GET THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! THE REASON THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM HAVE BEEN FILED WITH YOUR AGENCY. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR A RECALL TO ADD…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126144 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
(1) MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A SUNNY AND MILD DAY. (2) THE VEHICLE, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, LOST ITS POWER STEERING. THE MESSAGE CENTER READ "ELECTRICAL FAILURE, SERVICE REQUIRED." CONSEQUENTLY, MY WIFE COULD HARDLY STEER THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE LOW SPEED AND STRAIGHT ROAD, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. (3) THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE A DIAGNOSIS IS PENDING. THE TOW OPERATOR OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE FEAD BELT LYING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT WAS NOT BROKEN, BUT HAD MANAGED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310785 · 2010-02-16 (February 16, 2010)
2001 VOLVO V70XC. TRANSMISSION LURCHES AND SLIPS. VEHICLE INVOLVED IN MAJOR ACCIDENT IN 2002. VOLVO INSPECTED VEHICLE AND FOUND NO ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER ON TWO ADDITIONAL VISITS WITH SAME CONCERN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO MADE AN ADJUSTMENT TO TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE AGAIN LURCHING AND SLIPPING. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND INFORMED A SERVICE REPORT NOW INDICATED WE NEEDED TO REPLACE A VALVE ASSEMBLY. COST: $1,100-1,800. CALL DEALERSHIP AND INFORMED THAT THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10838671 · 2016-02-26 (February 26, 2016)
CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. SAME PROBLEM AS DEC 18, 2009 RECALL. WAS FIXED ON 10/14/10. GAS DRIPPING ON GROUND, INSIDE SMELLS OF GAS.
Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10838671 at NHTSA ↗