2004 Volvo XC70 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
101 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 101 complaints (23.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 24.8% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 11.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 24 |
| Electrical System | 14 |
| Suspension:Front | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Seats | 5 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 24; Electrical System: 14; Suspension:Front: 7; Air Bags: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Suspension: 6; Seats: 5
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 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 14 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 14
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2003: 1; 2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 1; 2009: 11; 2010: 11; 2011: 9; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 5; 2016: 10; 2017: 5; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 5; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 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 10253935 · 2009-01-06 (January 6, 2009)
MULTIPLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BUT NO CLEAR ISSUE DISCOVERED. NOW THE CAR VIBRATES WHEN I START DRIVING IT AND AT TIMES I CAN FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL AND NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. I AM TOLD IT IS THE FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDS REPLACING THOUGH IT DID NOT SHOW UP AS AN ISSUE FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSIS. ALSO, SPARK PLUGS WERE CHANGED IN SEPT 0'7 YET WERE CHANGED AGAIN AT THE 60K CHECK UP TWO WEEKS AGO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 58,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256859 · 2009-01-29 (January 29, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC70. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE ENGINE. SHE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED AND THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE FOLLOWED BY EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. IMMEDIATELY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DRIVER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING ONTO THE GROUND FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256859 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058566 · 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)
I JUST PURCHASED A NEW C70 VOLVO AND I AM HAVING SOME PROBLEMS ALREADY. (1) THERE WAS A LITTLE SNOW ON THE GROUND FROM A SNOW DRIFT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR WAS SLIDING ALL OVER THE PLACE AS IF I WAS ON OIL AND AS THOUGH THE TIRES WERE NOT TOUCHING THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CALLED THE CORPORATE OFFCE [phone removed] AND THEY SAID THAT IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE 17 IN LOW PROFILE TIRES ON THE CAR WHICH TENDS TO GET ON TOP OF THE SNOW AND NOW SUGGESTS THAT I PURCHASE 15 IN SNOW TIRES. IS THIS GOING TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074057 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING INTO TOWN, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED VOLVO BUT REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200373 · 2007-08-21 (August 21, 2007)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE, DATE IS ONGOING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10273508 · 2009-06-11 (June 11, 2009)
I HAVE A 2004 XC70 WITH 56,000 MILES. RECENTLY, THE "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO APPARENT CHANGE IN HANDLING OR ACCELERATION. THE LIGHT THEN WENT OFF THE NEXT TIME I DROVE THE CAR. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THIS TIME ALONG WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO ACCELERATION. I GOT THE CAR TO LIMP ALONG AT ABOUT 5 MPH WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON TO THE CLOSEST GARAGE, WHERE I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT. THE MECHANIC RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE COMPUTER AND THE CODE FOR THE THROTTLE BODY APPEARED. …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,702 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104077 · 2004-12-19 (December 19, 2004)
SINCE THE PURCHASE IN AUGUST 2003, MY C70 CONVERTIBLE HAS TURNING PROBLEMS AND I CAN'T SAFELY MAKE A U-TURN IN TRAFFIC OR PARK IN A PARKING SPACE. THE WHEEL TURNS ONLY TO A CERTAIN POINT AND THEN STOPS. THE INCOMPETENT VOLVO SERVICE DEPT. HAS SAID THAT I NEED MY "STOPS" ADJUSTED - WHY WOULD THEY BE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE? I BRING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY DO SOME MEANINGLESS SERVICE AND THE STEERING IS TEMPORARILY FIXED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO SERVICE ANOTHER TIME, THEY TOLD ME MY TIRES WERE THE WRONG SIZ…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10104077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274793 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
I HAVE A 2004 VOLVO XC70 WITH ONLY 53,000 MILES.ON JUNE 20TH, THE "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE" LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO APPARENT CHANGE IN HANDLING OR ACCELERATION. THE LIGHT THEN WENT OFF 20 MINUTES LATER. THE NEXT DAY AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON THIS TIME ALONG WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, AND THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO ACCELERATION. I GOT THE CAR TO LIMP ALONG AT ABOUT 5 MPH WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, AND IT FINALLY STOPPED SO I PUSHED IT ON TO THE CLOSEST PARKING SPOT. THE LIGHT WENT OFF F4 HOURS LATER AND I WAS ABLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 53,866 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358044 · 2010-09-28 (September 28, 2010)
THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY VEHICLE (WHICH HAS OCCURRED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS) ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS VOLVO RECALL. HOWEVER, MY XC70 IS A 2004 BUT IS HAVING THIS IDENTICAL ISSUE. (A SOFTWARE GLITCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 11,993 VOLVO MODELS BEING RECALLED BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA). THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 S80 MODELS, 2010 S60 MODELS, 2009-2010 XC70 MODELS, AND THE 2010 XC60, ALL RUNNING FAULTY SOFTWARE IN THEIR CENTRAL ELECTRONIC MODULES (CEM). ACCORDING TO NHTSA, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121182 · 2005-05-17 (May 17, 2005)
CONSUMER STATED THE SENSOR CONTROL AIR BAGS FAILED TWICE AND THE 2ND TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR. THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS FAILED. THE CONSUMER IS CONSUMER BECAUSE VEHICLE IS ONLY A YEAR OLD AND BECAUSE OF ALL THE SENSOR FAILURES THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE WIRING OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353371 · 2010-09-01 (September 1, 2010)
2004 VOLVO XC 70 ENGINE WITH 68,000 MILES, RUNNING POORLY, INOPERABLE; TOWED TO DEALER WHERE WIRING TERMINAL ENDS AT BOTH THROTTLE VALVE AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353371 at NHTSA ↗