2008 Volvo XC70 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
71,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 39 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 10.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
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 System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 4; 2021: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10243729 · 2008-09-26 (September 26, 2008)
2008 VOLVO XC70 HAD A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE IT REGISTERED A HALF TANK OF FUEL ON THE GAUGE, BUT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF GAS. *NJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10243729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282928 · 2009-09-05 (September 5, 2009)
MY VOLVO'S ENGINE STARTED TO SPUTTER THEN DIED AND LOST ALL POWER. THIS OCCURRED IN SECONDS AND LEFT MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I IN A VERY DANGEROUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY TRAFFIC SITUATION. MY GAS GAUGE READ 150 MILES WORTH OF GAS LEFT IN GAS TANK. THE VOLVO WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FOUND TO HAVE A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND CONTROL MODULE. BOTH WERE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263324 · 2009-03-28 (March 28, 2009)
RAPID LOSS OF POWER IN FAST LANE ON BUSY HIGHWAY. TWO INCIDENTS. FIRST TIME, GAUGE SAID 90 MILES TO EMPTY. SECOND TIME, 125 MILES TO EMPTY. NO INDICATION OF QUESTIONABLE LOW FUEL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES WAS ABLE TO GET PAST SEMI'S, AS VEHICLE LOST POWER TOTALLY IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS. FROM 65 TO 0. OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2009 AND MARCH 2009. JANUARY 2009 REPORTED TO STATE POLICE. MARCH 2009 REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263324 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330545 · 2010-05-15 (May 15, 2010)
A 2008 VOLVO XC70 WITH APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES STALLED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/4 TANK AND THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR ON THE DASH WAS NOT ON. THE VEHICLE HAD RUN OUT OF GAS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236873 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)
TRAVELING ON A BUSY EXPWAY DURING RUSH HOUR IN LEFT LANE WHEN CAR STARTED BUCKING. I WAS ABLE TO SWITCH 2 LANES AND ALMOST MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER WHEN THE CAR STOPPED AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. CAR INFORMATION SYSTEM REPORTED THAT THE BATTERY POWER WAS CRITICALLY LOW. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND CALLED THE POLICE. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY CAR BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC WAS GOING BY TOO QUICKLY (I WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF A EXIT RAMP.) POLICE CALLED THEIR TOW TRUCK TO GET ME OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY. VOLVO ON LINE SERVICE SAID IT WOULD TALE AN HOUR TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442559 · 2012-01-05 (January 5, 2012)
BATTERY FAILURE CAUSED BY OPEN LOW CURRENT SHORT. IF VOLVO FOLLOWED MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS UPON ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS INCLUSIVE OF ANY NON-ROUTINE ELECTRICAL FAULTS AND ATTEMPTED REPAIRS IN THESE YEARS IN QUESTION, AND IF VOLVO FOLLOWED PROPER MAINTENANCE REPAIR PROCEDURES, THIS UNKNOWN PROBLEM WHICH COULD BE LIFE THREATENING TO MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS, OWNERS, AND PASSENGERS, WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE EVERY DAY THAT THIS IS INSTALLED IMPROPER RISKS THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VOLVO CAR OWNERS FROM YEARS…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478235 · 2012-10-02 (October 2, 2012)
MY 2008 VOLVO XC70 SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AS I PREPARED TO PARK. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS SO FAR, AND I AM FRIGHTENED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN. THE EXPERIENCE IN BOTH CASES WAS ALMOST IDENTICAL. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD SUDDENLY AS I SLOWED THE CAR TO PARK IT. IN BOTH CASES, MY FOOT WAS DEPRESSED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR ONLY ACCELERATED TO A FEW MILES PER HOUR, BUT BOTH TIMES THE CAR STOPPED ONLY ONCE IT COLLIDED: THE FIRST TIME WITH A FENCE, AND THE SECOND TIME WITH A PORCH. THE BRAKE WAS SEEMINGLY USELESS. A FIELD ENGINEER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10478235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191975 · 2019-03-27 (March 27, 2019)
AUTO DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE HAD INSTALLED BRAKE PARTS, THAT WERE NONCOMPLIANT WITH FMVSS, WHICH CAUSED, SUDDEN AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE ON 12/1/2018, AND $2000.00 IN DAMAGES TO REPLACE ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS TRAVELING ON BUSY RESIDENTIAL STREET IN LOU, KY, 7-10MPH, NARROWLY AVERTED TWO ACCIDENTS GETTING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL, AND SAFELY OFF THE ROADWAY. MECHANIC INSPECTION IS ATTACHED, RIGHT REAR CALIPER BRACKET NONCOMPLIANT WITH FMVSS, RE VIOLATION OF VIOLATION OF 49 U.S.C., CODE 30112, PROHIBITIONS AGAINST THE MANUFACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 132,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309652 · 2020-02-17 (February 17, 2020)
THE PROBLEMS INCLUDE DOOR LATCHES QUIT WORKING AND UNABLE TO SECURE DOORS WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, DOORS COULD LATCH BUT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE LOCKS WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND UNABLE TO DRIVE OR LEAVE THE VEHICLE IF THE DOORS ARE UNABLE TO ENGAGE. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS FALLING/FLYING OFF THE MOUNT WHILE IN MOTION AND THEN SHATTERING ON THE ROAD WAY. WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY THE REAR DOOR NOT CATCHING WHEN FULLY OPEN AND AUTOMATICALLY CLOSES IN RAPID MOTION. THE AM RADIO TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION MOTOR STOPPING,
Owner-reported narrative. 198,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309652 at NHTSA ↗