IllustrationFRONT DRIVER SIDE SPRING SNAPPED AND TORE APART THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. *TR
2001 Volvo V70XC
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V70XC years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1325–50K
4650–75K
2975–100K
23100–150K
5150K+
122 reports with mileage · 22 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Suspension complaints
8 reportsCAR HAS APPROX 94,000 MILES. STANDARD STREET AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING BROKE. DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO TIRE PUNCTURE. THANKFULLY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE MOVING. REPLACED BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS. *TR
BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. LEFT FRONT ROAD SPRING BROKE IN TWO APPROX. 1/2 COIL FROM BOTTOM. FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS. SPRINGS ARE AVAILABLE. RUST EXTENDS APPROX. 1 MM INTO FRACTURE INDICATING SPRING WAS CRACKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. INTERNET SOURCES (INCLUDING NHTSA) INDICATE T…
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BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. LEFT FRONT ROAD SPRING BROKE IN TWO APPROX. 1/2 COIL FROM BOTTOM. FAILURE WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING BOTH FRONT SPRINGS. SPRINGS ARE AVAILABLE. RUST EXTENDS APPROX. 1 MM INTO FRACTURE INDICATING SPRING WAS CRACKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE. INTERNET SOURCES (INCLUDING NHTSA) INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT AFFECTING NUMEROUS 2001-2004 VOLVO XC70S (AKA V70XC). SOME FAILURES ARE REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THERE ARE ALSO REPORTS OF THE FAILED SPRING CUTTING OPEN A TIRE. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT, INCREDIBLY, TAKES THE POSITION THAT SUDDEN SPRING FAILURE IS NORMAL AND REPLACING BROKEN ROAD SPRINGS IS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. PLEASE OPEN AN INVESTIGATION (AND ORDER A RECALL) BEFORE THIS DEFECT MAIMS OR KILLS SOMEONE. *TR
HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO POT HOLES. SUSPECT METAL FAILURE. REPLACED LEFT COIL SPRING. *NM
HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO POT HOLES. SUSPECT METAL FAILURE. REPLACED COIL SPRING. *NM
BOTH FRONT SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THIS CREATED A TRAFFIC HAZARD WHEN THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 2 YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL-PAVED, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 9 DAY…
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BOTH FRONT SPRINGS HAVE BROKEN DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THIS CREATED A TRAFFIC HAZARD WHEN THE CAR BECAME SUDDENLY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 2 YEARS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL-PAVED, MAJOR THOROUGHFARE. THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONT SPRING BROKE 9 DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING ON A WELL-PAVED SIDE STREET. ON BOTH OCCASIONS THE CAR WAS TRANSPORTED BY FLAT BED TRUCK TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE PART WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *JB
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 REPLAC…
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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 FAN REPLACED, CAR OVERHEATED INTO THE RED! I TOO HAVE HAD LITTLE TIME TO ENJOY MY CAR. THE E BRAKE STICKS IN THE WINTER, BECAUSE THE COATING ON THE LINES/CABLES IS CRACKED, BROKEN/BURNED DUE TO IMPROPER SUSPENSION. MY SUN ROOF, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND REAR HATCH DOOR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WAS RATTLING LOUDLY AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TRIED TO FIX IT AND TOLD ME I HAD TO LIVE WITH IT! OF COURSE ANOTHER DEALERSHIP FIXED IT OUTRIGHT. THE SEATBELT FREQUENTLY STICKS AND DOESNT TAKE UP THE SLACK INTERMITTENTLY ONLY TO GET SHUT IN THE DRIVERS DOOR FREQUENTLY, WHEN I JUST ABOUT THINK IT HAS CORRECTED ITSELF. AND, THERE IS A STRANGE DRAFT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW THAT GETS QUITE COLD IN THE WINTER. THE SEAL SEEMS FINE AND ITS ANOTHER PROBLEM NO SHOP SEEMS TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT.
THE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THE LEFT FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSY TO THE SUSPENSION LOOSENED AND BACKED OUT. THE INITIAL SYMPTOM WAS SIMILAR TO A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR - PULSING DURING LIGHT BRAKING. HOWEVER, AS THE BOLTS CONTINUED TO BACK OUT, ONE BOLT FELL OUT ENTIRELY, TWO BECAME LOOSE, AND THE LAST BOLT JAMMED INTO THE ROTATING FRONT AX…
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THE FOUR BOLTS HOLDING THE LEFT FRONT HUB/BEARING ASSY TO THE SUSPENSION LOOSENED AND BACKED OUT. THE INITIAL SYMPTOM WAS SIMILAR TO A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR - PULSING DURING LIGHT BRAKING. HOWEVER, AS THE BOLTS CONTINUED TO BACK OUT, ONE BOLT FELL OUT ENTIRELY, TWO BECAME LOOSE, AND THE LAST BOLT JAMMED INTO THE ROTATING FRONT AXLE. THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE FRONT AXLE WAS SUCH THAT IT CAUSED THE BOLT TO BACK OUT FURTHER AND JAM AGAINST THE AXLE CAUSING BINDING AND GRINDING A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE BOLT HEAD OFF. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED - SAY 55-60 ON THE DC BELTWAY DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. FURTHER, IT APPEARS THAT FAILURE OF THESE BOLTS CAN CAUST THE ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE BRAKE ROTOR AND CALIPER TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. VOLVO REPLACED ALL FOUR BOLTS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSYS UNDER WARRANTEE, HOWEVGER, THERE IS NOT RECALL OR TECH BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM - EVEN THOUGH VOLVO IS ON THE THIRD GENERATION OF BOLT DESIGN FOR THIS PROBLEM!! I SHOULD NOTE THAT THESE SAME BOLTS AND THE SAME DESIGN ARE USED ON ALL P26 PLATFORM CARS (S80, S60, AND THE 2001 AND NEWER V70 MODELS). FAILURE OF THE BOLTS ON THE LEFT SIDE CAN CAUSE SEVERE STEEREING PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BOLT JAMS AGAINST THE DRIVE AXLE. THE PROBLEM ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS SIMILAR EXCEPT THAT THE BOLTS WILL NOT JAM THE AXLE DUE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION. CONTACT STEVE SEEKINS AT 703-418-8651, SSEEKINS@ANTEON.COM (HUSBAND) FOR FURTHER INFO. CAN PROVIDE VIN LATER.
Official recalls
104V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA05021 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Dec 6, 2005 · Closed Dec 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.