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Vehicle safety record

2005 Volvo XC70 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 27 complaints about the 2005 Volvo XC70 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (8) and the electrical system (3). Those complaints describe 2 crashes and 1 injury. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in October 2021 for the frontal. For comparison, the 2004 has 0 and the 2006 has 18.

NHTSA data checked

FFar more problems than a typical XC70 year, for its age

#175 most complained-about 2005 vehicle

Complaints
27
Recalls
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Most common 2005 Volvo XC70 problems

Share of all 27 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

2005 Volvo XC70 recalls 3

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Air bags: frontal

21V800000194,546 vehicles affected

The problem
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix
Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.

Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)

10V566000416 vehicles affected

The problem
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
The risk
AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The fix
Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable gps device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected. The unit's battery will be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.Garmin.Com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.

Service brakes: master cylinder

07E02300013,128 vehicles affected

The problem
Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987mza, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than dca7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The seal on master cylinder can fail and leak brake fluid.
The risk
Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during april 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.

What owners say

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27 complaints about the 2005 Volvo XC70

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.

Airbags

The contact owns a 2005 Volvo XC70. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V800000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11463065
Airbags

The contact owns a 2005 Volvo XC70. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V800000 ( Air Bag ) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable till approximately 2 weeks to 2 months. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the vehicle was displaying a warning message that stated "Safety Check," however, they were not sure if it was or was not directly related to the air bags. The approximate failure mileage was 126,000. Vin tool confirms parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Air bagsNHTSA 11444426
Other & unknown

My check engine light flashed while driving on tuesday november 20th at about 4:45pm. I was nearest my local mechanic shop (eldorado automotive) and the tech plugged in the computer gadget that reads what is happening and told me a housing under the hood needed to be removed to investigate further. I took the car in the next morning and found out the my timing belt was about 1/2 shredded and ready to break at any moment. I was told I couldn't drive it and that the repairs would not be completed until tuesday...

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november 27 following the thanksgiving holiday. I have a 2005 wagon and the timing belt was replaced by volvo at 125k. The car now has 165k miles. I was very lucky that I did not have a catastrophic failure and a ruined engine. It was just coincidence that this unrelated issue required a more thorough investigation of the housing where the timing belt is. Timing belts are not warrantied by the volvo 2015 lifetime warranty plan (no surprise there) but an average belt lasts upwards of 100k miles and is recommended to be replaced at/near that time. I have all documents showing when the belt was replaced and yet volvo is not standing behind this product. I don't see any grey area here. This could in no way be something that was done by me. It looks as though the local volvo dealer either did not install the belt at 125k or it was clearly a faulty unit. I submitted a claim to volvo corporate for reimbursement and was denied. I have requested a written accounting of why the claim was denied. I have been unable to speak with anyone other than a customer service rep who has zero authority to do anything. I have also requested names of the persons in management who made the decision. Feels like a huge safety risk. Thanks in advance for your help.

Filed Incident Unknown or otherNHTSA 11156652
Wheels & tires

Tire info primewell valera touring 215/65/r16 98h made in china. Dot #5wa6 00a 4813 in march 2016 I got a new/used certified car from a dealer in orlando fl the car came with new tires. Not sure where the tires were sold/installed, but after I drove about 11 000 miles, one of the rear tire starts to lose pressure about 1 psi/day. On 8/14/2016 I took the car to local tire plus store in gainesville fl for inspection address: 2605 sw 34th st, gainesville, fl 32608, phone: (352) 231-8422-the technician checked the...

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tire and said it is fine and some air loss is normal-even I told him that only one tire does that and I have to pump air every week to prevent running flat. One month later 10/16/2017 on the highway going 70mph I suddenly I felt an explosion/strong vibration and lost control. The road was clear I did not hit any debris that can affect the tires. I was lucky there was no other cars around me, so I could pull on the shoulder safely. The police officer(collins)car that stopped to see if I am ok ,saw the tire and told me it was defective and I was lucky to be alive since the defective tire was on the back not on the front and traffic was light. I discovered the same rear tire I had problems with before exploded, lost part of the tread due to the break of internal steel belt . I changed the tire with the reserve and I took the car again to tire plus store for replacement. The technician recognized the tire is defective but refused to replaced because it was not on the last recall from primaewell .(17T-013) so I had to pay over $190 for a new pair tire since the car is awd and cannot have different tire and store do not sell anymore this brand(wander why?) Probably more of this primewell valera touring tires are defective not only those listed on the recall, chinese manufacturing is famous for killing consumers with american business complicity-this is another such case.. I am concerned that other 2 similar tires still on my car today and I fear they will explode

Filed Incident TiresNHTSA 11039586
Fuel system

Egnission turns but turns off after a half second after turning key to start car. Half tank still won't start. It was parked and trying to start car. The day before the car was in park and in park with ac runing and car was making noise as shuttering or going in and out of gears. Code reads fule pump modal

Filed Incident Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10897812
Transmission & drivetrain

The awd system is not working. The vehicle was to spin the front wheels constantly. Also traveling on the highway, the vehicle wants to drift into the other lanes on its own. Dealer tells me it is the angle gear sleeve on the transfer case or the transfer case gear. To me its obvious that volvo designed the part to fail. How can gear that is sealed fail with normal use? So the repair will could cost up to $3600. After doing some research on the web. This is so common its ridicules. Never buy a volvo again. I bought this car to have a safe awd. Oh it s safe... As long as its in your driveway.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10780469
Engine & cooling

Car occasionally looses power or stall when driving on high way, check engine light on and off. Symptoms off and on. Dangerous driving on freeway because it lost power for 2 seconds then regain more power in accelerating speed. It had recalled no 181 on 2004 model, mine is 2005 sold on 2005 january. The report describes as fuel sensor problem

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10779461
Electrical system

My wife's 2005 volvo xc70 problem is that periodically when you shut off the car and attempt to remove the key you can't. The car makes a noise like it continues to run for several minutes and sometimes you can then remove the key. Unfortunately this problem is happening more frequently. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10640695
SteeringTransmission & drivetrain

Submission from constituents re 2005 xc70 volvo steering shaft broken. *Smd the consumer stated there was no collision or impact that could have caused the steering shaft to break. He was simply making a right turn, onto his street when the steering stopped working. *Jb the transmission was replaced at a cost of $4,000. Updated 10/01/14. *Jb

Filed Incident Steering · Power trainNHTSA 10638924
Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc70. While driving approximately 15 mph, the instrument panel failed and the abs, alternator, and urgent warning system indicators illuminated. During the failure, the windshield wipers activated and could not be turned off. An independent mechanic stated that the central electrical module was corroded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 115,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 10610333
Seats & seat belts

When attempting to latch our child's car seat in rear facing position to the car's latch system anchors, one of the latch anchors broke off completely from the car. We retrieved the broken off anchor piece and it had broken off completely from the car at the solder points. *Tr

Filed Incident Seat belts · SeatsNHTSA 10546809
Acceleration & cruise control

Vehicle started to uncontrollably hard-shift and jerk upon deceleration. According to volvo dealer transmission needs to be replaced even though car has under 100k miles.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10542379
Suspension

Front driver side suspension spring coil broke, probably due to corrosion! If this was when the car was driven it would have probably ripped the tire and resulted in a very serious accident. This is 7 years old volvo in as new condition. *Tr

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 10514051
Suspension

The car was parked over night at home. When reversing the car out of the garage the following morning a grinding noise was heard from the left front wheel. On inspection it was apparent that the front driver's side helical suspension spring had fractured in the first nine inches of its lower arc. The car was towed to the garage and they informed me that the spring was in contact with the tire and the spring recess in the top of the wheel arch. On inspection it was apparent that the spring had suddenly failed due to...

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metal fatigue and that the fractured surfaces were partially rusted. The car was serviced two weeks prior to this failure and no problems in the front suspension or wheel alignment were noticed. I have retained the spring for inspection and noted that the powder coating on the lower part of the spring was missing and that the spring's bare metal surface was corroded. If the spring had failed while driving at speed the broken end would have caused a tire failure with accompanying loss of control with serious injuries to passengers or driver.

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 10443048
Fuel system

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc70. The contact was driving 70 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted after the failure and taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the fuel pressure sensor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 109,900 and the current mileage was 110,150. Updated 03/07/12

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 10438720
Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission started clanking on the go again whenever after an abrupt stop. It has problem switching in the low gears, but is fine on the high gears when in highway. It has difficulty going between drive and reverse also. It makes a loud noise as if a hammer hit it. This car was never in an accident. It was regularly serviced by the dealer. But when this problem was first reported to them when it first started, they gave the usual suggestion like the software upgrade which I declined after reading other owners'...

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stories of its ineffectiveness. They further refused to rebuild the transmission because they said they simply do not do that. And when question if the problem could be fixed if replacing the transmission, they said they could not promise that either. The car was then taken to a reputable local mechanic. He refused to work on the car. A 2nd mechanic changed the transmission fluid but did not really solve the problem. The volvo dealer should have changed the transmission fluid if and when needed during the regular maintenance services. But they never did because it was characterized as unnecessary. Based on all these facts, I highly suspect the transmission on this 2005 xc70 is a faulty piece of equipment that fails prematurely. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10412094
Transmission & drivetrain

1. Leak found in passenger-side transmission seal while car was getting regular service 2. Took car to certified volvo mechanic 3.Volvo usa told mechanic that the part, as such, is not available as a part for repair ; instead that the entire larger part,the bezel gear, which is working quite well, will have to be replaced at a cost of $2000! *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10410664
Transmission & drivetrain

Purchased 2005 volvo and now have 75,000 miles and began to have transmission failure. I took to dealer and spent over $3000 to fix software problem. The problem got worse and the transmission slips and then jumps into gear. I almost crashed the car in front of me. I suspect many people are having problems and hopefully no gets hurt. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10368455
Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission when coming to a stop on downshift from 3,2 to 1 clucks and clucks again when restarting. It makes a hard stop and you scares you thinking you got hit with someone. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10348720
Transmission & drivetrain

Our xc70 began overheating and was taken in for diag. It needs a transmission and radiator because the transmission cooler is built into the radiator and it began exchanging engine coolant with transmission fluid. This is a horrible design. Why would they not be separate like my vw touareg. This is a very expensive vehicle and now I am looking at a $7000 repair. I can't believe that after talking to the dealer and corporate volvo that nothing will be done. The car has 78,000 miles on it. I'm so upset by this. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10340224
Seats & seat beltsCrash1 injury

This is a correction to complaint #10296298. Vehicle in connection to this complaint is a 2005 volvo xc70, not a 2009. *Tr

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10296299
Visibility & wipers

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc70. The contact stated that the front driver's side windshield wiper failed. He cannot switch the left blade with the right blade or purchase a blade from somewhere other than the dealer at a lower price. It would cost $60 to replace the windshield blade. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was designed in this manner; therefore, they would not assist with the repair. The windshield has not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 31,900.

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 10251508
Acceleration & cruise controlCrash

Dt*: the contact stated while the brake was depressed and the engine was running, the engine revved up and the vehicle lurched forward. The harder the brake was depressed, the faster the engine would rev and lurch forward, until the transmission was shifted into park and the ignition was switched off. When restarted, everything operated normally. The problem had occurred 5 times and a minor collision happened, although no injuries were sustained and no police report was taken. The service dealer could not recreate the problem or find anything wrong on the computer diagnostic. The manufacturer was notified. Updated 11/21/2006 - *nm

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10170524
Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission had a jerk to it when you came out of a stop. When you accelerated from a stop the engine then would stop. We have the dealer ship volvo ( barrier looking at the problem and have fixed the problem. There is still however a small jerk in the transmission and a slight hesitation in the engine to engage the transmission. *Nm

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10167920
Fuel system

Dt: the contact complained about intermittent power failure while accelerating. He was able to restart the vehicle in the past, however, after the third occurrence , the vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. The dealer determined the in tank the fuel pump part # 30741993 needed to be replaced. The contact felt this part was faulty by design. The manufacturer stated there were no parts available due to high demand.*Ak updated 02/07/06.*Jb

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 10145308

Volvo XC70: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
200915500Wheels & tiresF
200839821Fuel systemF
200725200Electrical systemF
200618300SuspensionD
200527320Transmission & drivetrainF
20040400-C
20030500-C
20020400-C
20010500-C
All XC70 years

2005 Volvo XC70 vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 2005 Volvo XC70

Does the 2005 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2005 Volvo XC70: frontal (October 2021); navigational system(global positioning system) (November 2010); master cylinder (March 2007). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Volvo XC70?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (8), electrical system (3), fuel system (3).

How many complaints has the 2005 Volvo XC70 had?

27 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on August 13, 2005 and the latest on May 2, 2022. Of these, 2 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.

Is the 2005 Volvo XC70 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 15 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Volvo XC70 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Volvo XC70 years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 2005 Volvo XC70 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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