2003 Volvo 700 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo 700, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Exterior lighting133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
- Steering133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE "CLEAR" PLASTIC RAW RESIN MATERIAL MODERNLY AND CONTEMPORARILY USED IN HEADLAMP SHIELDS/DOORS/LENSES IS FREQUENTLY OF AN INFERIOR GRADE WHICH PROGRESSIVELY CLOUDS OVER TIME AND YIELDS VEHICLES LESS VISIBLE TO OTHERS AND WITH VERY SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED VISIBILITY TO THEIR OPERATORS. NON-CLOUDING PLASTICS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE THE '40S AND "BRILLIANT" CRYSTAL PLASTICS ARE VERY POPULAR TODAY, BUT DOMESTIC AND IMPORT MANUFACTURERS FREQUENTLY SKRIMP ON COSTS BY USING INFERIOR PLASTICS. I IMAGINE IT IS A UV-DAMAGE PROBLEM. THIS WAS MUCH LESS A PROBLEM YEARS AGO WHEN ALMOST ALL LAMPS WERE SEALED AND THEIR LENSE DIRECTLY EXPOSED FOR PROJECTION AND VIEW. BUT TODAY, MANY IF NOT MOST, HEADLAMPS USE CARTRIDGES OR BULBS BEHIND THESE EXPENSIVE DESIGNER PLASTIC COVERS/SCREENS. I FEEL THESE INITIALLY-CLEAR PLASTIC COVERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE VEHICLE'S "ESSENTIAL" "AS MANUFACTURED" SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND THAT MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR REPLACEMENT OF SUCH DEFECTIVE PARTS AS A SAFETY-RELATED RECALL. THERE ARE PLENTY OF NIGHT ACCIDENTS INVOLVING APPARENT IMPAIRED VISION/LIGHTING, BUT I HAVE NO DATA AND NO RESOURCES TO CREATE SUCH DATA.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
RUNNING VEHICLE STALLED; POCODE 303 POSSIBLE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECT. CAR WAS IN MOTION... COULD BE DEAD NOW. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE PARKED, CHARGED $430.00 PLUS TO HAVE THE LOCK COLUMN REPLACED . RICK HENDRICK VOLVO OF CHARLESTON, SC REFUSES TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE PRICE. 2 1/2 HOURS LABOR CHARGED. THIS IS CRIMINAL THAT A DEALERSHIP WOULD CHARGE THIS AND REFUSE A N ADJUSTMENT. NEVER HAD A CAR'S LOCK COLUMN BREAK...
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
RUNNING VEHICLE STALLED; POCODE 303 POSSIBLE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECT. CAR WAS IN MOTION... COULD BE DEAD NOW. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE PARKED, CHARGED $430.00 PLUS TO HAVE THE LOCK COLUMN REPLACED . RICK HENDRICK VOLVO OF CHARLESTON, SC REFUSES TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT IN THE PRICE. 2 1/2 HOURS LABOR CHARGED. THIS IS CRIMINAL THAT A DEALERSHIP WOULD CHARGE THIS AND REFUSE A N ADJUSTMENT. NEVER HAD A CAR'S LOCK COLUMN BREAK...
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .