RoadVitals

2001 Volvo C70 Convertible

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Nov 24, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 15, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Volvo C70 Convertible, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance425.0%
  • Engine425.0%
  • Electrical212.5%
  • Tires & wheels212.5%
  • Transmission16.3%
  • Other / unspecified16.3%
  • Suspension16.3%
  • Body & structure16.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Nov 15, 2006
170,099 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, 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.
The risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R155View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA05021ClosedEngineering Analysis

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

Opened Dec 6, 2005
Closed Dec 12, 2006

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLLed to recall 06V441000
PE05041ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

Opened Jul 26, 2005
Closed Dec 7, 2005

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Nov 24, 2010

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STOPS WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. CODES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ARE NOT AVAILABLE VIA ODB 2. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367783
Incident
Jul 10, 2010
Mileage
52,000 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Feb 22, 2010

I PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE USED WITH ~ 73,000 MILES IN 2006. IT NOW HAS 93,000 MILES. LAST SUMMER I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR BECAUSE IT CRACKED. ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE BELTWAY, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING AND AN UP ARROW INDICATING I SHOULD SHIFT GEAR LIT ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. I LEARNED TWO DAYS LATER, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MAJOR REPAIR WORK IN A FAIRLY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES, AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ANNUAL CHECKUPS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10312790
Incident
Dec 22, 2009
Mileage
93,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 9, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS, BUT THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,521 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.

NHTSA ID
10227140
Incident
Nov 14, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2005

DT: 2001 VOLVO C70 CVA. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AS PRE OWNED IN MAY 2004. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MANY TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A NEW ENGINE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10130996
Incident
Mar 14, 2005
Mileage
55,965 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 26, 2005

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2001 VOLVO WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, AND THAT WAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MORNINGS. CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD IN THE MORNINGS AND UPON STARTING THE CAR IT STALLED BEFORE CONSUMER COULD GET IT INTO REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2001. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ( ETM) INSTALLED , THE COST WAS $1800.00. CONSUMER WAS UPSET OVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. EVEN WITH THE NEW ETM THE CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME STALLING ISSUES. NHTSA INVESTIGATION, PE0504. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10130995
Incident
Mar 5, 2002
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 17, 2005

NHTSA #PE05041. I OWN A VOLVO C70 WITH THE 2.3L HPT. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 16TH WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILUMINATED. I THEN, AFTER MAKING A STOP WAS GOING TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CODE CHECKED. ON MY WAY THERE I WENT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE LOT AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN THE ACCELERATOR VIRTUALLY NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR ALMOST STALLED PULLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. IT THEN RECOVERED, AND FROM THAT POINT ON I NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS VERY SLUGGISH. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR ON THE 16TH BUT LOOKED AT IT ON THE 17TH AND FOUND THAT THE CODE INDICATED A THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. THEY THEN REPLACED THE THROTTLE MODULE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY CAR ALTHOUGH BEING A 2001 ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF CORROSION OR MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE THOTTLE MODULE. AFTER READING REVIEWS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS I FELT I SHOULD ADD MINE AS IT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY WITH SUCH UNPREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE. ALSO IT MAY HELP DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTUING DEFECT IS THE CAUSE OF SUCH THROTTLE MODULE FAILURES. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133208
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Mileage
26,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 3, 2005

ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS (3 CITY DRIVING <35 MVPH, AND 1 HWY DRIVING 60 MPH) MY 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE SUDDENLY LOST SPEED TO <5 MPH. ON 3 OCCASIONS, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, ALTHOUGH AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND STILL GET TO MY DESTINATION AND BACK HOME WITHOUT PROBLEMS. DURING THE HIGHWAY TRAVEL, WHICH WAS ON A VERY RAINY EVENING, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING , AFTER DIFFICULTY RESTARTING, AT SLOW SPEED. AND WITH A LOT OF PRAYERS, FINALLY GOT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, CALLED FOR A RIDE HOME, AND ANOTHER RIDE TO PICK IT UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK IT TO HONOLULU VOLVO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE, MODULE AND COMPUTER, AND COST OVER $1000 FOR PARTS ALONE. I DID NOT HAVE IT REPLACED (THEY WERE SPECIAL ORDER FROM THE MAINLAND), AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE. I NOW HAVE A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT WHICH I NEED FOR WORK WHILE THE VOLVO IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY!*JB

NHTSA ID
10131217
Incident
Jun 14, 2005
Mileage
58,480 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 2, 2005

MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 VOLVO C70. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT TOTALLY LOSE POWER, IT LAST FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I BECAME AWARE OF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF A SIMILAR ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10130967
Incident
Jul 25, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

26745.13.14

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method

C00009

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION.

TJ3656330

Rubber cushion

CBR-2201

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information – August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions

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Service Manager

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo C70 Convertible by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002110
2001Viewing111237.6
2000161244.3
1999812
1998100

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.