2011 Volvo C70 Owner Complaints

Both cabin doors (initially only the passenger door) will pop half-open from a closed position while driving, particularly with the windows and/or roof down. This occurs seemingly at random and regardless of lock position or firmness of door closing. The effect is a startling noise as the door opens slightly, the window retracts, and the cabin lights and door warning alarm engage. This can pose a hazard to safe driving. Neither door has as-of-yet come fully unlatched, remaining instead in a half-latched position until the driver can pull over and close the door fully once more. Lubrication of the latches by a mechanic did not alleviate the issue, and a cursory browsing of Volvo forums suggests that this is a common issue for which no recall or service bulletin has been issued.

NHTSA ID

11653009

Incident

May 8, 2023

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo C70. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an unknown rate of speed on the highway, he veered off the road, hit a road sign, and crashed into a bridge wall. The contact's son was pronounced dead on the scene. A police report was filed which documented that only the passenger side air bag had deployed upon impact. The contact's son passed away as a result of hitting his head on both the driver side door and the steering wheel. The road sign was also damaged as a result of the accident. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard after the accident. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the independent mechanic. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11549739

Incident

Apr 30, 2023

The passenger door unlatches after hitting mild bumps in the road. The door does not fully open due to the secondary safety latch but it still represents a dangerous condition especially if a person is sitting in the passenger seat.

NHTSA ID

11505427

Incident

Feb 13, 2019

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo C70. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the driver’s side door ajar warning light was illuminated. The contact opened and closed the driver’s side door multiple times however, the warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,241

NHTSA ID

11418394

Incident

May 22, 2021

Mileage

70,241 mi

DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11352286

Incident

Aug 19, 2020

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR POPPED OPEN. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328623

Incident

Jun 12, 2020

Mileage

65,000 mi

WARNING LIGHT IS ON FOR AIR BAGS SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324721

Incident

May 2, 2020

Mileage

87,300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO C70. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES BETWEEN FEBRUARY OF 2011 AND SEPTEMBER OF 2018. DURING THE FIRST FAILURE, THE THROTTLE BODY AND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2014. DYER & DYER VOLVO CARS (5260 PEACHTREE BLVD, CHAMBLEE, GEORGIA 30341, (770) 452-0077) STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND PROVIDED A [RDAR] UPGRADE. IN JUNE OF 2016, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. NORTH POINT VOLVO (1570 MANSELL RD, ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA 30009, (678) 365-0644) REPLACED THE CENTRAL ELECTRIC MODULE. IN OCTOBER OF 2017, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED BY NORTH POINT VOLVO; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED IN APRIL OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VOLVO OF COLUMBUS (1661 WHITTLESEY RD, COLUMBUS, GA 31904, (706) 322-9927) AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN PROMPTED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018 AND THE SENSOR CABLE (RPM TRANSMISSION CABLE) WAS REPLACED BY NORTH POINT VOLVO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID

11139197

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

24,000 mi

THIS CAR IS A CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE TOP IS DOWN AND I HIT A BUMP, THE DRIVER DOOR POPS OPEN, DOOR AJAR MESSAGE APPEARS, AND DOME LIGHTS COME ON. LIKE THE PREVIOUS DRIVER COMPLAINT, I AM FORCED TO PULL OVER TO RE-CLOSE THE DOOR. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER BACK IN 2012. WE LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY ACTIVE RECALLS. NONE THEN AND NONE CURRENTLY. SINCE THEN, THE DOOR POPS OPEN 50% OF THE TIME WHEN THE TOP IS DOWN. THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO IT. THE LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP RECOMMENDED I POST TO THIS SITE. I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS POST: "THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE VOLVO FORUMS" SUGGESTING A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. HTTP://VOLVOFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLVO-C70-14/C70-DOOR-UNLOCKS-OPENS-ITSELF-WHILE-DRIVING-83545/ HTTP://VOLVOFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLVO-XC90-9/DOOR-OPENS-WHILE-DRIVING-TWICE-66826/

NHTSA ID

11002890

Incident

Jul 3, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

DRIVING ON A HOUSTON HWY 1960 WEST I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND COULD ONLY STOP THE CAR BY REPEATED BRAKE PUMPING AS A STEADY PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL HAD THE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR. THERE WAS A JUST BRAKE STORE VERY CLOSE SO I TOOK IT THERE AS I WAS STILL OVER 40 MILES FROM A DEALER OR HOME. THEY CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND IT WAS EMPTY AND IN TRYING TO ADD FLUID WE SAW IT RUNNING OUT THE BACK WHEEL ONTO THE GROUND. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL, PASSENGER SIDE HAD A BRAKE CALLIPER LEAKING THAT DRAINED THE SYSTEM. WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY PART. THE PART REPLACEMENT HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND ARE THE REST OF THESE PARTS ON MY CAR AND ALL OTHER SIMILAR CARS A POTENTIAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAZARD?

NHTSA ID

10968747

Incident

Feb 22, 2017

Mileage

34,000 mi

THIS CAR IS A CONVERTIBLE, AND WHEN THE TOP IS DOWN/OPEN, AND I AM DRIVING AT SPEEDS EXCEEDING 25MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR CAN SPONTANEOUSLY OPEN. THE DOORS DO NOT FLY OPEN, BUT THE "DOOR OPEN" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, AND THE WINDOW DROPS SLIGHTLY AS IT DOES WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THEN, I AM FORCED TO PULL OVER TO RE-CLOSE THE DOORS. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER OR NOT THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, AND I AM CONFIDENT THEY ARE FULLY SECURED BEFORE THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS MORE OFTEN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAN THE DRIVER SIDE, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES. THIS WAS REPORTED TO VOLVO ON 6/17/2016, AND THEY INDICATED THAT THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE VOLVO FORUMS, WHICH SUGGESTS A SYSTEMATIC SAFETY ISSUE. E.G.: HTTP://VOLVOFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLVO-C70-14/C70-DOOR-UNLOCKS-OPENS-ITSELF-WHILE-DRIVING-83545/ HTTP://VOLVOFORUMS.COM/FORUM/VOLVO-XC90-9/DOOR-OPENS-WHILE-DRIVING-TWICE-66826/

NHTSA ID

10893556

Incident

Jun 17, 2016

Mileage

63,000 mi

SIRIUS RADIO HAS EXCLUSIVE AND UNDISCLOSED RIGHTS TO CONTINUOUSLY UPDATE THEIR SOFTWARE IN YOUR VOLVO VEHICLE WHETHER THE CAR IS TURNED ON OR TURNED OFF. BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE/HARDWARE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL SIRIUS COMPONENTS INSTALLED IN VOLVO VEHICLES, THE UPDATE RESULTS IN AN ENDLESS LOOP WHICH UTILIZES YOUR BATTERY AND DRAINS IT TO THE POINT WHERE THE BATTERY IS DAMAGED, CAN NOT BE RECHARGED AND HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS CONDITIONS AND EXTREME INCONVENIENCE WHEN UPON RETURNING TO YOUR VEHICLE YOU FIND THAT THE BATTERY IS DEAD/FULLY DISCHARGED AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT START. BOTH SIRIUS AND VOLVO ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET NEITHER HAS ISSUED A RECALL OR NOTIFIED THEIR OWNERS AND CUSTOMERS. VOLVO AND SIRIUS RADIO ARE UNDER AN EXCLUSIVE AGREEMENT TO EMBED SIRIUS RECEIVERS IN ALL VOLVO VEHICLES WHETHER THE BUYER AND SUBSEQUENT OWNERS WISH TO HAVE THE SIRIUS COMPONENTS. VOLVO SERVICE SHOPS WILL NOT REMOVE THE SIRIUS COMPONENTS OR OTHERWISE DEACTIVATE IT EVEN IF THE OWNER WISHES THEM TO DO SO. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED AND DISCLOSED TO THE NHTSA, YET VOLVO SERVICE SHOPS ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS MATTER AND WILL REPLACE YOUR SIRIUS COMPONENT AND REPLACE THE BATTERY WHEN THEY ARE CONFRONTED. IT TOOK ME 4 SERVICE VISITS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10746224

Incident

Jun 10, 2015

Mileage

9,850 mi