RoadVitals

1999 Volvo V70 Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Aug 13, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 169 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Volvo V70 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Aug 13, 2008

ABOUT A 1999 V70 GLT VOLVO: THE SUN VISOR IS SAGGING DOWN AND IT UNEXPECTEDLY COMES INTO MY LINE OF SIGHT WHILE DRIVING. TO BE CLEAR, IT'S STRAIGHT AND IN OTHERWISE GOOD CONDITION, BUT IT JUST DOESN'T LOCK UP FLAT TO THE CEILING THE WAY IT SHOULD. CURRENTLY WHILE DEBATING THE RELATIVELY HIGH REPLACEMENT COST - $200 JUST FOR THE PART BECAUSE IT HAS A MIRROR AND LIGHT, I'VE GOT IT STRAPPED UP WITH A NYLON BELT, KEEPING IT OUT OF MY VIEW, BUT THEN I NOW HAVE NOTHING FOR LOW SUN DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT MAY SEEM PETTY TO MENTION THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT DID COME DOWN AND PRESENT A VISUAL OBSTRUCTION TO ME WHILE DRIVING. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS HAS NEVER OCCURRED IN MY NOW ALMOST 24 YEAR OLD SAAB, NOT EVEN WITH 240,000 MILES ON IT. NOR DO WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM ON MY WIFE'S '94 ACURA LEGEND, WHERE THERE ARE OVER 140,000 MILES OF USE AND AGE. NOR HAVE I HAD THIS PROBLEM IN OTHER CARS I'VE OWNED, BACK TO AND INCLUDING MY FIRST: THE '73 PINTO I HAD IN COLLEGE, I SOLD IT W/ 105,000 MI. AND DON?T RECALL THIS TYPE OF CONCERN! I JUST THINK ON A NEWER CAR, (THIS OCCURRED ON OUR NEWEST CAR EVER, AND BEFORE 80,000 MILES, I THINK I?VE BEEN FIGHTING TO KEEP THE VISOR UP SINCE 60,000 MI. AND NOW IT?S FINALLY FLOPPED DOWN) ONE SHOULDN'T SUDDENLY HAVE TO BE DODGING THEIR HEAD AROUND THE CAB TO SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDOW, WHILE FIDDLING WITH THE VISOR COMING DOWN, FINALLY PLACING IT TO THE SIDE, WHERE IT STILL SAGS BUT ONLY PROVIDING A MINOR OBSTRUCTION - OBVIOUSLY NOT NEAR AS CRITICAL AS BLOCKING ONE'S FRONT VIEW. SO WHAT AM I TO CONCLUDE: DO I REPLACE IT FOR $200 - PLUS LABOR - (TWO ACTUALLY, THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE IS GETTING READY TO DO THE SAME THING), AND THEN BE SUBJECT TO IT RECURRING? ALSO IT OCCURRED THE NIGHT BEFORE LEAVING ON A ROAD TRIP CT TO ROCHESTER, NY: I.E.: WESTERLY DRIVING INTO THE SUNSET AND THERE WAS NO TIME IN THE TRAVEL SCHEDULE TO DELAY FOR SUCH AN UNEXPECTED REPAIR. I HAD TO MAKE THE DRIVE WITH THE SUN VISOR OUT OF COMMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10238098
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
70,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 22, 2006

TL* - THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1999 VOLVO V70 THE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING. HE CONSIDERS THE DISTRACTION OF THE SUN VISOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE ISSUES IS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ID
10176807
Incident
Dec 22, 2005
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Dec 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIR GUIDE ON THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND CAME PARTIALLY AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. ALSO, 2 YEARS PRIOR, THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH REFUSED TO ACTIVATE SOME OF THE POWER WINDOWS ON A CONSTANT BASIS. THE FIRST CONTROL SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE PROBLEMS CORRECTED FOR AWHILE.. THE SECOND TIME THE PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND THE REPAIR CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CONTROL SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. UPDATED 01/10/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10175305
Incident
Dec 5, 2006
Mileage
71,995 mi
Driver assistanceInterior & seatsSuspension+1 more
Filed Dec 30, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM RECURRED AFTER REPAIRS MADE. THE VEHICLE SURGES AND STUTTERS VIOLENTLY THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK THE DOOR LATCH WAS BROKEN. A LOOSE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVERS WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. UPDATED 01/25/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146582
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2005

COMPLAINT: NONE OF THE ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCHES (ALL 4 DOORS) OPERATE; SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS ELECTRIC SWITCH INOPERABLE. RESOLUTION: FAULT TRACED TO INTERNAL FAULT IN WINDOW SWITCH PACK MASTER CONTROL. DEALER REMOVED & REPLACED. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH INOPERABLE ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCHES. THE 1ST TIME HAS ALSO BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA'S WEBSITE (ODI #10133081).*JB

NHTSA ID
10133086
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Mileage
91,707 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2005

COMPLAINT: PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH INOPERABLE. RESOLUTION: DEALER REMOVED & REPLACED RIGHT FRONT WINDOW SWITCH. THIS IS THE 1ST OF 2 ELECTRIC WINDOW SWITCH FAILURES. I WILL ALSO BE REPORTING THE LATER 2ND FAILURE ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE AS WELL, AS A SEPARATE INCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10133081
Incident
Jun 6, 1999
Mileage
3,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Aug 12, 2005

1999 VOLVO V70 DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE STALLING. *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE; REPLACEMENT OF DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFTER LIGHT SOCKET AND THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH, BATTERY LEADS MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE BATTERY TO FAIL, THE REAR WINDOW WASHER PUMP BURNED OUT, AND THE DRIVER DOOR CHECK STRAP HAD BROKEN OFF. *SC

NHTSA ID
10133435
Incident
Oct 6, 2000
Heating & air conditioningEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Aug 12, 2005

MALFUNCTIONING OF THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM (ETS) ON MY 1999 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON CAUSED ME TO LOSE POWER OR STALL COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO HAVING THE ETS REPLACED. IT OCCURRED FOR ME AT LOW SPEEDS AND IN LIGHT TRAFFIC ALLOWING ME TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER A SHORT TIME INTERVAL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD IF I HAD THIS FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE, BUT ON READING AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE TODAY ON AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS PROBLEM BY THE NHTSA, I AM SUBMITTING THIS AS ANOTHER INSTANCE OF THE PROBLEM BEING INVESTIGATED. *NM THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND POWER WINDOWS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. *JB

NHTSA ID
10131087
Incident
Nov 12, 2004
Mileage
104,400 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 4, 2003

ON SUNNY DAYS THE WINDSHIELD WOULD GIVE OFF REFLECTIONS SO BRIGHT THAT THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE OUT THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10009819

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .