RoadVitals

2003 Volvo V70 Fuel system Problems

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

Data refreshed

Fuel system 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 Jan 20, 2017
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.
28%
of 32 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 fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 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 fuel system

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BELOW 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,066.

NHTSA ID
10946690
Incident
Jan 17, 2017
Mileage
134,066 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 23, 2016

SMELL FUEL OUTSIDE RIGHT REAR OF CAR.

NHTSA ID
10821895
Incident
Jan 22, 2016
Mileage
88,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2009

1. STRONG FUEL ODOR AROUND VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT IN GARAGE. 2. LEAKING FUEL PUMP ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. 3. FUEL PUMP REPLACED BY VOLVO DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10294391
Incident
Nov 11, 2009
Mileage
99,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 23, 2009

NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM MY 2003 VOLVO V70. MY MECHANIC FOUND THE ISSUE BEING A LEAKING FUEL PUMP. VOLVO HAS ISSUED RECALL NOTICES ON 2001 TO 2002 VOLVO V70, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE 2003 MODELS. THE ISSUES APPEAR TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME EVEN THOUGH VOLVO DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2003 MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293242
Incident
Nov 3, 2009
Mileage
62,775 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 30, 2009

MY 2003 VOLVO V70 WITH ~127,000 MILES STARTED LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. THE PLASTIC HOUSING FAILED ON ITS OWN. STRONG GASOLINE FUMES ENTERED THE CAR EVEN THOUGH THE ACCESS PANEL AND SEAL WERE INTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEVER HAD ANY SERVICE REPAIR WORK ON OR NEAR THE FUEL TANK. I'VE HAD SEVERAL CARS OVER THIS MILEAGE WITH NEVER A FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILURE OF ANY TYPE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PREMATURE FAILURE THAT IS EITHER A DESIGN, QUALITY OR ASSEMBLY PROBLEM.*TR

NHTSA ID
10290427
Incident
Oct 15, 2009
Mileage
127,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 22, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SUCKS UP RAW GAS, WHICH CAUSES A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THE CONTACT USED A RAG TO SOAK UP THE GAS AFTER TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FUEL RETURNS TO THE PUMP ASSEMBLY. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COULD CATCH FIRE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID
10269747
Incident
Sep 2, 2008
Mileage
62,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2008

GASOLINE OVERFLOWS FROM THE FILL NECK SPILLING DOWN THE CAR AND ONTO THE GROUND. THIS IS A FIRE RISK AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH VARIOUS PUMPS AT VARIOUS GAS STATIONS. THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME WITH ANY OTHER CAR IN 30 YEARS. I HAVE FOUND OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE WEB. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242872
Incident
Aug 18, 2008
Mileage
95,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2008

CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP AT MY OWN EXPENSE - A LENGTHY REPAIR THAT COST MORE THAN $1000. ALTHOUGH VOLVO RECALL 181 DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, I WONDER WHETHER THE FUEL PUMP ISSUE IN VOLVO RECALL 181 SHOULD APPLY TO MORE VEHICLES SUCH AS MY OWN. THIS MAY BE WORTH MORE INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241655
Incident
Aug 28, 2008
Mileage
62,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 7, 2005

8/16/05-CAR STALLED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER 3 TIMES WHILE CAR WAS OPERATING AT LOW SPEED ON CITY ROADS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. EACH TIME IT STALLED, THE CAR RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO PROCEED OUT OF TRAFFIC AND, AFTER THE THIRD STALL TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. 8/17/05-8/18/05-CAR REPAIRED AT SESI VOLVO DEALERSHIP, ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED AND REAR OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACED. SERVICE DEPT SAID CAR CLEARED THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND TEST DRIVE WAS OK. SERVICE PERSON INCORRECTLY WROTE ON THE SERVICE INVOICE THAT "CUSTOMER SAYS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME" THIS IS NOT CORRECT. I DID NOT AT ANY TIME SEE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON NOR REPORT THAT IT WAS ON TO SERVICE PEOPLE. 9/03/05-CAR STALLED AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65 M.P.H. ON THE HIGHWAY AT 10 PM AT NIGHT. CAR HAD TRAVELED 150 MILES FROM OWNER/DRIVER'S HOME AT TIME OF STALLING AND NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE STALL. DRIVER ABLE TO STEER CAR TO SHOULDER, EVEN WITH LACK OF POWER STEERING AND AVOID TRAFFIC PROCEEDING AT HIGH SPEED BEHIND VEHICLE. CAR RESTARTED FOR A FEW SECONDS 3 TIMES BEFORE FAILING TO START AT ALL. MOTORIST, 52 YEAR OLD WOMAN, TRAVELING ALONE, WAS STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCE. CAR COASTED INTO GAS STATION, MOTORIST PHONED AAA ROAD SERVICE AND CAR WAS TOWED 1 HOUR LATER TO SEGNA VOLVO NEAR COLUMBUS, OHIO. 9/7/05 SEGNA MOTORS SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO OWNER THAT CAR TODAY STARTS FINE, TEST DRIVES FINE AND NO COMPUTER CODES ARE SHOWING UP IN THE COMPUTER'S DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM. THEY SAY THE CAR SEEMS FINE, YET THEY ARE PLANNING TO CONTACT VOLVO CORPORATION FOR A THE COMPANY'S TECHNICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO PROCEED. OWNER SEVERELY DISSATISFIED THAT AFTER REPAIR OF PROBLEM IT RECURRED AND DRIVER WAS IN DANGEROUS POSITION OF LOSING POWER SUDDENLY AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND BEING STRANDED ALONE AT NIGHT, WILL NOT ACCEPT A DIAGNOSIS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135557
Incident
Sep 3, 2005
Mileage
36,136 mi

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

Data on this page last refreshed .