2009 Volvo V70 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 2009 Volvo V70, 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
- Airbags114.3%
- Body & structure114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Interior & seats114.3%
- Steering114.3%
- Tires & wheels114.3%
- Visibility114.3%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, 4.5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING VOLVO DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IN SWEDEN. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED REGULARLY FOR 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING, THE ERROR CODE INDICATED A FAULTY OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR (OWS) EMBEDDED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NO LONGER DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WILL NO LONGER IDENTIFY A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS ALSO DISABLES THE DRIVER (PRIMARY) AIR BAG, AS WELL AS THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA SHORTLY AFTER THE 5 YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY EMPHATICALLY CLAIMED THAT THIS EGREGIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR CONCERN. RESPECTFULLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THIS FAULTY OWS THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ERROR. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM: THE SEAL THAT SECURES THE WINDSHIELD TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR HAS FAILED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS FOUND DURING TROUBLESHOOTING A LEAK PROBLEM -- WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAR WHEN IT RAINED, LEAKING FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ABOVE IT (NOTE - MY V70 WAGON DOES *NOT* HAVE A SUNROOF). UPON INSPECTION BY AN AUTO GLASS TECHNICIAN, THE WINDSHIELD EASILY LIFTED AWAY FROM THE CAR WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. WITHOUT A PROPER SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL DESIGN SAFETY OF THE CAR IS COMPROMISED. IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY A FRONT-END COLLISION, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT ABSORB ANY OF THE IMPACT AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO, RESULTING IN GREATER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MAKING IT UNSAFE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE VOLVO FORUMS AND NOTED THAT OTHER VOLVO OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO VEHICLES, AND WAS REPLACING ABOUT 2 OR 3 A MONTH. HE BELIEVES IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, 4.5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING VOLVO DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IN SWEDEN. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED REGULARLY FOR 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING, THE ERROR CODE INDICATED A FAULTY OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR (OWS) EMBEDDED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NO LONGER DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WILL NO LONGER IDENTIFY A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS ALSO DISABLES THE DRIVER (PRIMARY) AIR BAG, AS WELL AS THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA SHORTLY AFTER THE 5 YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY EMPHATICALLY CLAIMED THAT THIS EGREGIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR CONCERN. RESPECTFULLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THIS FAULTY OWS THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ERROR. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES, 4.5 YEARS AFTER PURCHASING VOLVO DIRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IN SWEDEN. THE LIGHT REMAINED ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN TURNED OFF. THIS OCCURRED REGULARLY FOR 4 MONTHS UNTIL THE LIGHT REMAINED ON INDEFINITELY. WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING, THE ERROR CODE INDICATED A FAULTY OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR (OWS) EMBEDDED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NO LONGER DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SENSOR WILL NO LONGER IDENTIFY A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THIS ALSO DISABLES THE DRIVER (PRIMARY) AIR BAG, AS WELL AS THE SIDE AIR BAGS. I CONTACTED VOLVO USA SHORTLY AFTER THE 5 YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THEY EMPHATICALLY CLAIMED THAT THIS EGREGIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR CONCERN. RESPECTFULLY, PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THIS FAULTY OWS THE CAR IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS ERROR. *JS
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY WARM. WHEN SHE DROVE THREE HOURS AWAY FROM HER HOME, SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HOT ALTHOUGH SHE HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER, LOOKED ONLINE, SEARCHED FOR A RECALL AND COULD NOT FIND ONE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE LIGHT BULB LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CPSC# I1320468A. 2009 VOLVO V70. CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE ADDED AIR TO THE SUSPECTED TIRE AND THEN CONTINUED WITH HIS DRIVE. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE MESSAGE READ TIRES NEED TO BE FILLED NOW. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. HE THEN NOTICED THE STEM HAD CRACKED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 INCH FROM THE END OF THE STEM ALLOWING THE INTERNAL STEM MECHANISM TO SLIDE PARTIALLY OUT, THUS RELEASING TIRE PRESSURE AT A GOOD RATE. THE FAILED TIRE STEM CORRODED IN APPEARANCE (AS THE OTHER THREE WERE). UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION, WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS, THE TIRE STEM WAS NEARLY CORRODED THROUGH THE WALL THICKNESS OF THE TIRE STEM AND DID NOT EXHIBIT MUCH IF ANY BRITTLE FAILURE APPEARANCE ANY INDICATION OF DISTORTION OR BENDING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A WINDSHIELD PROBLEM: THE SEAL THAT SECURES THE WINDSHIELD TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR HAS FAILED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS WAS FOUND DURING TROUBLESHOOTING A LEAK PROBLEM -- WATER WAS ENTERING THE CAR WHEN IT RAINED, LEAKING FROM THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR AND THE LIGHT ABOVE IT (NOTE - MY V70 WAGON DOES *NOT* HAVE A SUNROOF). UPON INSPECTION BY AN AUTO GLASS TECHNICIAN, THE WINDSHIELD EASILY LIFTED AWAY FROM THE CAR WHEN IT WAS PUSHED FROM INSIDE THE CABIN. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. WITHOUT A PROPER SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELD, THE ENTIRE STRUCTURAL DESIGN SAFETY OF THE CAR IS COMPROMISED. IF THE CAR WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY A FRONT-END COLLISION, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT ABSORB ANY OF THE IMPACT AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO, RESULTING IN GREATER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND MAKING IT UNSAFE. I WAS ADVISED NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. I LOOKED AT SOME ONLINE VOLVO FORUMS AND NOTED THAT OTHER VOLVO OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT HE HAS NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON OTHER VOLVO VEHICLES, AND WAS REPLACING ABOUT 2 OR 3 A MONTH. HE BELIEVES IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THAT VOLVO SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
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 .