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VOLVO · vehicle model

VOLVO C70

255 NHTSA complaints and 9 safety recalls across model years 1998–2013.

Complaints
255
Recalls
9
Model years
15

The VOLVOC70 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 255 consumer safety complaints and 9 recall campaigns across 15 model years (1998–2013). That averages roughly 17 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 28 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
201316
201228
201117
20104
200913
200824
200724
200612
200421
20039
20026
200113
200032
199929
19987

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 61 in 2017-2021 to 31 in 2022-2026, a fall of 49.2%. That is the 42th percentile of change across the 772 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

5
’00
8
’01
8
’02
6
’03
7
’04
28
’05
7
’06
6
’07
14
’08
4
’09
5
’10
8
’11
15
’12
9
’13
15
’14
10
’15
8
’16
5
’17
12
’18
12
’19
18
’20
14
’21
8
’22
4
’23
10
’24
9
’25

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare VOLVOC70 to Similar Vehicles

VOLVOC70 vs DODGEVAN → VOLVOC70 vs EAGLESUMMIT → VOLVOC70 vs BMW428I → VOLVOC70 vs PONTIACSUNBIRD →

NHTSA Investigations

AQ18005Audit QueryClosed2018-10-22

Discrepancies in Required CFR Reporting

DP15006Defect PetitionClosed2015-09-28

Ride Quality

PE13005Preliminary EvaluationClosed2013-03-18

Windshield Wiper Failures

RQ11001Recall QueryClosed2011-05-23

Volvo Sleeper glass de-bonding

PE10025Preliminary EvaluationClosed2010-07-20

Central Electronic Module Failure

PE09039Preliminary EvaluationClosed2009-08-31

FUEL PUMP LEAK

EA09003Engineering AnalysisClosed2009-01-15

Drag Link Failure

PE07046Preliminary EvaluationClosed2007-09-14

SAF HOLLAND FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

PE06054Preliminary EvaluationClosed2006-11-16

INOPERABLE TAIL LIGHTS

PE06053Preliminary EvaluationClosed2006-11-15

FUEL PUMP LEAKAGE

View all 28 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the VOLVO C70?▼
The VOLVO C70 has received 255 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1998 to 2013, with 9 recalls. That averages about 17 complaints per model year.
What years of VOLVO C70 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the VOLVO C70 from 1998 to 2013 (15 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the VOLVO C70 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many VOLVO C70 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common VOLVO C70 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the VOLVO C70 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my VOLVO C70 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. VOLVO C70 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.