VOLVO C70 · model year

2008 VOLVO C70

24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008VOLVOC70 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 C70 is structure:body with 10 filings, followed by steering (3) and unknown or other (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2008 C70. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

24
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY10
STEERING3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
TIRES1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS1
SUSPENSION:REAR1
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS1
WHEELS1
AIR BAGS1
SERVICE BRAKES1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1

Recalls (3)

08V32900023/07/2008

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

VOLVO IS RECALLING MY 2008-2009 VEHICLES. A SECTION OF THE POWER STEERING RETURN LINE HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY VULCANIZED (CURED) AND DOES NOT MEET SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE FAILS, A SUDDEN RUPTURE OF THE HOSE CAN OCCUR.

11V50800018/10/2011

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2012 C70 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 15, 2005, THROUGH JULY 31, 2011, AND MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 S60 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 14, 2010, THROUGH APRIL 16, 2011, THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ACCESSORY SPARE TIRE KIT. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO C

10V56600008/11/2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Recent Complaints

20251217LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

On multiple occasions while driving this vehicle at various speeds various road conditions the doors will become unlocked and partially open you have to open the door and re-close it in order for the inside lights to go off because they come on when this happens. It also appears in the driver's safety alert that the doors are unlocked this is a very uncomfortable feeling I have spoke to Volvo dealership on several locations concerning this problem which they have taken responsibility for none of it. I just don't understand how this could not be a manufacturer's problem there have been several complaints by others about this specific problem and Volvo seems to have no answer for it. I would think this would be considered a severe safety issue

20251203FireSERVICE BRAKES

I believe the brake line are running along the firewall caught on fire I'm not sure if it was a brake line but it was a fire and it is at the dealer now I have not heard back from them

20251203FireUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I believe the brake line are running along the firewall caught on fire I'm not sure if it was a brake line but it was a fire and it is at the dealer now I have not heard back from them

20240705STRUCTURE:BODY

This vehicle is the C70 convertible. When driving and hitting a speed bump or a pothole, both the driver and passenger doors pop open from a fully closed state to a partially open state. The doors do NOT fully disengage but in the partially closed state the doors rattle and shake. When this happens, the "door open" warning light appears on the dashboard, and you need to fully open the door and then re-close it. On a standard trip of 25 miles, this occurs no less than 6 times. So this is an ongoing everyday situation. It is a bit disconcerting to be in the car and hear that first door pop and feel the door shake and rattle.

20220312STRUCTURE:BODY

VEHICLE 2008 VOLVO C70 HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE. Doors randomly unlatch/open while the vehicle is in motion. This occurs on both the drivers side and passengers side doors during vehicle operation in drive. It has occurred numerous times while driving on straight flat non bump roads and in roundabouts, while cornering. It is a serious safety issue. It occurs when the top is up and when the top is down.

20210920STRUCTURE:BODY

The "passenger side door open" indicator suddenly showed on the dash while driving approximately 50MPH. As I slowed down , I asked my wife that was in the passenger seat to make sure her door was properly shut. The door opened right up without unlatching, she then promptly shut it and made sure it was secure. About 45 minutes later the same thing happened again. After investigating, I found this is a common issue with certain Volvo models. recalled for some models, not recalled for my model.

20210919STRUCTURE:BODY

Passenger door keeps opening whether top up or down, mainly on highway driving. Very unsafe!

20200807STRUCTURE:BODY

RIGHT FRONT DOOR UNLATCHES WHEN I GO AROUND A CORNER WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY. IT HAS NOT OPENED ALL THE WAY YET BUT I AM CERTAIN IT WAS FULLY CLOSED AND LATCHED BEFORE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING.

Mileage: 159,000

20200702STRUCTURE:BODY

THE PASSENGER DOOR HAS, ON AT LEAST TEN OCCASIONS, PARTIALLY OPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING . IT OPENED IN THE FIRST PHASE LIKE IT IS WHEN NOT FULLY CLOSED. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE LATCH IS BAD AND WILL AT SOME POINT OPEN ALL THE WAY. VOLVO DOES. OR SEEM ANXIOUS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP REPAIR WAS TOLD OF THE PROBLEM ON AT LEAST TWO,OCCASIONS, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.

20200330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY 2008 VOLVOC70 PASSENGER DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS. WAS OPERATING AT 65 MPH. PURCHASED CAR USED SEPTEMBER 1999. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE, BUT THOUGHT I DIDNT LOCK THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE.

Mileage: 70,000

20190526STRUCTURE:BODY

THE "DOOR OPEN" WARNING AND INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND THE DOOR SLUMPS SLIGHTLY AJAR (EVEN THE WINDOW DROPS LIKE WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR). THIS HAPPENS ONLY WITH THE TOP DOWN, DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAN BE EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. DOORS ARE SECURELY CLOSED BEFOREHAND

Mileage: 104,000

20180709AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS AT THE CRESCENT CUTOFF HIGHWAY, MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL ENTERED A POT HOLE CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TO TURN ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO TURN ON AND THE MESSAGE TO APPEAR "SRS SERVICE NEEDED URGENT." AT THE DEALER IN BEND, OR THEY ESTIMATE THE COST OF REPAIR AT $1,464. "NEEDS RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG". FROM A POT HOLE AT A RAILROAD CROSSING? THIS CAN'T BE AS THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 18,000 MILES ON IT. WILL THIS HAPPEN AGAIN? CAN I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LEFT FRONT AIRBAG?

Mileage: 17,500

20170424UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PASSENGER DOOR RANDOMLY OPENS SOMETIMES WHEN THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS, SOMETIMES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SOMETIMES AT SPEEDS AROUND 30MPH

Mileage: 88,202

20161004STRUCTURE:BODY

DOORS UNLOCK & RANDOMLY POP OPEN DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. ONLY "SAFETY LATCH" KEEPS THEM FROM ACTUALLY SWINGING OUT FREE AND CLEAR. VERY ALARMING AND DISCONCERTING.

Mileage: 24,500

20160727STEERING

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, POWER STEERING WENT OUT ALL OF A SUDDEN MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HARD TO MAKE TURNS. HAD IT INSPECTED NEXT DAY- AND THE POWER STEERING LINE HAD RUPTURED. I NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE LINE REPLACED.

Mileage: 135,000

20130210CrashSTEERING

THE REAR CAMBER ARMS OF THE VOLVO C 70 ARE FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. NOT ONLY ARE TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY AT OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FAILURE OF THE ARMS CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. VOLVO IN A RECENT PUBLICATION ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BUT YET FAILS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE ORDER. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20130210CrashWHEELS

THE REAR CAMBER ARMS OF THE VOLVO C 70 ARE FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. NOT ONLY ARE TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY AT OWNERS EXPENSE, THE FAILURE OF THE ARMS CAUSES THE CAR TO BECOME TOTALLY UNCONTROLLABLE. VOLVO IN A RECENT PUBLICATION ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BUT YET FAILS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPLACE ORDER. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

20130210STRUCTURE:BODY

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OVER SEVERAL MONTHS , THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD POP OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR EVEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHEN TAKING A TURN. WAS RANDOMLY OCCURRING AND NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO DRIVING OVER ANY BUMPS. DEALER KEPT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS STATING DOOR LATCH WAS IN SPEC AND THAT MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE DEALER IF NOT DEFECTIVE PART. FIRST DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PUT IN METAL SPLINTS WEDGED INTO THE FRONT DOOR PANEL FRAME. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. FINALLY DEALER REPLACED DOOR LATCH AND PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED IN 8 MONTHS SINCE. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR REPORTS ONLINE FROM OTHER CAR OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

20121018STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR TRUNK WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO STOP AND EXIT THE VEHICLE TO CLOSE THE TRUNK AND THE DOOR BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20120525EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V508000 (EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS). THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT ALL VEHICLES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH SPARE TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,016. UPDATED 7/20/12 *CN UPDATED 07/26/12

Mileage: 20,016

Compare 2008VOLVOC70 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 VOLVO C70 have?
The 2008 VOLVO C70 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 VOLVO C70?
Yes, the 2008 VOLVO C70 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 VOLVO C70?
The most-complained component for the 2008 VOLVO C70 is STRUCTURE:BODY with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2008 VOLVO C70 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.