VOLVO V70 · model year

1999 VOLVO V70

220 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999VOLVOV70 carries 220 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, 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 1999 V70 is vehicle speed control with 52 filings, followed by electrical system (36) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (8). 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.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 1999 V70. 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.

220
Complaints
5
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

220 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL52
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM36
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE6
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
SUSPENSION3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS3
TIRES3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3

Recent Complaints

20201020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THROUGOUT THIS CARS HISTORY (FROM THE FIRST YEAR 20 + YEARS AGO THROUGH TO TODAY) THE ENGINE RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THOUGH THIS HAPPENS WHEN USALLY WHILE DECLERATING AND BRAKING TO ROUND A STREET CORNER. ONCE IT CUTS OUT, OF COURSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE VIRTUALLY INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, BY SIMPLY PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY THE CARE ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS.

Mileage: 160,000

20201020ENGINE

THROUGOUT THIS CARS HISTORY (FROM THE FIRST YEAR 20 + YEARS AGO THROUGH TO TODAY) THE ENGINE RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THOUGH THIS HAPPENS WHEN USALLY WHILE DECLERATING AND BRAKING TO ROUND A STREET CORNER. ONCE IT CUTS OUT, OF COURSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES ARE VIRTUALLY INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, BY SIMPLY PUTTING IN NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE KEY THE CARE ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY RESTARTS.

Mileage: 160,000

20170822ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

Mileage: 158,000

20170822ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

Mileage: 158,000

20170822VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR SURGES RANDOMLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. CAR ALSO LOSES POWER ON FREEWAY AND ACCELERATION FLUCTUATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT TIMES. ALL SYMPTOMS HAPPENING WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION, MOSTLY AT SPEEDS OVER 50MPH. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THERE WERE OPEN RECALLS ON THE MODEL I OWN. AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE SYMPTOMS HAVE INCREASED AND WORSENED. DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY.

Mileage: 158,000

20160624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY REDUCED SPEED DRASTICALLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

20141219ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION RANGE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,550.

Mileage: 171,550

20140630VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER INDICATED THAT THE TIMEFRAME HAD EXPIRED TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR, EVEN IF THE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 200,000. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Mileage: 112,000

20140312ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRAVELING IN TOWN AT APPR. 45 MPH. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, ETM CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

Mileage: 208,000

20140312FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TRAVELING IN TOWN AT APPR. 45 MPH. CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE, ETM CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *TR

Mileage: 208,000

20120809FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CAR STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT ABOVE 25 MPH. IT ALSO STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AT ANY MOMENT. I CONTACTED VOLVO DIRECTLY AND THEY CALLED IT "LIMP HOME MODE" AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, HORRABLE!!. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME. APPARENTLY VOLVO RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT ARE NO LONGER FIXING THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. VOLVO ESTIMATED THAT THE FIX WOULD BE ON THE LOW END $900.00 UP TO ABOUT $1400.00. VOLVO IS NOT TAKING ANYMORE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW IT'S UP TO THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE COST. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

20120809VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME THE CAR STARTED RUNNING VERY ROUGH AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT ABOVE 25 MPH. IT ALSO STARTED TO LUNGE FORWARD SPORADICALLY AND IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL AT ANY MOMENT. I CONTACTED VOLVO DIRECTLY AND THEY CALLED IT "LIMP HOME MODE" AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, HORRABLE!!. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME. APPARENTLY VOLVO RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM BUT ARE NO LONGER FIXING THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. VOLVO ESTIMATED THAT THE FIX WOULD BE ON THE LOW END $900.00 UP TO ABOUT $1400.00. VOLVO IS NOT TAKING ANYMORE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW IT'S UP TO THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE COST. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

20120716ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, ECM AND THE LIMP HOME MODE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Mileage: 156,000

20120716VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE RPMS DECREASED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE, ECM AND THE LIMP HOME MODE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD SURPASSED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

Mileage: 156,000

20120103VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE CONSTANTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN SLOW AND SLUGGISH. THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED WHENEVER THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESET. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE IN 2006 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,877.

Mileage: 93,877

20110429VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO XC70 (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED IN 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM AND MADE UPDATES TO THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE CONTACT WAS OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE FAILURE FOR UP TO TEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF SERVICE. MOST RECENTLY, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN 2008 AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,300.

Mileage: 103,300

20110418VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,529.

Mileage: 204,529

20110418ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 204,529.

Mileage: 204,529

20110312POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

WHILE DRIVING 1999 VOLVO V70, THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. FRONT DRIVE AXLE WAS RUSTED OUT, BROKEN, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. REPAIR BILL AVAILABLE; REPAIR TECHNICIAN AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT. *TR

Mileage: 250,100

20100731LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR THAT OWNER CAN UNLOCK WITH THE KEY. OTHERWISE, THE CONSUMER MUST RELY ON THE REMOTE. THE BATTERY ON OUR REMOTE FAILED AND THE LOCK HAD BEEN NON-FUNCTIONING FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SINCE THERE IS ONLY ONE LOCK ON THE DOORS. A CHILD WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. WE HAD TO CALL A LOCKSMITH. TO REPLACE THE REMOTE (THEY FAIL FREQUENTLY) IT COSTS APPROXIMATELY $300 FOR THE DEVICE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ABUSIVE. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

Compare 1999VOLVOV70 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 VOLVO V70 have?
The 1999 VOLVO V70 has 220 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 VOLVO V70?
The most-complained component for the 1999 VOLVO V70 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 52 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1999 VOLVO V70 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.