VOLVO · vehicle model

VOLVO XC70

511 NHTSA complaints and 20 safety recalls across model years 2001–2016.

Complaints
511
Recalls
20
Model years
16

The VOLVOXC70 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 511 consumer safety complaints and 20 safety recalls across 16 model years (2001–2016). That averages roughly 32 complaints per model year, but the distribution is almost never even — most nameplates concentrate their defect reports in a handful of cohort years tied to specific platform refreshes, supplier changes, or component redesigns.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller will accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model simply because more of them are on the road. What matters is the year-over-year shape and the component concentration — which the table below isolates for the XC70 by showing complaint count, crash count, fire count, and NHTSA safety rating side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram below the table shows whether complaints are still being submitted against this nameplate or whether the pattern has plateaued, an important distinction for used-car shoppers weighing older cohort years.

NHTSA has 28 investigation files tied to this model. Investigations precede recalls and signal that the Office of Defects Investigation is actively testing a theory about a specific component cluster. Together with the complaint-by-year breakdown and recall remedy status, they are the primary signals used by insurance actuaries, fleet managers, and used-vehicle appraisers when pricing VOLVOXC70 risk. Compare this nameplate against siblings in the same platform family to see whether a given defect pattern is model-specific or shared across the parent architecture.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20167
20159
20143
20137
201217
201118
201017
200920
200854
200737
200622
200531
2004118
200328
200246
200177

Complaint Filing Trend

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

4
03
9
04
42
05
20
06
16
07
14
08
30
09
45
10
49
11
21
12
27
13
37
14
24
15
34
16
23
17
21
18
18
19
18
20
12
21
25
22
8
23
7
24
7
25
View all trending models →

Compare VOLVOXC70 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all 28 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the VOLVO XC70?
The VOLVO XC70 has received 511 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2001 to 2016, with 20 recalls. That averages about 32 complaints per model year.
What years of VOLVO XC70 are available?
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the VOLVO XC70 from 2001 to 2016 (16 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the VOLVO XC70 have safety ratings?
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many VOLVO XC70 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 XC70 complaints?
NHTSA complaints for the VOLVO XC70 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 XC70 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.

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.