2000 Volvo V70XC Problems

What owners report

Most sampled complaints for this model year center on the electronic throttle system: owners describe surging, hesitation, reduced power and stalling, often with an ETS warning light, and many report the electronic throttle module was cleaned or replaced at their own cost. A second, smaller cluster covers fuel and drivetrain problems, including fuel leaks and angle gear / driveshaft failures, plus rear hatch latches that stop working in cold weather.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Electronic throttle (ETM) failure: surging, limp mode

   • 66 complaints (64%)
   • median 67,011 mi at 5.8 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 31 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2013

   Complaints describe surging under steady throttle, hesitation, and abrupt loss of power, sometimes with the car limited to roughly 10-20 mph; the ETS warning light comes on and restarting sometimes clears it temporarily. In others the engine stalls outright, including at highway speed. Owners report dealers diagnosing a faulty electronic throttle module and cleaning, reprogramming or replacing it, with repair bills commonly around $1,000 or more; several note the part had already been replaced once before. Reported from roughly 16,000 to 190,000 miles, with most in the 50,000-100,000 mile range, often during highway driving or acceleration into traffic.

   Recall 06V4410002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the electronic throttle module has been replaced or reprogrammed and keep records of any throttle-related service. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, surging or an ETS light, and note the cost of a replacement module in your budget.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During last thanksgiving break, my husband and I drove our 2000 Volvo xc from new mexico home to fort collins, co. The morning of our departure, the ets (electronic throttle module) light came on, then went out. On the way home, the care shuddered and lurched, and lost power with acceleration. It took us 6 hours to travel 125 miles from colorado springs to fort collins, and we were trying to beat a snow storm. We literally limped home. It was terrifying. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10136548, filed 2005-09, 68,910 miles

   “My 2000 xc v70 Volvo began 'choking' and then stalling one day. I was able to restart the car and get to my destination. Incident date noted below is when the initial problem occurred. However the stalling occurred repeatedly over the next few days, resulting in replacing the throttle, which I now found out is under investigation for possible defect and Volvo knows about it, yet fails to warn it's customers!! The replacement of the throttle was over $1000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10143750, filed 2005-11, 54,900 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine stalling or dying while driving

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine quitting with little warning, sometimes on the highway or when pulling into traffic, and needing a restart to get moving again. In other reports the car starts and immediately dies repeatedly, or runs erratically with several warning lights on. Dealers and shops variously replaced the throttle module, the engine computer, the starter, the thermostat or the catalytic converter, and some complaints note the problem returned after repairs. Spread from about 40,000 to 165,000 miles; several describe repeated no-start or stall events over days or weeks.

   Recall 06V441000

   What to check: Start the car from cold several times and watch for a rough idle, stalling or warning lights. Ask for service records showing whether throttle, ignition or engine computer work has already been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Electronic ignition module failure is coomon problem among Volvo xc awd owners causing the car to stall out possibly in dangerous conditions like highway driving it happened to me so I searched on the net and found that it an all too common problem with this vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10063644, filed 2004-03, 71,000 miles

   “I have a 2000 Volvo v70 cross country wagon. The problem began in december 2005. Car starts but immediately dies, starts but dies, starts but dies and then, finally, catches. This has happened on about 15 occasions since dec 10, 2005 and takes about 3 to 6 tries before engine catches. Car surged once while on the highway. I had the computer replaced in jan 2005 (before this problem emerged), the starter motor replaced (june), the thermostat replaced (january 2006) and recently the catalytic converter replaced (latter covered under warranty). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10151251, filed 2006-02, 74,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel leaks

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Some owners report raw fuel smells and visible leaks, including a puddle of gasoline under the rear of the car after filling up and a leaking line in the engine bay that sprayed onto hot exhaust parts. Complaints also tie fuel-system codes and rich running to stalling and black smoke. Repairs described include replacing fuel lines and filters, and one owner reports the catalytic converter was replaced. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 135,000 miles, sometimes noticed right after refueling or during a trip.

   What to check: Check for a fuel smell around the filler neck and under the car after a fill-up, and look for damp or stained lines in the engine bay. Have any stored fuel-system fault codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving vehicle the fuel line failed in region between fire wall and engine approximately in last foot of pressurized fuel delivery line. Another driver detected flow of liquid onto ground below vehicle and alerted me. I pulled vehicle into parking lot and evaluated source of leak. I thought it was possible transmission fluid because I recently had a transmission failure and had Volvo replace the transmission. Fuel had sprayed on shield over exhaust and onto frame member then onto ground. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10168472, filed 2006-09, 134,357 miles

   “Our 2000 Volvo V70XC ets light came while driving in traffic and I lost control of the car. I could not accelerate and had a truck bearing down on me and my family in the car. I had to coast to a stop and pull over and shut car off in a bad spot. It would not restart and when it did the engine ran very rough. After a few minutes I restarted the car and was able to make it home but with not much faith in my car. The car has been very well cared for and has low miles. Dealer says it needs a new etm and will cost upwards of $1000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10138303, filed 2005-10, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Angle gear / driveshaft (AWD) noises and failure

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 69,372 mi at 6.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2004–2007

   Owners of all-wheel-drive versions describe grinding or cracking noises from underneath, wheels that feel like they are sticking at low speed, and a braking or dragging effect that makes the car hard to maneuver. Complaints report the angle gear or driveshaft was replaced, sometimes more than once, and one owner says they were told the design was changed in a later model year. Typically reported between about 50,000 and 150,000 miles, sometimes first noticed while parking or turning at low speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for grinding or clunking from the driveline on a slow, tight turning circle, and ask whether the angle gear, driveshaft or AWD unit has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2000 Volvo xc and have had many problems with this vehicle. I understand some of them are very very common and I was told I should report this to you. Problem 1 ets system light is now on. Problem 2..had to replace awd unit. Problem 3 had to replace blower motor for heat/AC.”

   NHTSA complaint #10136460, filed 2005-09, 74,000 miles

   “Drive line angle gear failed, causing a braking effect on car as well as sticking wheels a low speed.car was very difficult to manuever when this occurred. Was informed by Volvo this is a very common as well as expensive problem. Design was changed in 2001 as a result of this issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10081219, filed 2004-07, 88,100 miles
5. 5
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Rear hatch latch won't release or latch in cold weather

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the rear hatch latch failing to engage, fasten or lock when temperatures are near or below freezing, then working again in warmer weather. Owners report repeat dealer visits where lubricant was applied and the problem returned, and that testing in a heated shop failed to reproduce it. Mostly reported in cold-weather months, sometimes from very low mileage onward and recurring over several winters.

   What to check: Open and close the rear hatch several times on a cold morning and check that it latches and locks reliably; ask whether the latch assembly has been cleaned, lubricated or replaced.

   An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Tailgate latch does not function properly at cold temperatures. Failure is covered for v70, but not V70XC. Latch assemblies are the same. Numerous other references to V70XC latch failures found on internet. Problem is much more widespread than acknowledged. Numerous complaints to multiple dealers. They only spray lubricant on the latch and ignore the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10213442, filed 2008-01, 64,000 miles

Buying note. Prioritize a car with documented electronic throttle service and a clean test drive with no ETS light, since that is the dominant complaint for this year. Also check the fuel system for leaks and, on AWD versions, listen for driveline noise and confirm the rear hatch works in cold weather.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.