2003 Volvo V70XC Problems
- Complaints
- 12filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 90,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Volvo V70XC (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2003 Volvo V70XC. The part named most often is air bags, with 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system (3) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags3 25%
- Electrical system3 25%
- Engine2 17%
- Seat belts2 17%
- Exterior lighting1 8.3%
- Fuel system1 8.3%
- Other or unknown1 8.3%
Also reported: Suspension (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “Computer which controls the air-bag system has failed and is $1200. To replace. The car is 8 yrs. Old and has 51000 miles on it. The mechanic says this is a recurring problem in the Volvo cars and should have been addressed by the factory. The car will not pass the state inspection without this repair and so we must fix it.”
NHTSA complaint #10419256, filed 2011-08, 51,100 milesElectrical system: “My driver instrument module began to fail, on and off, now it is completely off. I called Volvo because of the high cost of repair 1400.00, they offered me 200.00 very quickly almost too quick, sounds to me as if they know this is a safety problem and are trying to keep it on the down low. I plan to make another call to them and report the problem to every agency I can. I have no idea if my airbags are working, brakes, cooling system, how much gas I have, mileage is not calculating properly nothing works.”
NHTSA complaint #10456991, filed 2012-05, 140,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “When we brought our 2003 Volvo xc v70 wagon into the dealer at 62,000 miles we complained about a loud whirring noise as we drove it. We were told that the technician was unable to repeat it and not to worry. When we brought it back at 69,000 for an oil change we were told there was a loud whirring noise that meant we needed a wheel bearing replaced. So we made another appointment to have that changed. To make a long story short, at that visit we were told to have each wheel bearing replaced and we were told the angle gear was stripped and also needed to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10151764, filed 2006-03, 70,019 milesEngine: “With my foot on the brake, I put the car in reverse and suddenly the engine revs up and the car accelerates at a high rate. Luckily, my foot was on the brake and I could stop the car. I had to press down quite hard on the brake pedal. A couple of seconds after applying the brakes, the engine returns to a normal idle speed. This sudden acceleration has occurred three times over, approximately, the last six months. The most recent occurrence was today, august 21, 2014. I estimated the first occurrence was in february of 2014.”
NHTSA complaint #10627341, filed 2014-08, 130,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 69,838 and 140,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Volvo V70XC in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10249191Jan 12, 2024Electrical system. This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method
- 10241661Jul 21, 2023Other or unknown, Electronic stability control. Complimentary upgrade c00009 description.
- 10241651Jun 12, 2023Other or unknown. Rubber cushion
- 10219421Aug 29, 2022Engine cooling. Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information â August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions
- 10213885May 12, 2022Other or unknown. The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.
- 10213883May 6, 2022Other or unknown, Equipment. ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations
- 10212891Feb 9, 2022Equipment. VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
- 10212892Feb 3, 2022Electrical system, Equipment. Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- 10213882Jun 23, 2020Electrical system, Other or unknown. Battery Charger/maintainer requirement
- 10088374Oct 7, 2016Equipment. Warranty, customer pay and/or internal repairs performed must be verified by a punched time flag on the back of the repair order hard copy. Each repair line must have a separate and identifiable…
Other model years of the Volvo V70XC
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 | 103,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 12 | 90,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 27 | 98,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 144 | 71,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 103 | 67,393 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 79 | 80,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 31 | 83,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Volvo V70XC model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Volvo V70XC have?
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2003 Volvo V70XC as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Volvo V70XC is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 3 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 3.
Has the 2003 Volvo V70XC been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Volvo V70XC reported?
Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 69,838 and 140,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.