2003 Volvo XC70 problems & reliability
24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Volvo XC70, alongside 4 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5 | 21% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 17% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 17% |
| Suspension | 3 | 13% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 8% |
| Equipment | 1 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 4% |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 115,553 miles (middle 50% between 74,000 and 131,365 miles), based on 20 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. The contact stated that there was an abnormal strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle would experience hesitation with starting and driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump had…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Feb 1, 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. The contact stated that a strong fuel odor emitted inside and outside of the vehicle continuously however, there was no fuel visible on the ground. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic, who both confirmed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Dec 23, 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo xc70. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated continuously. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.”
Air Bags · filed Dec 15, 2015
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
175 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2003 Volvo XC70. The 10 most recent:
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not…
35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 23, 2026
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior…
37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 7, 2026
This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 6, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between…
8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2025
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that…
S10303 · Service Campaign · issued Feb 21, 2025
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that…
S10303 · Service Campaign · issued Feb 13, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist. To provide timely and high-quality feedback to the appropriate department or factory
37175 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2025
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between…
8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 16, 2025
Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service
TJ27536.21.1-2024-08-07 · Other · issued Aug 14, 2024
This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method
26745.13.14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2024
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2003 Volvo XC70 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2003 Volvo XC70?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 115,553 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.