YearToAvoid

2011 Volvo C70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 4 C70 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 Volvo C70 ranks worst among the 4 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 12 NHTSA complaints, driven mainly by Structure & Body issues (50% of complaints). It carries a Caution-worthy 'Avoid' verdict relative to 2012 and 2013, which score lower at 67 and 33.

Complaints
12
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
19.5 city / 28 hwy

Top 2011 Volvo C70 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body6 (50%)
  2. Electrical System3 (25%)
  3. Airbags2 (17%)
  4. Brakes2 (17%)
  5. Engine2 (17%)
  6. Other1 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)

What owners report

  • Convertible doors, both driver and passenger side, spontaneously pop open or unlatch while driving with the top down, sometimes at highway speeds.
  • A door-ajar warning light illuminates along with interior lights and a slight window drop when the door issue occurs, forcing drivers to pull over.
  • Owners report a complete loss of brake pressure, with the pedal going to the floor and only partial stopping achieved through repeated pumping.
  • The vehicle has stalled unexpectedly at various speeds with the oil indicator illuminating, tied to a throttle body and intake manifold failure that recurred years apart.
  • A Sirius radio software update was reported to create an endless loop that drains and damages the vehicle battery even when the car is off.
2011 Volvo C70 complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2015Mar 2017Oct 2018Jun 2020May 2021Oct 2023
17 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to Apr 2025; peak Aug 2015 (3).

2011 Volvo C70 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 11V508000Oct 18, 2011Other20,611 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 c70 vehicles manufactured from november 15, 2005, through july 31, 2011, and model year 2011-2012 s60 vehicles manufactured from july 14, 2010, through april 16, 2011, that were equipped with optional accessory spare tire kit. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles do not contain the correct information for vehicles equipped with the optional accessory spare tire and wheel kit.

    Risk: A misprinted label could lead to improper tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners and dealers will inspect the vehicle and install the label as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on february 23, 2012. Owners may contact volvo at 1-201-768-7300.

2011 Volvo C70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other C70 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict04222.5
2011Avoid10012123
2012Caution6723121
2013Good3311022

All Volvo C70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Volvo C70 reliable?
Relative to other C70 model years, 2011 ranks worst, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 12 NHTSA complaints, most concentrated in Structure & Body problems.
What is the biggest problem with the 2011 Volvo C70?
Structure & Body complaints make up 50% of all reports for this year, largely centered on convertible doors popping open while driving, with a median failure mileage of 63,000.
Does the 2011 Volvo C70 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists one recall for the 2011 C70, campaign 11V508000, which covers a labeling issue and required dealer inspection and label installation.
How does the 2011 C70 compare to the 2012 and 2013 model years?
The 2011 C70 has a Complaint Index of 100, higher than the 2012 model's 67 and the 2013 model's 33, making 2011 the worst-ranked year of the four tracked.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.