2005 Volvo V70 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2005 Volvo V70 has a Complaint Index of 91, ranking 2nd-worst of 12 model years, with 21 complaints and 3 recalls. NHTSA lists Engine as the top problem area, at 29% of complaints. It is rated Avoid relative to other V70 years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 91/100
- #2 of 12 V70 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 21
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 17 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2005 Volvo V70 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine6 (29%)
- Fuel System4 (19%)
- Airbags3 (14%)
- Brakes3 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (14%)
- Other2 (10%)
- Structure & Body1 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle stalling or losing power at highway speed, sometimes with the check engine light on.
- Some describe a fuel leak under the hood that led to smoke and, in one case, a fire while approaching a stop sign at 55 mph.
- Owners report the passenger airbag off light staying illuminated or the airbag sensor deactivating when an adult passenger shifts position in the seat.
- Intermittent stalling was reported after the engine reached operating temperature, with idle dropping below 500 rpm or the engine cutting out entirely.
- One owner reported unexpected and intermittent brake failure.
- A separate report describes the plastic cover over the speedometer bubbling up, blurring the instrument display.
2005 Volvo V70 recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V800000Oct 14, 2021Airbags194,546 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10136.
- NHTSA 10V566000Nov 8, 2010Other416 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Remedy: Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable gps device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected. The unit's battery will be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.
- NHTSA 06V375000Oct 3, 2006Other19,700 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the label denoting the tire and loading pressure information is incorrect.
Risk: A misprinted label would lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will mail the correct labels free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
2005 Volvo V70 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- 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.
2005 compared with other V70 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Volvo V70 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2005 V70 a Complaint Index of 91, the 2nd worst of the 12 model years with data, with 21 complaints and 3 recalls, so it is rated Avoid relative to other V70 years.
- What is the main problem with the 2005 Volvo V70?
- Engine problems are the top complaint area, making up 29% of complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 19,482 miles. Fuel system issues follow at 19% of complaints, including one report of a fire.
- Does the 2005 Volvo V70 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2005 V70: a driver's airbag inflator that may explode during deployment, a Garmin GPS unit that may overheat, and incorrect tire and loading pressure labels.
- How does the 2005 V70 compare to other years?
- The 2005 V70 has a Complaint Index of 91, close behind the 2006 model at 100 which ranks worst. Later years like 2009 and 2010 have lower indexes of 64 and 55.