YearToAvoid

2005 Volvo XC70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

82/100

#3 most-complained of 12 XC70 years

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

The 2005 Volvo XC70 has 27 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 82 out of 100 — #3 highest of 12 XC70 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is transmission & powertrain (8 complaints, 30% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
27
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 22 hwy

Top 2005 Volvo XC70 problems

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

  1. Transmission & Powertrain8 (30%)
  2. Engine4 (15%)
  3. Electrical System3 (11%)
  4. Fuel System3 (11%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (11%)
  6. Airbags2 (7%)
  7. Seat Belts2 (7%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers2 (7%)
  9. Other1 (4%)
  10. Steering1 (4%)
2005 Volvo XC70 complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2005Oct 2006Aug 2010Jan 2012Jul 2014Aug 2016May 2022
30 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2005 to May 2022; peak Jul 2011 (2).

2005 Volvo XC70 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

2005 Volvo XC70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
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 XC70 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid8227219
2006Good2718219
2007Caution5525219

All Volvo XC70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Volvo XC70 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Volvo XC70 ranks #3 of 12 among XC70 model years (Complaint Index 82/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 27 complaints and 2 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Volvo XC70?
The most reported problem areas are transmission & powertrain (8 complaints), engine (4 complaints), and electrical system (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 78,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2005 Volvo XC70, most recently reported 2021, covering airbags and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Volvo XC70?
EPA rates the 2005 Volvo XC70 at 19 MPG combined (16 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.