YearToAvoid

2006 Volvo XC70 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2006 Volvo XC70 has a complaint index of 27, ranking 9th out of 12 model years, and carries a Good verdict. Its top issue is suspension, wheels & tires (33% of complaints), with coil spring failures noted around 107,000 miles median mileage.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
27/100
#9 of 12 XC70 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
18
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
0
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Best nearby year
2015
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
17 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2006 Volvo XC70 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (33%)
  2. Seat Belts3 (17%)
  3. Airbags2 (11%)
  4. Electrical System2 (11%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers2 (11%)
  6. Engine1 (6%)
  7. Fuel System1 (6%)
  8. Other1 (6%)
  9. Steering1 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (6%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Front or rear coil springs break, sometimes causing a loud bang or rattle from the front suspension.
  • A broken coil spring has punctured or contacted the tire while driving or backing out of a driveway.
  • Rear seat belts get tangled in a plastic shield, leaving excessive slack that will not retract.
  • The front passenger seat belt binds and will not allow the buckle to close.
  • Windshield wipers stop working in rain, followed immediately by the engine stalling and dashboard losing power.
  • The sunroof glass has fractured and shattered without warning while driving at highway speed.
2006 Volvo XC70 complaints: complaints filed per month2Apr 2006Aug 2006Jun 2008Jun 2013Feb 2014Nov 2014Apr 2021Jun 2022
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2006 to Jul 2022; peak Oct 2006 (2).

2006 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.

2006 Volvo XC70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
24 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.

2006 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
2008Avoid10039817

All Volvo XC70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Volvo XC70 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 XC70 has a complaint index of 27 and a Good verdict, ranking 9th out of 12 model years for this model.
What are the most common problems on the 2006 Volvo XC70?
Suspension, wheels & tires complaints lead at 33% of all reports, including coil spring failures with a median mileage at failure of 107,000 miles. Seat belt issues follow at 17%.
Does the 2006 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2006 XC70: one for a driver's airbag inflator that may explode during deployment, and one covering Garmin GPS units whose batteries may overheat.
How does the 2006 XC70 compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 27, the 2006 XC70 rates better than years like 2005 (82), 2008 (100), and 2010 (91), all of which carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Volvo XC70?
The 2006 XC70 is rated at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway) by the EPA, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200.

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.