YearToAvoid

2008 Volvo XC70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 12 XC70 years

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

The 2008 Volvo XC70 has 39 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 12 XC70 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is fuel system (13 complaints, 33% of the total). Complaints report 2 crashes and 1 fire.

Complaints
39
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 22 hwy

Top 2008 Volvo XC70 problems

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

  1. Fuel System13 (33%)
  2. Engine8 (21%)
  3. Electrical System5 (13%)
  4. Other5 (13%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers5 (13%)
  6. Airbags4 (10%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (10%)
  8. Brakes3 (8%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)
2008 Volvo XC70 complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2007Oct 2009Jan 2012Oct 2014Aug 2016Aug 2018Mar 2020Apr 2024
51 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2007 to Apr 2024; peak Apr 2019 (4).

2008 Volvo XC70 recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V378000Jun 30, 2020Seat Belts308,260 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

    Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

  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.

  3. NHTSA 10V190000May 7, 2010Other679 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010 xc70 vehicles manufactured from december 5, 2006 through october 1, 2009 for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the fmvss label, tire and loading information label and a page in the owner's manual contain incorrect maximum permissible inflation pressure according to fmvss 110.

    Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.

    Remedy: The corrective action is to update the vehicles with a new fmvss label, tire and loading information label and tpms software. Volvo retailers will also apply a label with correct maximum tire pressure information to the owner's manual. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on june 14, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

See all 8 recalls for the 2008 Volvo XC70 →

2008 Volvo XC70 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,700
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.

2008 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
2006Good2718219
2007Caution5525219
2008Avoid10039817
2009Caution6415518
2010Avoid9115518

All Volvo XC70 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Volvo XC70 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Volvo XC70 ranks worst among XC70 model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 39 complaints and 8 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo XC70?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (13 complaints), engine (8 complaints), and electrical system (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 71,500 miles.
Does the 2008 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo XC70, most recently reported 2020, covering seat belts, other, engine, and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Volvo XC70?
EPA rates the 2008 Volvo XC70 at 17 MPG combined (15 city / 22 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,700. 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.