2010 Volvo XC70 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
83/100
#2 most-complained of 7 XC70 years
The 2010 Volvo XC70 ranks 2nd worst of 7 model years, with a Complaint Index of 83, 15 complaints, and 4 recalls. Suspension issues lead at 27% of complaints, followed by transmission problems at 20%. NHTSA data support an Avoid verdict relative to other XC70 years.
- Complaints
- 15
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18
- 16 city / 21.5 hwy
Top 2010 Volvo XC70 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (27%)
- Other3 (20%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (20%)
- Engine2 (13%)
- Airbags1 (7%)
- Seat Belts1 (7%)
- Structure & Body1 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (7%)
What owners report
- Rear tire valve stems crack and corrode, causing sudden loss of tire pressure while driving at highway speeds.
- Transmission subtly jumps or shudders at idle or during slow turns, even after dealer software updates.
- Engine compartment can emit smoke and flames while driving, in one case requiring fire department response.
- Airbag warning light illuminates early in ownership, around 1,065 miles, signaling a possible srs fault.
- Rear driver-side door lock and child safety lock malfunction, requiring repeated button presses to engage.
- Engine oil consumption becomes excessive after 60,000 miles, with owners needing to add oil every few thousand miles.
2010 Volvo XC70 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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 10V489000Oct 13, 2010Airbags9,746 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 s80, xc70, model year 2011 xc60 and model year 2010 v70 vehicles. There may be an intermittent fault in the driver's airbag clockspring wiring connector for the supplemental restraint system.
Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal airbag may not deploy as intended or at all, and therefore will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
Remedy: Dealers will install a metal shim in the driver's air bag clockspring wiring connector. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 20, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
2010 Volvo XC70 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 21.5 MPG
- Combined
- 18 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,600
- 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.
2010 compared with other XC70 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Volvo XC70 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 XC70 ranks 2nd worst among 7 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 83 and 15 complaints, placing it in the Avoid category relative to other XC70 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Volvo XC70?
- Suspension, wheels, and tires issues make up 27% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 35,000 miles. Transmission and powertrain problems follow at 20%, with a median mileage of 49,250 miles.
- Does the 2010 Volvo XC70 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 XC70, covering seat belt anchor cables, a GPS unit battery overheating risk, a driver airbag clockspring wiring fault, and a tire pressure label compliance issue. None are marked do-not-drive.
- Did the 2010 Volvo XC70 have any fires reported?
- NHTSA data shows 1 fire complaint for the 2010 XC70, involving smoke and flames from the engine compartment at 17,000 miles, with 1 injury reported.
- How does the 2010 XC70 compare to other years?
- The 2010 XC70 has a Complaint Index of 83, worse than the 2015 model year, which scored 17 and is rated Best among the 7 years tracked.