NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Volvo C70 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Volvo C70 has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Volvo dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Volvo C70. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Volvo C70 owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo C70, describing incidents dated February 17, 2009 to January 10, 2018.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Power Train 2 complaints
Interior Lighting 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11326325 · Filed May 28, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES WHILE STARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARMER WEATHER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEIKIN MOTOR COMPANIES (38750 MENTOR…
ODI #10473005 · Filed August 30, 2012
THE KEY WON'T TURN FOR THE IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT VOLVO WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP IS APPROX 800 DOLLARS. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL LEAVE U STRANDED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I FEAR THIS WILL PROGRESS AND LOCK THE…
ODI #10383915 · Filed February 21, 2011
2003 C70 CONV. CAR BATTERY GOES DEAD MULTIPLE TIMES. CHANGED BATTERY AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. DETAILED CHECK DISCOVERED A SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR. PLASTIC PIVOT SHAFT HAS TORQUED OFF AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRES EMBEDDED IN THE SHAFT THAT POWER THE VISOR LIGHT. REPLACEMENT SUN VISOR…

Read all 4 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Volvo C70 as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

2003 Volvo C70 2-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Volvo C70.

Power Train; Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11326325

Incident: January 10, 2018 · Filed: May 28, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO C70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT FAILURES WHILE STARTING AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN WARMER WEATHER, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEIKIN MOTOR COMPANIES (38750 MENTOR AVE #1, WILLOUGHBY, OH 44094), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Steering; Electrical System

ODI #10473005

Incident: August 29, 2012 · Filed: August 30, 2012

THE KEY WON'T TURN FOR THE IGNITION. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT VOLVO WON'T RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX THIS AT THE DEALERSHIP IS APPROX 800 DOLLARS. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL LEAVE U STRANDED AND MORE IMPORTANTLY I FEAR THIS WILL PROGRESS AND LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. *TR

Electrical System; Interior Lighting

ODI #10383915

Incident: June 1, 2009 · Filed: February 21, 2011

2003 C70 CONV. CAR BATTERY GOES DEAD MULTIPLE TIMES. CHANGED BATTERY AND IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. DETAILED CHECK DISCOVERED A SHORT IN THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR. PLASTIC PIVOT SHAFT HAS TORQUED OFF AND CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRES EMBEDDED IN THE SHAFT THAT POWER THE VISOR LIGHT. REPLACEMENT SUN VISOR COSTS AROUND $200 AND THE WEAK SHAFT IS THE SAME, SO FAILURE WILL MOST LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR GREATER TORQUE WHEN LOWERING THE SUN VISOR. REMOVAL OF THE BULB IN THE AFFECTED VISOR ELIMINATED THE BATTERY DRAIN. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train

ODI #10260420

Incident: February 17, 2009 · Filed: March 2, 2009

TRANSMISSION/RADIATOR FAILURE. COOLANTS MIXING WITH EACH OTHER AND CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR AT LOWER SPEEDS. DEALER SAYS $5000.00 TO REPAIR/REPLACE BOTH TRANNY AND RADIATOR. I HAD TAKEN MY 2003 VOLVO C-70 CONVERTIBLE IN 6 MONTHS PRIOR COMPLAINING OF A LOW WHIRRING NOISE WHICH THEY COULD NOT DETECT OR WOULD NOT DETECT. I ASKED ABOUT WARRANTY/OR SECRET WARRANTY AND THEY SAID THERE WERE NONE AND THAT VOLVO WOULDN'T PAY FOR REPAIR, THEY ALSO STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING QUITE A BIT. CONSUMERS ARE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR

Other Volvo C70 model years

Check your 2003 Volvo C70 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Volvo C70 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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