Recalls: Volvo Mk.3 XC70
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Volvo Mk.3 XC70
Volvo XC70: curtain airbags may not deploy as intended
In April 2008, a recall was issued for Volvo Mk.3 XC70 models in the VIN range 000342 to 046859 due to a potential software error in the side impact protection system (SIPS). As a result, the inflatable side curtain airbags may not operate as intended; the recalled vehicles were to have the SIPS system ECU software upgraded (PRA 2008/10002).
2008-09 model year Volvo XC70: fire hazard
In February 2009, a recall was issued for model year 2008 and 2009 Volvo XC70 vehicles in the VIN range 0000001 to 0049479. For vehicles fitted with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), the drain hose for the climate unit could become clogged, leading to poor or no water drainage which may result in the short circuit of the PTC. This could result in a local overheating and potentially initiate a fire in the passenger compartment (PRA 2009/10615).
2007-08 model year Volvo XC70: windscreen wiper malfunction
In April 2009, a recall was issued for model year 2007 and 2008 Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with an alarm and in the VIN range 000200 to 000867. For these vehicles, a deviation in the Central Electronic Module (CEM) software may affect the functionality of the windscreen wipers. In this situation, the wipers may be activated independently of the driver and may fail to respond to the driver’s command (PRA 2009/10773).
2008-09 model year Volvo XC70: cooling fan may stop working
In June 2009, a recall was issued for model year 2008 and 2009 Volvo XC70 vehicles in the VIN range 028521 to 060272. For these vehicles, the engine cooling fan may permanently stop working due to a software error in the Fan Control Module (FCM). If the fan stopped, it may caused reduced air conditioning performance and the driver will be informed of the increased coolant temperature by a yellow information lamp in the Driver Information Module (DIM) with the ‘reduce speed’ text message. If the engine temperature continued to rise, the red warning lamp would illuminate with text instructions to stop the car safely (PRA 2009/10870).
2007-08 model year Volvo XC70 D5: premature belt tensioner wear
In April 2010, a recall was issued for model year 2007 and 2008 Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with a diesel engine and in the VIN range 000330 to 040256. In these vehicles, the belt tensioner may experience premature wear. In this situation, the driver may hear greater noise from the engine bay; at worst, there could be a loss of drive, power steering assistance and immobility of the vehicle (PRA 2010/11583).
2009 model year Volvo XC70 D5: premature belt tensioner wear
In June 2010, a recall was issued for 2009 model year Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with a D5 diesel engine and in the VIN range 047520 to 065138. In these vehicles, the belt tensioner may experience premature wear. In this situation, the driver may hear greater noise from the engine bay; at worst, there could be a loss of drive, power steering assistance and immobility of the vehicle (PRA 2010/11694).
2009-10 model year Volvo XC70 D5: premature belt tensioner wear
In October 2011, a recall was issued for 2009 and 2010 model year Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with the 2.4-litre diesel engine and in the VIN range 065139 to 093003. In these vehicles, the auxiliary belt tensioner may experience premature wear, leading to excessive noise, a loss of power-steering assistance and immobilisation of the vehicle (PRA 2011/12871).
2011 model year Volvo XC70 D5: premature belt tensioner wear
In November 2013, a recall was issued for 2011 model year Volvo XC70 vehicles that were fitted with 2.4-litre turbo-diesel engines. In these vehicles, premature wear on the auxiliary belt tensioner could lead to noisy operation and, at worst, a loss of drive and power steering assistance. The affected vehicles had serial numbers (i.e. the last six digits of the VIN) in the range 094101 to 102873 (PRA 2013/13877).
2011 model year Volvo XC70 D5: loss of engine coolant
In July 2010, a recall was issued for 2011 model year Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with a 2.4-litre diesel engine and in the VIN range 094101 to 095193. In these vehicles, the spring band clamp mounted on the radiator hose connection to the water inlet pipe spigot may not sufficiently secure the hose, potentially leading to the hose coming loose during driving and resulting in a loss of engine coolant water. The driver will be informed of this concern through a warning symbol and text message ‘low coolant level stop safely’ in the instrument panel. If ignored, however, this condition will lead to engine damage (PRA 2010/11823).
2010-11 model year Volvo XC70: airbags may not deploy
In October 2010, a recall was issued for model year 2010 and 2011 XC70 models in the VIN range 082543 to 096858. For these vehicles, there may be an electrical short circuit in the driver’s airbag clockspring wiring connector. If the deviation occurred, the supplement restraint system (SRS) light would be constantly lit and the message ‘airbag system service required’ would be displayed in the Driver Information Module (DIM). If the driver ignores the warning, the airbag may not deploy as intended – or at all – in the event of a collision (PRA 2010/12059).
2011 model year Volvo XC70: fuel cut-off malfunction
In November 2010, a recall was issued for model year 2011 Volvo Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with a six cylinder petrol engine and in the VIN range 094133 to 102176. For these vehicles, the software calibration for fuel cut-off functionality in the engine control module (ECM) and the transmission control module (TCM) is too sensitive. As a result, the engine idle speed may drop during city driving and cause the engine to suddenly stop. While the driver will be able to restart the vehicle, the driver will need to depress the accelerator pedal further than normal to drive the vehicle. The driver may also find the gear engagement harsh and the transmission operation noisy (PRA 2010/12144).
2009-10 model year Volvo XC70 D5: engine failure
In January 2011, a recall was issued for 2009 and 2010 model year Volvo Volvo XC70 vehicles fitted with a five cylinder diesel engine and in the VIN range 052002 to 092997. For these vehicles, the engine oil level may exceed the maximum level marking, leading to increased engine speed. At worst, the engine may not stop running when it is switched off and may continue to run until the engine breaks down (PRA 2011/12256).
2012 model year Volvo XC70: airbags may not deploy
In March 2012, a recall was issued for 2012 model year Volvo XC70 vehicles in the VIN range 118101 to 127175. In these vehicles, the wiring harness under the driver and/or passenger seat may not have been properly affixed to the seat frame during vehicle assembly. As a result, the harness connector could detach from the socket and the airbags may not function as intended, causing the SRS warning lamp to illuminate or the airbags to fail to deploy during a crash (PRA 2012/13055).
2016 model year Volvo XC70 Diesel: engine may cut out
In March 2016, a recall was issued for ‘2016 model year’ Volvo XC70 vehicles that had diesel engines and serial numbers (i.e. the last six digits of the VIN) in the range 235012 to 260313. In these vehicles, the engine may momentarily cut-out and then immediately restart – this could cause disturbance in some electrical systems such as shut down of the instrument cluster, infotainment system and loss of power steering assistance. The sudden loss of power and reduced power steering assistance could pose a hazard to the driver and other road users (PRA 2016/15242).
2015 model year Volvo XC70 with five-cylinder diesel engine: inaccurate fuel gauge
In February 2017, a recall was issued for ‘2015 model year’ Volvo XC70 vehicles that had five-cylinder diesel engines. In these vehicles, the fuel gauge may show that there is fuel in the vehicle even when the fuel tank is empty. If the vehicle were to run out of fuel while it was being driven, the loss of power would increase the risk of a collision with other road users. It is understood that the recalled Volvo XC70 vehicles had serial numbers in the range 218129 to 231580 (PRA 2017/15928).
Volvo Mk.3 XC70: front seatbelt fasteners
In August 2020, recall campaign R10029 was issued for Volvo Mk.3 XC70 vehicles. In these vehicles, the flexible steel cable that was connected to the outboard side of the front seatbelts may fatigue and separate from the seatbelt. If this occurred, the occupant would not be properly restrained and this increased the risk of injury or death in the event of a collision. For this recall, replacement parts were not expected to be available until after October 2020 and owners were to be advised – in writing – of how to secure the front seatbelt while waiting for those parts to arrive. When the parts became available, the seatbelt fasteners were to be replaced. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2020/18415.
Problems and faults: Volvo Mk.3 XC70
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
2007-11 Volvo XC70 3.2: excessive oil consumption, white exhaust smoke and low/uneven idle
In April 2012, Volvo issued Technical Journal 24643 for Volvo XC70 3.2 models that had engines manufactured prior to 4 May 2011. According to the Technical Journal, these vehicles may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Low oil level;
- Excessive oil consumption;
- Poor idle quality;
- White smoke from the exhaust;
- An oil smell; and/or
- Illumination of the yellow warning symbol and ‘Low oil level’ or ‘Oil level low’ messages in the Driver information Module (SIM).
To determine if the vehicle had an oil consumption condition,
- The engine should be inspected for external leakage on and around the engine, especially around the cylinder head/cam cover/timing cover area. If an external leakage was present, then the following steps were not applicable;
- An oil consumption test could be performed if there was no prior record of low oil levels and oil being added between service intervals;
- The spark plugs were to be examined for evidence of previous oil over-filling since this could be the cause of DTCs related to oil consumption (specifically DTC P030000 and/or P030600). As the Technical Journal acknowledged, these engines were susceptible to over-filling since it was difficult to easily check the oil level with the dipstick;
- A cylinder leakage test was to be performed to determine if oil consumption was coming from an area other than the cam cover;
- If the cylinder leakage tests were OK and if the spark plug from cylinder #6 had more soot than the others, this suggested that the cam cover was not properly sealed from the factory. If so, the cam cover was to be removed so that the sealing surface could be inspected. If the sealing surface was discoloured by oil, it was most likely that there was a leak between the cam cover and the cylinder head in the area facing the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) channel which connected the breather box and the PCV gallery. To fix, the cam cover was to be re-sealed. The cam cover seal was improved at engine production date 15 April 2010 (15041000001); and,
- If the cylinder leakage tests were OK and there was a spark plug from a cylinder other than #6 which had more soot than the others, then the valve guides were to be inspected. Valve guide leakage was most commonly found when there was excessive white smoke from the exhaust and had been observed on engines with build dates before 4 May 2011 (040511B01272). Each valve guide was to be tested by removing the cam cover, removing the valve tappets, plugging all but one intake port and plugging all intake ports, injector ports and the PCV inlet. Air pressure could then be applied to one intake port at a time and, by using automatic transmission fluid (ATF) for colour differentiation, ripples or bubbles in the ATF would indicate a leak that required the cylinder head to be replaced.
Please note that the testing procedure described above differs for models that have B6324S4 PZEV (‘Engine 94’) or B6324S2 PZEV (‘Engine 96’) engines – these may require new pistons and oil control rings. For information on those engines, please refer to Technical Journal 24643.
2007-12 Volvo XC70: rear suspension noise or pulling across the road
In November 2012, Volvo Cars North America issued Technical Journal (TJ) 25336 for 2007-12 Volvo XC70 vehicles. According to TJ 25336, the front bushing in the rear longitudinal stay could fail due to corrosion of the bushing’s outer metal ring and this would cause the vulcanised rubber to loosen. If this occurred, the vehicle may exhibit the following symptoms:
- A knocking or clunking noise from the rear suspension when driving on uneven roads;
- The vehicle pulling or drifting across the road (to the right or left) due to rear wheel camber being out of specification; or,
- Unstable rear suspension on curvy roads.
To fix vehicles with these symptoms, the bushing was to be replaced; after installation of the bushing, rust-proofing wax was to be sprayed on the outer metal ring of the bushing. To prevent this problem from occurring in future vehicles, waxed bushings which were less susceptible to corrosion were introduced in production from mid-March 2012.
Volvo XC70: irregular engine performance
In 2010, Volvo UK issued a ‘non-code action’ for Volvo XC70 vehicles because of ‘irregular engine performance’ (NCA/2010/004); no further information was provided.
2015 model year Volvo XC70 T5: oil leakage from VVT pulley
In October 2016, Volvo issued Technical Journal TJ 29131.5.0 for 2015 model year Volvo XC70 T5 vehicles with B4204T11 engines. In these vehicles, the driver may receive a low oil level warning in the Driver Information Module (DIM) and/or notice oil leakage from the engine. According to the Technical Journal, these symptoms may be due crack in the plug from the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) pulley. To fix, the two plugs in both of the VVT pulleys were to be replaced.
2015 Volvo XC70 with stop/start and automatic transmissions: engine may not restart
In 2015, Volvo UK issued a ‘non-code action’ for 2015 Volvo XC70 vehicles that had:
- Four-cylinder engines with stop/start functionality;
- Automatic transmissions; and,
- VINs in the range YV1BZ40LDG1235009 to YV1BZ40LDG1241362.
For affected Volvo XC70 vehicles, a starter motor fuse could fail due to becoming overloaded and this could prevent the engine from restarting after it had shut down as part of its stop/start operation. For these vehicles, the starter motor fuse was to be replaced by an upgraded fuse (NCA/2015/019). It is understood that these vehicles were manufactured from 8 April 2015 to 19 August 2015.
Volvo Mk.3 XC70: other problems and faults
- The infotainment system may stop working when the engine is started but operate when the key is switched off – if so, a software upgrade is required.
- If using an iPod, a ‘USB unreadable’ message may appear on the audio information display – this is a compatibility problem between the system and the iPod rather than a fault with the vehicle itself.
- The power steering may stop working or work intermittently, requiring the electronic power steering module to be replaced.
- The auto-up power window function may result in the windows only partly rising and then going back down – this is likely due to misalignment of the window or a lack of lubrication on the window guides.
