2001 Volvo V70 XC turbo from North America

Summary:

My Volvo is a

Faults:

I have needed a new shift interlock cable.

I have had 2 rear door hatches.

At 40K, I needed to replace brake pads.

At 35K, new tires were needed and now, again at 57K, a second set!

There has been an ongoing software problem that causes surging of the throttle on the highway.

I have had to replace the CD player.

Finally, I am replacing the left rear wheel bearing.

General Comments:

This car is wonderful. It truly is a joy to drive-- when it is working! The interior is very nicely designed and it is a solid feeling car.

I have surmised through owning this car for 2 years that the reason Volvos are so safe is because they are always in the shop.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 4th August, 2003

17th Nov 2004, 16:35

I agree with you, Volvo's are not very reliable and it is quite costly.

2001 Volvo V70 from Netherlands

Summary:

Comfortable and reliable

Faults:

There was a squeak in the rear suspension fixed under warranty.

General Comments:

Super comfortable vehicle, especially for long trips. Quiet and effortless.

Reasonable fuel consumption given the size of the car, and especially frugal if you drive economically.

There's plenty of room for the teenagers, as well as loading space in the rear.

Handling and braking are great.

If you want a quick performer then go for the bigger motor or turbo, but be prepared for the fuel bills!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th February, 2003

2001 Volvo V70 2.4 from Belgium

Summary:

Nice car, but too much trouble; I will never buy another one

Faults:

I have had 12 recurring faults so far. Here are the high points:

Engine miss at 2250 to 2500 RPM.

Speedometer error of 10 km/h slow.

Passenger's side front speaker not working.

In-dash cup holder broken.

Power windows operate sporadically.

Multiple "bulb failure" messages.

Replaced 4 headlights in 30,000 km.

Remote locking system most uncooperative.

General Comments:

Dealer service in Belgium is the very worst I have ever experienced.

It is a nice car on the road, though. It is comfortable and easy to drive and handles nicely, although it has the turning radius of a river barge.

It has comfortable seats, with heat, and I can sit in them all day and arrive quite fresh.

The engine is quite willing, but I would like a bit more power when joining highways. I have the Canadian spec 168 hp model.

The car is a technological and maintenance nightmare for a busy person. There is a new fault literally ever week and I am completely fed up with this aspect of the vehicle.

In summary, I had expected a lot more from a "quality vehicle" after spending almost half a year's salary!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th January, 2003

2001 Volvo V70 T-5 2.5L turbo from North America

Summary:

Performance and safety comes at a price

Faults:

Drivers seat leather needed replacement at 10,000 miles. Replaced under warranty.

Head and tail light bulbs have been replaced 2 times.

Sun roof rattles. Dealer cannot fix.

Rear doors rattle near speakers.

Cooling fan replaced at 66,000 miles. Cost over $300.

Throttle body assembly replaced at 96,000 miles. Cost $886.

General Comments:

The V70 T-5 incredibly fun to drive and has the safety ratings to back up the performance.

However, This car spends way too much time in the shop for a $40,000 wagon. The 2 service writers at my local Volvo dealer know me on a first name basis.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th November, 2002

10th Aug 2004, 13:39

I cannot add a thing. My 2001 V70 T5 (80K miles) has had all those plus front stabilizer link. Oh and those Pirelli P6 tires (yikes!) Love the car, hate all the issues. I will buy the largest warranty available next time.

11th Nov 2004, 21:56

Would like to hear some comments on the 2.4T version of the V70 wagon.

Thank you because I am trying to decide which model to buy and not have expenses.

View 3 more comments

2001 Volvo V70 T5 2.4 turbo from North America

Summary:

My worst ownership experience

Faults:

Front control arms replaced under warranty at 6,000 miles.

Transmission problems at 8,000 miles. Hard downshift between 2nd and 1st gear.

Replaced three headlight bulbs before 25,000 miles. I also had to replace the license plate bulbs at 32,000 miles.

Experienced difficulty starting the car in cold weather. It ran very rich and required dealer service.

Thermostat stopped working at 28,000 miles. Required replacement.

Blew a high pressure power steering hose at 51,000 miles.

Ball joints wore out at 60,000 miles.

Various electrical problems occurred at 63,000 miles. The power door lock mechanism stopped working. At the same time the rear window wiper stopped working.

General Comments:

This car was very powerful and fun to drive.

However the build quality was terrible and far from what I expected from Volvo.

There is a problem of excessive sun glare reflection on the windshield. The dashboard reflects onto the windshield.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 11th October, 2002

19th Apr 2006, 20:28

Same experience here...V70 T5 was probably the best and worst car I have ever owned (if that makes any sense??) Great power, great seats, great ride WHEN the car is working properly, which seemed like almost never. Can't remember if I actually drove the car without experiencing a problem or warning light come on. Seems like most owners have experienced the same type of problems. Why is Volvo not issuing recalls like other auto manufacturers?

31st May 2008, 09:03

I have to agree with the last comment. This is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned, but it's a love/hate relationship.

I purchased my 2001 V70 T5 used but certified. Girl here, so excuse the lack of technical reference.

I had numerous problems with the car - mostly the front end. The front end has been completely rebuilt by the dealership. Still having problems and is now out of warranty.

I'm of the belief there is an engineering defect that Volvo won't own up to. I've spoken with several people who have experienced the same problems.

The transmission slips randomly. I've had 3 expensive software downloads but no permanent fix. Light bulbs burn out very frequently. They are easy to replace myself, but I've never had issues like this with any US or Japanese vehicle. I've spent about $2,000 each year on repairs/replacements for this vehicle.

The low profile tires are dangerous in wet or slick road conditions unless the tires are new. Can't use a "regular" tire unless new rims are purchased. I'm on a 2nd set of tires within 50,000 miles.

The suspension is horrible unless driving on a newly paved road.

Don't even think about pulling out into traffic quickly. Severe turbo lag.

I'll not purchase another Volvo, but will drive this one until the wheels fall off. Let's just hope that doesn't literally happen. My '72 Gremlin was more reliable than my beautiful Vowag!