Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Volvo V70, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 16% |
| Electrical system | 13 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 6% |
| Air bags | 5 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 5% |
| Tires | 4 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PASSING SMOG AND HAD TROUBLE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SO THE SMOG DEALER TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WAS TRYING TO PASS SMOG, BUT THE CAR HAD BEEN D
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ETS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAI
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE RPMS EXCESSIVELY INCREASED AND THE ETS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. TH
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70 STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO FROM THE REAR. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS REAR ENDED AT 45 MPH AND A VOLVO ADVERTISEMENT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SPECIAL SEATS TO AVOID SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN A CRASH OCCUR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP, THE FRONT SEAT FAILED TO HOLD THE CONTACT IN POSITION CAUSING HIM TO BE REAR ENDED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED IMMEDI
NHTSA complaint: Seats
MY VOLVO V70 HAS BEEN DYING IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS. HAVE HAD TWO TRIPS TO A MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED A FEW PARTS, BUT IT DIDN'T FIX IT. PROBLEM CONT
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SPLIT IN HA
NHTSA complaint: Seats
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2000 Volvo V70. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
ON CERTAIN STATION WAGONS, THE TAILGATE LOCKING MECHANISM MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED WHICH, IN COMBINATION WITH COLD TEMPERATURES, COULD CAUSE IMPROPER LOCKING OF THE TAILGATE.
Risk: THE TAILGATE MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR THE TAILGATE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 25, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. TH
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 15 of them (16%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.