Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 13 | 15% |
| Seats | 8 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 7% |
| Power train | 5 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 5% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
| Engine | 3 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The front passenger seat belt locks up. When pulled out it will not go back in causing the passenger not to be able to wear a seat belt. I think it might be the seat belt retractor I would like to have it fixed I believe
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
I have recevievide from Volvo called the number and said they cannot say it was free.I called the number 1 800 458 1552 said could promise I had to talk to the manager at the dealer. I asked them if found other problems
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I WAS AT OUR AUTOMOTIVE SHOP AND HAD TO GIVE A CUSTOMER A RIDE TO WORK. I HAD THE SEAT WARMERS ON BECAUSE IT WAS COLD OUTSIDE. ABOUT A MINUTE INTO THE DRIVE, I FEEL A BURNING SENSATION ON MY LEFT OUTER THIGH. I THOUGHT N
NHTSA complaint: Seats
MY CONTROL ARM ON THE FRONT RIGHT IS COMING LOOSE AND IS GIVING LESS CONTROL IN TURNING, ALSO MY CAR IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE FUEL PUMP. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE DEMONSTRATED WHILE UNDER MOTION ON ANY TERRAIN AND THE F
NHTSA complaint: Steering
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD...I SMELLED WHAT I THOUGHT WAS MY ENGINE OVERHEATING, PULLED OVER TO TAKE A LOOK AND AS OPENED MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF MY SEAT, MELTING A HOLE THROUGH TO THE LEFT
NHTSA complaint: Seats
VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT FOR AIRBAG IS ALARMING SINCE MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY IN MY 2017 CAR ACCIDENT WHEN MY CAR WAS HIT FROM REAR, FRONT AND DRIVER SIDE. CAR WAS TOTAL. SEAT BEAT AND AIRBAG FAILURE IN VEHICLE DURING ACC
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THE RADIATOR FAN RAN CONSISTENTLY ALTHOUGH I WAS DRIVING IN THE WINTER COMING BACK FROM LAKE TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY A SMELL OF BURNED RUBBER STARTED TO SPREAD INSIDE THE CAR SO I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN AND
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I WAS DEPARTING MY HOME VILLAGE ABOUT A BLOCK FROM MY HOME AND I HEARD A LOUD BANG IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AT ABOUT 15 MPH!! NO BUMP.. NOTHING! I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS ISSUE AT THE INITIAL LOOK A
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2004 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.
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's num
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.
Fix: 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 N
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLIN
Risk: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL
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.
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 88 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 13 of them (15%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) 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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. 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.