The 2002 Volvo C70 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 170,099 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Consequence
THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
1
POWER TRAIN
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
STEERING
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
Total complaints6
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo c70. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift properly. Sporadically, it would seem to shift into park while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but eventually, the vehicle was taken to a personal mechanic where the…”
“During sun roof retraction a 30" metal brace fell from the internal roof slot for the sun roof on my head. The metal member appears to be a sturdy cross brace held in place by some type of adhesive. I was immensely distracted and was almost involved in a accident. *tr”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volvo c70. The contact stated that the vehicle needed a new transmission at 60,000 miles. The vehicle fails to shift into second gear. When it finally shifts into gear, the vehicle jerks. The contact discovered numerous complaints of consumers experiencing the same…”
“Volvo c70 - 2002 -- leaks power-steering fluid so fast I cannot drive the car. I have had it towed to the volvo dealer three times for the same problem and it still has not been fixed. It is undriveable. The volvo company refuses to give me any assistance as far as repurchasing the car. The dealer…”
“Coolant warning light came on volvo dealer notified. Appointment scheduled next day. Owners' manual instructs do not use coolant other than volvo coolant. Neither manual nor dealer advise not to drive car. That day while driving, oil light flickers while stopped at traffic light. Immediately…”
“Coolant warning light came on volvo dealer notified. Appointment scheduled next day. Owners' manual instructs do not use coolant other than volvo coolant. Neither manual nor dealer advise not to drive car. That day while driving, oil light flickers while stopped at traffic light. Immediately…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE05041 Opened 2005-07-26 · closed 2005-12-07
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Volvo C70 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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