Volvo Xc70 Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Volvo Xc70 years to avoid are 2008, 2016, 2015: the 2008 alone has 39 NHTSA owner complaints and 237 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by fuel system issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2017 and 2006 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-07-14 · By Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006BEST | 18 | 184 | 3 | — |
| 2007 | 24 | 195 | 2 | — |
| 2008AVOID | 39 | 237 | 8 | — |
| 2009 | 15 | 238 | 5 | — |
| 2010 | 15 | 247 | 5 | — |
| 2011 | 15 | 260 | 3 | — |
| 2012 | 14 | 259 | 2 | — |
| 2013 | 8 | 260 | 2 | — |
| 2014 | 2 | 253 | 2 | — |
| 2015AVOID | 6 | 312 | 1 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 7 | 333 | 2 | — |
| 2017BEST | 0 | 45 | 0 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Volvo Xc70 problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Volvo Xc70 are engine, visibility/wiper, suspension, fuel system. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2008 Volvo Xc70: 39 owner complaints, 237 service bulletins, 8 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: fuel system, gasoline, engine.
2016 Volvo Xc70: 7 owner complaints, 333 service bulletins, 2 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, seat belts, electrical system.
2015 Volvo Xc70: 6 owner complaints, 312 service bulletins, 1 recall campaign — most-reported areas: engine, power train, fuel/propulsion system.
2017 Volvo Xc70: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 45 bulletins).
2006 Volvo Xc70: cleanest recent federal record (18 complaints, 184 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Volvo Xc70?
Based on federal records, the Volvo Xc70 years to avoid are 2008, 2016, 2015: the 2008 alone has 39 NHTSA owner complaints and 237 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by fuel system issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2017 and 2006 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Volvo Xc70?
Among recent model years, the 2017 and 2006 Volvo Xc70 show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Volvo Xc70 reliable?
The Volvo Xc70's reliability varies by model year. Across 163 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2008, 2016, 2015 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2017 and 2006 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Volvo Xc70?
The most-reported problem areas for the Volvo Xc70 are engine, visibility/wiper, suspension, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Volvo Xc70 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.