The 1999 Volvo V70xc has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 267,099 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 94 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
16
1injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
2
Total complaints94
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“My volvo v70 was on a test drive by the mechanic before returning the vehicle to me after routine maintenance. The car had 59,800 miles. The engine caught fire allegedly due to an oil gasket defect. The vehicle was on a local road in wainscott, long island, new york.”
“Key ignition is failing will often not start then after moving key around in ignition to find the perfect position the car will start”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volvo v70xc. The contact stated there was fuel leaking from the top of the fuel tank causing it to fail inspection. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure but offered no assistance.…”
“My 1999 v70r with 122,000 miles has had the most problems of any volvo I have owned in 44 years; heater core, electronic throttle module, steering rack, wheel bearings, lower control arms, ball joints, parking brake failure, brake lines and hoses, and now? The transmission has failed completely…”
“The car went into a "limp home mode" as I was pulling into traffic, causing several cars to have to swerve to keep from hitting me. I called volvo and they said the 99 & 00 ( which I own both ) models had a recall on the part. I carried the car to the volvo dealership and they said the recall was…”
“I recently purchased a 1999 volvo v70xc, shortly after, the car went into what's called limp home mode. I looked online to see what would cause this and saw that there was a recall in 2006 to repair this problem. I called volvo to see if my car was brought in for service, I was informed that it…”
“1. Premature wear of the etm. 2. Car has rough idle, stalls, surges in traffic. 3. Replacing the etm. For the third time. *tr”
“Rear brake rotors wear down quickly. We had them replaced in the summer of 2007 and they are worn down now, dec 2008. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA05021 Opened 2005-12-06 · closed 2006-12-12
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR…
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 1999 Volvo V70xc as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.