Short answer
Among Volvo XC70 model years through 2024, 2015 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2008 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volvo XC70: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 16 (2001–2016)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 19
- Fewest recalls
- 2015 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2008 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (18)
Volvo XC70 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2015 | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2014 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2013 | 2 | Not rated | Seat belts, Tires |
| 2012 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 | 8 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2006 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2005 | 2 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2003 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2001 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20162 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20142 recalls
- 20132 recalls
- 20122 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20088 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20062 recalls
- 20052 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20034 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20015 recalls
Volvo XC70: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volvo XC70 recalls are equipment (18), air bags (10), seat belts (9), electrical system (6) and fuel system, gasoline (4). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Volvo XC70 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volvo XC70?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2015 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volvo XC70 model years have the most recalls?
2008 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "XC70", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy