1999 Volvo C70 convertible problems
The Volvo C70 is a two-door, four-passenger sports GT manufactured and marketed by Volvo Cars from 1996 to 2013 across two generations.
The first generation (1996–2005) was available as both a coupé (1996–2002) and softtop convertible (1997–2005). The second generation (2006–2013) was available as a retractable hardtop convertible.
First generation (1996–2005)
Volvo debuted the first generation C70 at the 1996 Paris Motor Show, and introduced it in Europe as a 1997 model, and a year later as a 1998 model in North America — with 2.0 (sold mostly in Italy), a low-pressure turbo (2.4L) and a high-pressure turbo (2.0L and 2.3L), 5-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engines and manual and automatic transmissions. Ian Callum designed the exterior and Mexican designer Jose Diaz de la Vega led the interior design team.
The C70 broke Volvo's decades-long styling tradition of boxy, rectilinear designs and was Volvo's first luxury coupe since the 780. According to a tongue-in-check remark made by Peter Horbury, Volvo's design chief from 1991 to 2002, with the C70, Volvo "kept the toy, and threw away the box!" "Our vision was to design a convertible that would meet the needs of a family of four looking for comfortable blue-sky motoring in a vehicle also providing stylish looks, performance and faultless driving and road-holding."
In a development program of 30 months and working with a Volvo 850-derived platform, Britain’s TWR (Tom Walkinshaw Racing) co-designed the car's basic design and suspension tuning with Volvo. Manufacture of the C70 was a joint venture until the two companies experienced disputes that threatened to interrupt production; TWR did not contribute to the second generation C70.
Volvo's first modern convertible, the C70 was manufactured in Uddevalla, Sweden on an assembly line separate from the 70-series sedan and station wagon. The four-passenger convertible featured an electrically heated glass rear window; automatic (pop-up) rollover hoops system, marketed as ROPS; seat belt pre-tensioners; A-pillars reinforced with boron steel; front and side airbags; and a safety cage — a horseshoe-like structure around the passenger compartment.
The cloth convertible top, initially available in four colors, was fully automatic, operated by a single, dashboard-mounted control. The top stored automatically under an integral rigid tonneau cover, using a system pioneered in modern convertibles with the fourth generation Mercedes SL.
The C70 convertible exhibited two negative traits endemic to convertibles: poor rear visibility and pronounced scuttle shake, a characteristic where the structural design of the bulkhead between the engine and passenger compartments of a convertible suffers sufficiently poor rigidity to negatively impact ride and handling — and allow noticeable vibration, shudder or chassis-flexing into the passenger compartment.
Early special editions featured two-tone leather interior with wood trim and a SC-901 (1998) Dolby Pro Logic I stereo with 3-disc integrated changer unit (via a cartridge) 400 watts of power and 11 high end Dynaudio speakers.
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Common 1999 Volvo C70 convertible problems
The Volvo C70 Convertible, produced between 1999 and 2006, is known for its solid mechanicals, shared with the 850, but there are certain issues that potential buyers should be aware of.
- Hood Operation: The hood of the C70 Convertible uses a complex system of electric motors. It is crucial to ensure that these motors are in good working condition and that the hood operates smoothly. Any manual attempts to lower the hood can damage these motors.
- Service History: A decent main dealer service history is desirable. This indicates that the car has been well-maintained and serviced regularly, which is particularly important for the turbo engines, which are highly stressed.
- Turbo Issues: If you notice suspicious-looking blue or black smoke when revving a hot engine, it may indicate that the turbo is finished. In this case, it is advisable to look for another car.
- Hood Wear and Tear: The hood of the C70 Convertible should be checked for wear and tear, and it should fold without any problems. Replacements and parts for the hood are expensive.
- Leaking Door Mirrors: The C70 has a known issue with leaking door mirrors, which can be difficult to fix. If the footwell carpets are wet, it might not necessarily be due to a problem with the roof.
- Suspension Problems: Uneven tyre wear or signs of kerbing damage on the wheels could indicate a suspension problem, or even worse, driveshaft damage.
- Airbag Recall Work: It is essential to check that recall work on the airbags has been done. A Volvo dealer can verify this for you.
- Handling: The Volvo C70 Convertible is known for its poor handling, which is particularly noticeable on bumpy roads or when driven hard on twisty roads.
- Fuel Economy and Insurance Costs: The fuel economy of the C70 Convertible, especially on the turbocharged T5, is not particularly impressive. Additionally, insurance costs for all models are likely to be high.
- Convertible Top Micro-Switches/Potentiometers: Some Volvo C70 Convertibles may experience problems with the micro-switches or potentiometers in the convertible top mechanism.
In summary, while the Volvo C70 Convertible has its share of issues, careful inspection and regular maintenance can help mitigate these problems. Buyers should pay particular attention to the condition of the hood, the service history, and the turbo engines, if equipped. Additionally, being aware of the car's handling limitations and high insurance costs can help potential buyers make an informed decision.
Are Volvo C70 reliable?
The Volvo C70 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 17 for luxury compact cars.
How many miles will a Volvo C70 last?
The estimated lifespan of a Volvo C70 is 150,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy. Don't just buy it, VehicleScore it.
Is Volvo C70 expensive to maintain?
The annual maintenance cost of a Volvo C70 is $818.
Is Volvo C70 roof reliable?
Unlike other cars, what you don't hear of with the C70 is a lot of frequently occurring roof issues, like leaking seals or motors stripping cogs. That, to me, says that Volvo got it right.
Are Volvo C70 reliable?
The Volvo C70 Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 9th out of 17 for luxury compact cars.
Is Volvo C70 expensive to maintain?
The annual maintenance cost of a Volvo C70 is $818.
Why was the Volvo C70 discontinued?
The news shouldn't come as a big surprise since Volvo revealed back in 2011 plans to cease production of the C70 this year due to poor sales.
How many miles will a Volvo C70 last?
The estimated lifespan of a Volvo C70 is 150,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy. Don't just buy it, VehicleScore it.
1999 Volvo C70 convertible car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Volvo C70 convertible problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Electrical system problems
- Structure problems
- Equipment problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Volvo C70 convertible vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1999 Volvo C70 convertible complaints
The NHTSA has received 8 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Volvo C70 convertible.
STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-06-17
- VIN: YV1NC56D6XJ
- Components: STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: CONVERTIBLE TOP BACK BAR STRUCTURE CRACKED IN HALF AND TOP WILL NOT OPERATE(CLOSE OR OPEN) NOW. WHILE THE TOP BROKE, AS I WAS OPENING IT, IT ALSO FELL ON THE SENSOR FOR THE LOCK AND BROKE THAT ALSO. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE ONLY FIX IS ORDERING A NEW BAR AT THE COST OF $1500, WHICH I DON'T HAVE. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I CANT DRIVE OR REPAIR. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-05-21
- Crash: 1
- VIN: YV1NC56D9XJ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
- Summary: MY BRAKES WERE MAKING A WEIRD SQUEAKING NOISE IN FRONT. I TOOK TO ORANGE COUNTY VOLVO DEALER TWICE, BOTH TIMES WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG. TWO WEEKS LATER, I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE,WITHOUT WARNING AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNINGS PRIOR TO COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. I CALLED MY DEALER WHO DENIED ANY PROBLEMS. I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER (POWER VOLVO)WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A COMPLETE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. MY DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THE NOISE I PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT (WEIRD SQUEAK)COULD HAVE BEEN DUE TO A BRAKE BOOSTER PROBLEM(HE SAID BOOSTER FAILURE MAKES A HISSING SOUND). VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA (VONA) "INSPECTED" THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS "INTERMITTENT" AND THAT WHEN THEY DROVE IT, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM, BUT THAT DUE TO THE FACT THAT POWER VOLVO EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE BOOSTER, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN A VOICE MESSAGE TO ME, VONA STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A "SAFETY HAZARD" BUT SINCE MY CAR WAS "SO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY," VONA WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF THE BOOSTER REPLACEMENT (NEARLY $3,000). THEY DENIED THAT IT WAS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR, AND DENIED THAT THE DEALER IMPROPERLY DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. PRIOR TO INSPECTION, VONA SAID THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE FIX IF THE BOOSTER "FAILED TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED." NOW THEY SAY THAT THE BOOSTER WAS NOT DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ANY INDICATION THAT IT WAS GOING TO FAIL PRIOR TO CAUSING A COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. SO, BASICALLY, VONA SAYS IT IS PROPER FOR THESE BOOSTERS TO FAIL, AND IT IS PROPER FOR THEM TO FAIL SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. LATER VERSIONS OF VOLVOS HAVE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS. MY MAKE AND MODEL DOES NOT. I COULD HAVE DIED AND/OR KILLED SOMEONE, AND VOLVO DOES NOT CARE. LUCKILY I WAS TRAVELING SLOWLY COASTING TOWARD A STOP SIGN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-09-02
- VIN: YV1NC53D2XJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: VOLVO C70 PRESENTED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE REVVING AND DOWN BY ITSELF, AND MOSTLY NOTICEABLE WHILE STANDING STILL AT IDLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM AND THROTTLE) BODY ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PARTS. I PAID AND HAD THE REPAIRS COMPLETED. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY PUT A NEW ETM IN, BUT THAT THE ETM LIGHT INDICATOR ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON, WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN. THEY PUT A SECOND ONE IN AND THE LIGHT CAME OFF. I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR AND DROVE TO WORK. AFTER WORK I DROVE HOME, AND THE ETM LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I THOUGHT THE LIGHT WAS NOT A PROBLEM SINCE I WAS TOLD SO BY THE DEALER.*AK A FEW MONTHS LATER WHILE NAVIGATING THE WEB I FOUND A FORUM MENTIONING THAT VOLVO HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ETMS. SEVERAL SITES CLAIM VOLVO IS TRYING TO HIDE THE PROBLEM AND NOT TAKING SUFFICIENT ACTIONS TO INFORM CUSTOMERS. SINCE LIGHT IS STILL ON NOW, I WILL TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND FIGHT WITH THEM, BUT WANTED TO INFORM NHTSA OF MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR.*AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-01-09
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: ENGINE ROLLING W/VARYING RPM. ETS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, CONTINUES TO DO SO INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER (TASCA VOLVO, SEEKONK, MA) STATED ON 01-09-06 THAT, BASED ON ORDERS FROM VOLVO NA,VEHICLE NEEDED A "SYSTEM UPGRADE" AND OTHER REPAIRS & DIAGNOSTICS BEFORE PART REPLACEMENT COULD BE PERFORMED. SAID UPGRADE DONE & PAID FOR. AFTER 6 MILES OF DRIVING, ETS LIGHT ON AGAIN. CAR SURGES, ACCELERATES FOR NO REASON AND AT OTHER TIMES HAS NO PEP. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER. I AM WAITING FOR RESULTS. *NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-01
- VIN: YV1NC56D7XJ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 1999 VOLVO C70 WITH 52,000 MILES. CAR STARTED RUNNING STAGGERED AT ABOUT 48,000 MILES. CHECK ENGINE AND ETS LIGHTS SOMETIMES COME ON. TOOK IT IN FOR COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS AND MECHANIC'S TEST DRIVE. PROBLEM IS FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $900.00.*JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-09-16
- VIN: YV1NC56D5XJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: WE SOLD THIS VEHICLE TO A RETAIL CUSTOMER ON AUGUST 12, 2005. SOON AFTER, CUSTOMER COMPLAINED TO US THAT ETS LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY HAD EXPERIENCED LOSS OF POWER. WE REIMBURSED CUSTOMER FOR HAVING "FAULTY THROTTLE UNIT" REPLACED AT BILL GRAY VOLVO. *NM
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-05-01
- VIN: YV1NC56D6XJ
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLVO C70. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER AT LEAST 6 TIMES. CONTACT DID NOT HAVE REPAIRS DONE SINCE HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND PARTS. *AK *JB
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-09-09
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: AIR BAG PROBLEMS WITH THE 1999 S70 VOLVO. *NM
1999 Volvo C70 convertible recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1999 Volvo C70 convertible.
- Manufacturer: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: 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.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1999 Volvo C70 convertible problems:
Q&A: Common Problems with 1999 Volvo C70 Convertible ...
Dec 3, 2009 ... You want the bulletin numbers etc? Ask Your Own Car Question.
1999 Volvo C70 Problems and Complaints - 16 Issues
Top 1999 Volvo C70 Problems · Convertible Tops May Have Problems With Micro-Switches/Potentiometers · Hard shifting from transmission and other issues · Door ...
C70 Convertible top not working - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts ...
May 3, 2011 ... Volvo C70 - C70 Convertible top not working - Just bought a 1999 C70 softtop convertible with a known problem that the convertible does not ...
Volvo C70 Convertible Top Problems - Page 3 — Car Forums at ...
Oct 26, 2006 ... no, mine is a 1999 - maybe the first year they came out, not sure. No one seems to know the cause of the trunk water. I said it had been to 2 ...
2000 c70 convertible top issues - Volvo Forums - Volvo Enthusiasts ...
Jan 6, 2014 ... ECMs are not common. Any diagnosis needs a Volvo Scan Tool, which is also needed to calibrate the top after any related parts are replaced.
Other years of Volvo C70 convertible
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