2001 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 2001 Volvo C70 convertible problems
Based on complaints from owners of the 2001 Volvo C70 convertible, several common problems have been highlighted:
- Turbo Engine Concerns: The turbo engines in the Volvo C70 are known to be quite stressed. Regular servicing is crucial to maintain their performance. If suspicious blue or black smoke is observed when revving a hot engine, it could indicate turbo issues, necessitating a replacement.
- Leaking Door Mirrors: The Volvo C70 has a known problem with leaking door mirrors, which can be challenging to fix. Wet footwell carpets may not always be due to a roof leak but could be a result of this issue. Addressing leaking door mirrors can be complex and costly.
- Suspension and Driveshaft Problems: Uneven tire wear or signs of kerbing damage on the wheels may indicate suspension issues or potential driveshaft damage. It is essential to check for these signs as they can lead to further complications if not addressed promptly.
These issues highlight some of the common challenges faced by owners of the 2001 Volvo C70 convertible. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to these problems can help in ensuring the longevity and performance of this vehicle.
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.
Is a 2001 Volvo C70 reliable?
The C70 is pretty reliable, mainly because it uses lots of tried and tested components from the old S70 saloon. It'll be hard with cars of this age, but try to find one with full service history, which should show that a car has had some TLC.
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.
2001 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
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Tires problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2001 Volvo C70 convertible vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2001 Volvo C70 convertible complaints
The NHTSA has received 11 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2001 Volvo C70 convertible.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-07-10
- VIN: YV1NC56D41J
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES AND SOMETIMES STOPS WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. CODES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM ARE NOT AVAILABLE VIA ODB 2. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2009-12-22
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
- Summary: I PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE USED WITH ~ 73,000 MILES IN 2006. IT NOW HAS 93,000 MILES. LAST SUMMER I HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR BECAUSE IT CRACKED. ON THE EVENING OF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 WHILE RETURNING HOME ON THE BELTWAY, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING AND AN UP ARROW INDICATING I SHOULD SHIFT GEAR LIT ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL. I LEARNED TWO DAYS LATER, I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOW I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FUEL PUMP RECALL. THIS SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MAJOR REPAIR WORK IN A FAIRLY YOUNG VEHICLE WITH SO FEW MILES, AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT EVERY 3,000 MILES AND ANNUAL CHECKUPS. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-11-14
- VIN: YV1NC56D61J
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLS, BUT THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE VEHICLE BEFOREHAND. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN A CRASH AND HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,521 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN THE DEALER CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-03-05
- VIN: YV1NC56D31J
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 2001 VOLVO WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED, AND THAT WAS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY IN THE MORNINGS. CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT WHEN THE ENGINE WAS COLD IN THE MORNINGS AND UPON STARTING THE CAR IT STALLED BEFORE CONSUMER COULD GET IT INTO REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2001. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HAD A NEW ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE ( ETM) INSTALLED , THE COST WAS $1800.00. CONSUMER WAS UPSET OVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. EVEN WITH THE NEW ETM THE CAR WAS HAVING THE SAME STALLING ISSUES. NHTSA INVESTIGATION, PE0504. *AK *NM
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-03-14
- VIN: YV1NC53D51J
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: DT: 2001 VOLVO C70 CVA. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT AS PRE OWNED IN MAY 2004. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MANY TIMES. DEALER COULD NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A NEW ENGINE. *AK *JB
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-08-16
- VIN: YV1NC53D81J
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: NHTSA #PE05041. I OWN A VOLVO C70 WITH THE 2.3L HPT. ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 16TH WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILUMINATED. I THEN, AFTER MAKING A STOP WAS GOING TO PROCEED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CODE CHECKED. ON MY WAY THERE I WENT TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A SIDE LOT AND WHEN I PRESSED DOWN THE ACCELERATOR VIRTUALLY NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR ALMOST STALLED PULLING INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. IT THEN RECOVERED, AND FROM THAT POINT ON I NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS VERY SLUGGISH. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR ON THE 16TH BUT LOOKED AT IT ON THE 17TH AND FOUND THAT THE CODE INDICATED A THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. THEY THEN REPLACED THE THROTTLE MODULE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY CAR ALTHOUGH BEING A 2001 ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOWS NO SIGN OF CORROSION OR MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION OF THE THOTTLE MODULE. AFTER READING REVIEWS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS I FELT I SHOULD ADD MINE AS IT COULD HAVE TURNED OUT DIFFERENTLY WITH SUCH UNPREDICTABLE PERFORMANCE. ALSO IT MAY HELP DETERMINE IF A MANUFACTUING DEFECT IS THE CAUSE OF SUCH THROTTLE MODULE FAILURES. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-06-14
- VIN: YV1NC56DX1J
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS (3 CITY DRIVING <35 MVPH, AND 1 HWY DRIVING 60 MPH) MY 2001 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE SUDDENLY LOST SPEED TO <5 MPH. ON 3 OCCASIONS, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR, ALTHOUGH AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, AND STILL GET TO MY DESTINATION AND BACK HOME WITHOUT PROBLEMS. DURING THE HIGHWAY TRAVEL, WHICH WAS ON A VERY RAINY EVENING, I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING , AFTER DIFFICULTY RESTARTING, AT SLOW SPEED. AND WITH A LOT OF PRAYERS, FINALLY GOT TO A PARKING LOT WHERE I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT, CALLED FOR A RIDE HOME, AND ANOTHER RIDE TO PICK IT UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING. TOOK IT TO HONOLULU VOLVO DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE, MODULE AND COMPUTER, AND COST OVER $1000 FOR PARTS ALONE. I DID NOT HAVE IT REPLACED (THEY WERE SPECIAL ORDER FROM THE MAINLAND), AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE. I NOW HAVE A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT WHICH I NEED FOR WORK WHILE THE VOLVO IS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY!*JB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-07-25
- VIN: YV1NC53D31J
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: MY VEHICLE IS A 2001 VOLVO C70. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STALLING OF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT TOTALLY LOSE POWER, IT LAST FOR A SECOND OR TWO. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I BECAME AWARE OF A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF A SIMILAR ISSUE. *NM
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-02-28
- VIN: YV1NC56DX1J
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2001 VOLVO C-70. WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE DOOR OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE LEAK, THEY OBTAINED ANOTHER 2001 VOLVO C-70. WE FOUND WATER LEAKING INTO THE DOOR OF THIS VEHICLE ALSO. THIS IS A DEFECT. I NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THE PERSON ON THE 888 NUMBER TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD STILL FILE A COMPLAINT. SHE SAID THE LEAKING WATER MAY BE DAMAGING THE ELECTRONICS INSIDE THE DOOR.
TIRES,WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-04-30
- VIN: YV1NC56D01J
- Components: TIRES,WHEELS
- Summary: - DEALER DIAGNOSIS OF FOUR FAILURES OF TIRE RIMS AND REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES ON 2001 VOLVO C70. *LA UPDATED 6/6/12 *SD
SUSPENSION,TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2002-06-07
- VIN: YV1NC56D01J
- Components: SUSPENSION,TIRES
- Summary: VEHICLE HAS VERY POOR SUSPENSION. CAR IS UNSTABLE WHEN IT HITS EVEN THE SMALLEST OF BUMPS AND CONTINUALLY BLOWS OUT TIRES AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF WHEELS. VERY HARD RIDE, UNSTABLE, AND CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP.*AK
2001 Volvo C70 convertible recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2001 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 2001 Volvo C70 convertible problems:
2001 C 70 convertible top issues
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