2004 Volvo V70 R from North America - Comments

Brakes replaced at 4,000 miles.

Engine Computer rebooted at 3,000 & 8,000 miles, because of starting problems.

Faulty keys replaced twice.

Locking System Computer rebooted because car would lock itself.

ABS shaking car during rain at 9,000 miles.

If I could wipe my "Memory" of all the headaches I have had with this car over the past 8 months I could say it's a great car. The power is good, it's roomy, you have a good sense of safety, it looks sharp etc. But the problems we have had have taken us to our Service shop at least once every month. Some problems have taken Volvo 3 trips to figure out.

The truly STUPID design on this car has to be the muffler bracket that sticks out from under the car. You will only find this on the V70R. What is so stupid about this bracket is that the V70R rides very low to the ground and the bracket is like a hook that catches on all kinds of fun stuff like speed bumps, then it bends back into the muffler pipes costing you $1000 to fix.

The other worthless feature we have experienced at Volvo has been the "Roadside Assistance". Why? Because the two times we have had this car towed we had to wait on the side of the road for two hours on average.

I think we will be selling this car soon and never looking back at a Volvo again. I also won't be recommending Volvo to anyone.

That is quite a harsh thing to say about one of the greatest auto manufacs. there is. The 240dl and the 940se are 2 of the best cars ever made. The safety aspect is unmatched. Go and don't look at Volvo again, because unless your buying a older Benz you will be driving an unsafe piece of rubbish.

Car safety is not based on the "safety features" alone, but is also based on the reliability of the car and it's parts. If the brakes, transmission, throttle modules, brake booster, or any other part that directly effect the driving capabilities of a car are faulty or do not work properly then it is definitely a safety issue. Unfortunately, if you read most of the reviews here and as well as info on any other Volvo blog for V70's, it's common knowledge that there are way too many design flaws and engineering flaws with current Volvo's. I agree that the brand Volvo = Safety, but they (Volvo) seem to be working very hard at changing their image to "safe, but very unreliable".

Agreed. The Volvo safety thing is simply legend and not based on fact compared to other vehicles. For example, Volvo claimed their SUV was the safest out there. Subaru is running ads now saying its Tribeca scored higher in safety tests.

In other words, Volvo needs to offer a lot more than a promise of safety, since even the new Civics come with six airbags, ABS, safety cells, and so on.

Every brand declines in quality eventually. Volvo made some of the best cars in the world for nearly 80 years. I agree with the first commenter. My family has owned a 240, 940, and an old Mercedes diesel and he is absolutely correct. It's that or Japanese, because ever since Volvo joined Ford, it's been downhill...

I agree with post above, but it is not necessary always downhill. Some of the newest volvo's are still very good, although I agree, It's not the same as it used to be. Anyway, rumor is that Volvo will no longer be under Ford. The Toyota company is interested in buying it.

Well, since Ford is Volvo's owner, I can't fault Volvo completely, but hey, it still is the best European car maker, only Japanese can compete with Volvo on the quality aspect. Well, I'm only writing this because I read other bad reviews on latest Volvo models, earlier Volvo's did not have any real competitor, but I can't say I'm not fully satisfied with my Volvo's. They all have been great cars, and I'm currently driving my fifth Volvo (V70 T5).

I agree with comments regarding Volvo's diminished reliability. My 240 went to 600k before I got tired of driving it, it still ran fine on the original engine. Yearly maintenance was under $100 parts - I performed any needed work myself since it was easy to wrench on.

Now I drive an 850 Turbo Wagon and have had bunches of problems. It is simply a more delicate machine.

Keep in mind that the newer turbo's have twice the horsepower of the old 240's (and also get better fuel economy), they have air conditioners that will in fact cool the car down on a hot day, and they are much more enjoyable to drive. Tweaking a car to perform better, boast improved safety, and also get better mileage is not all that easy. No doubt reliability has suffered in this equation. That said, the pain is ultimately worth it for me.

I would not recommend owning these cars if you cannot perform some work on them yourself. You will go broke trying to service the car at the dealership. The prices there are absolutely insane.

I find it interesting that Japanese cars are still considered by many to be the best. My '94 Camry station wagon had plenty of problems, and I finally got rid of it after ten years (bad transmission and air conditioner). Then I got a 2004 Volvo V70. After three years, and 50,000 miles, I've come to really like this car. I've had no mechanical problems. A couple of trim issues, but the dealer took care of that, even if it took them three times to get it right. I don't know that Volvo has gone downhill after being bought by Ford, as this is my first Volvo, but I don't look forward to them being bought by Toyota - if that is indeed the case. Maintenance seems a little pricey, and the dealer tries to add services on top of the recommended schedule, but I've found a certified Volvo mechanic for half the cost. Would I buy another Volvo? Probably - unless they're owned by Toyota.