If you are considering buying a used Volvo V70, there are several major reliability issues worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Generation 1 of 12 known faults · 19 owner reports · 2 good notes
Volvo V70 Various (2001 to 2015) problems
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Auxiliary belt snaps or derails, wrapping around the crankshaft pulley and destroying the main timing belt, ruining the engine
Rough guide
£2000-4000
Typical symptoms
loud squealing from the auxiliary belt tensioner
battery light coming on (alternator stops turning)
sudden and catastrophic engine failure
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.4 D5 (5-Cylinder Diesel)
Typical mileage:
50000-80000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
Engine/EmissionsHigh severity📝 Editorial
Failed DPF regenerations cause unburnt diesel to dump into the sump, raising the oil level and causing engine runaway or failure
Rough guide
£1000-2500
Typical symptoms
oil level on dipstick is well above the MAX line
frequent DPF warning lights
engine 'running away' (revving uncontrollably on its own oil)
Affected vehicles
Engines:
1.6D (PSA Engine)
Typical mileage:
50000-90000 miles
🔍 We have a specific pre-purchase check for this faultCheck an advert →
What owners report on the Various
19 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Engine · January 2020An engine light on a Volvo V70 was linked to an EGR problem, with the dealer eventually covering the full cost of the EGR valve and cooler replacement.
Fuel system · October 2019Denso I-ART injectors failed in a VEA engined Volvo V70 D4, despite the use of premium diesel fuel.
Engine · October 2019A 2015 V70 D3 at 75,000 miles displayed an engine check light, diagnosed as an EGR valve fault requiring replacement.
Gearbox and clutch · May 2019The 6DCT450 Powershift automatic transmission in a 2014 V70 D2 failed at 70,000 miles, with a replacement cost of A 4,000.
Engine · May 2019A 2010 Volvo V70 D5, 5-cylinder, suffered a blown head gasket at 58,000 miles after 18 months of coolant loss, requiring extensive repair.
Electrics · March 2018The primary infotainment system (IHU) completely failed in a 2014 Volvo V70 at under 60,000 miles.
Electrics · February 2018Locking or unlocking a 2010 Volvo V70 repeatedly triggered the alarm, a fault which the dealer could not trace.
Engine · July 2017A 2013 V70 D3 diesel, which had its engine replaced at 95,000 miles, developed a loud knocking sound from the new unit.
Engine · April 2017A 2013 V70 D3 diesel engine with 95,000 miles suffered a cracked block, despite regular oil changes.
Electrics · January 2017The satnav screen failed on a 2013 Volvo V70, with the dealer reducing the replacement cost to £600.
Engine · December 2016A 2015 Volvo V70 D4 showed an engine warning after 3,000 miles, due to diesel fuel entering the engine oil during DPF regeneration.
Engine · December 2016The EGR cooler failed on a 2014 Volvo V70 D4 DrivE 181PS at 63,000 miles, covered by an extended warranty.
Engine · March 2016The auxiliary belt of a 2011 Volvo V70 D3 snapped at 46,790 miles, leaving the driver stranded.
Electrics · March 2016A control module located under the left front passenger floor caused multiple electrical faults when the headlamp flash was actuated.
Engine · August 2015A 2014 Volvo V70 D4 DriveE 181PS experienced multiple warning lights and component failures, including the EGR and DPF sensor.
Engine · September 2014A 2010 V70 D3 2.0 5-cylinder diesel, with low annual mileage, displayed an 'engine system service required' light due to overfuelling.
Engine · September 2012An A/C compressor seized on a 2008 V70 at 47,000 miles, causing the drivebelt to entangle with the timing belt and ruin the engine.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2012Drivetrain 'clunks' were reported from DRIVEe 1.6 D2 models, likely originating from the dual mass flywheel.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2011The hydraulic seal in the clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder is prone to failure on 5-cylinder manual models.
What owners like about the Various
2 notes
The Volvo V70 achieved a 5-star Euro NCAP rating for passenger protection and 4 stars for child passenger protection.
The Volvo V70 D5 AWD SE was recognised as the best tow car in its category at the 2009 Caravan Club awards.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 4 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Volvo V70 advert and we check it in seconds.
Volvo V70 service intervals: cambelt, chain and gearbox oil
An overdue cambelt is the most expensive thing a seller can fail to mention on a used V70. These are the figures UK specialists work to.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.0 D4, D4204T
90,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
Volvo VEA 4-cylinder engines have a timing belt interval of 90,000 miles or 10 years (whichever comes first). The auxiliary belt and tensioner must also be checked or replaced simultaneously.
Timing belt (cambelt)Belt
2.4 D5, D5
108,000 miles or 10 years, whichever comes first
Timing belt is every 108k / 10 years, HOWEVER the auxiliary (alternator) belt and tensioner must be replaced every 54k miles or 5 years. If the aux belt snaps, it derails the main timing belt and destroys the engine.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: June 2026
Volvo V70 buying questions
Is a used Volvo V70 reliable?
The Volvo V70 has 2 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are engine (auxiliary belt snaps or derails, wrapping around the crankshaft pulley) and engine (failed DPF regenerations cause unburnt diesel to dump into the sump). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
Which Volvo V70 years should I avoid?
No Volvo V70 year is a write-off, but the Various (2001 to 2015) carries the most serious faults: engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Volvo V70?
Ask the seller about the engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for loud squealing from the auxiliary belt tensioner and oil level on dipstick is well above the MAX line. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Volvo V70 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Volvo V70?
Owners report 41.9 mpg on average across the Volvo V70 engines with data, about 85% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 697 owner submissions. Volvo V70 Real MPG by engine →
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Volvo V70 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.