Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2013 Volvo XC70

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Volvo XC70 have filed 8 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2013 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is visibility and the wipers, named in 3 of them (38%). The typical failure was reported at 15,301 miles, the median across the 4 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

20V378000 · June 30, 2020

The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 308,260 vehicles across all model years covered

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

12V415000 · August 28, 2012

The defect: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S80 and XC70 vehicles. A software error within the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will result in the "TPMS Service Required" message appearing after approximately 15 minutes of accumulated driving over 25 mph. The error will prevent the Tire Pressure Monitoring System from warning the driver that a tire needs air. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
The risk: A malfunctioning TPMS cannot warn a driver that a tire is underinflated. Underinflated tires can result in tire overloading and overheating, which could lead to a blowout and possible crash.
The remedy: Volvo will notify owners and dealers will reprogram the vehicle's TPMS. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 12, 2012. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC · up to 286 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 8.

VISIBILITY/WIPER 3 38%

STRUCTURE 2 25%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 25%

AIR BAGS 1 13%

STEERING 1 13%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 2.

2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS Filed June 3, 2015

1 injured · crash · 4,009 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 VOLVO XC70. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, A DEER JUMPED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DEER AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND CAUSED THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT TO BE PUSHED OUT OF POSITION AND INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,009.

NHTSA complaint 10723230. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed May 11, 2026

The sunroof seal isn't working. It lifts when going through a car wash, and water is getting in.

NHTSA complaint 11736936. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed April 17, 2025

All of a sudden , the right rear door will not open either from outside or inside. Similar problem was a recall on S60 Volvos.

NHTSA complaint 11655266. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER Filed October 21, 2022

Top windshield seal leaks, causing water running down windshield, and excess condensation creating visibility issues. Known problem by Volvo USA and dealers.

NHTSA complaint 11490261. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER Filed January 31, 2022

Windshield seal failure. Water/rain/carwash now leaks into the cabin of the car down the inside of the windshield directly in front of the driver's field of vision, obscuring visibility while driving. This is a clear safety hazard that is well chronicled on Volvo owner-sites. Volvo needs to issue a recall, as this affects the entire P3 platform (S60/V70/XC70)

NHTSA complaint 11449632. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER Filed May 8, 2019

26,592 miles

WINDSHIELD LOOSE AT TOP SEALING SURFACE PER MECHANIC. LEAKS AT TIMES DURING CAR WASH, HEAVY RAIN.

NHTSA complaint 11206233. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed October 15, 2017

76,000 miles

WHEN I AM DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HAS POPPED OPEN 3 TIMES NOW. AND THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED.

NHTSA complaint 11033467. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo XC70

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2012	14	2	—
2011	15	3	—
2010	15	5	—

Other 2013 Volvo models

S60 86 XC60 66 S80 8

Every Volvo on this site — 70 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst