2010 Volvo XC70 Problems: 5 Known Issues

On the 2001-2016 Volvo XC70, the angle gear (transfer case) on the Haldex AWD system in the XC70 is a common owner-reported leak point. The angle gear transfers power from the transmission output shaft to the rear driveshaft and holds only about 0.85 quarts of its own gear oil, so even a small leak can run it low. The most common leak is the large O-ring on the aluminum bearing adjustment (crown) nut that holds the output bearing on the right side of the gearbox; this O-ring gets brittle and shrinks with age. The vent valve, the case halves and the input seals between the angle gear and transmission can also leak. Volvo issued TSB 46-13 for angle gear leakage and resealing on 5-cylinder AWD models. If the leak is not caught, the angle gear runs dry and destroys itself internally, creating metal debris that can damage the transmission. The angle gear seal should be checked and the gear fluid replaced every 30,000-40,000 miles as preventive maintenance. This issue affects all Volvo AWD models of this era including S60 AWD, V70 XC, and XC90.

On the 2008-2016 Volvo XC70, if you own a 2008-2016 XC70, it is covered by Volvo safety recall 20V378000 (Volvo reference R10029). The defect is in the flexible steel cable connecting the seat belt to each front outboard seating position. Volvo reported that this cable may fatigue over time; once it does, the belt may not hold the occupant in place during a crash, which NHTSA describes as an increased risk of injury. The campaign covers 308,260 vehicles in total across all of the Volvo models included — that figure is campaign-wide, not an XC70-specific count.

On the 2009-2010 Volvo XC70, the 2009 and 2010 XC70 was included in a Volvo software recall affecting the Central Electronic Module. In certain conditions the CEM software does not send the command that tells the fuel pump electronic module (PEM) to start the pump. What makes this hard to spot in an XC70 is that the engine may still start and even pull away, because leftover pressure in the fuel system feeds the engine for a short time. Once that residual pressure is gone the engine may stall - and NHTSA noted a stall in certain conditions could lead to a crash. The recall was filed under Electrical System: Software and covered 11,993 vehicles campaign-wide across every model it included.

On the 2003-2016 Volvo XC70, the turbocharger on the XC70 2.5T (B5254T2) and T6 (B6304T2/B6304T4) engines develops wastegate rattle and eventual turbo failure. The wastegate actuator rod and pivot bushing wear, causing a rattling sound on cold start and under light boost. The turbo bearings also fail from oil coking (oil baked onto the bearing surface from heat-soak after shut-off) and PCV-related oil supply issues. The P2 platform XC70 (2001-2007) uses a Mitsubishi TD04 turbo, while the P3 platform (2008-2016) uses a BorgWarner BV50 or TD04L. Both are prone to failure with similar symptoms.

On the 2008-2016 Volvo XC70, models equipped with rear self-leveling suspension use Nivomat level-control shock absorbers, which develop internal leaks over time, so the rear stays low even after driving, especially with cargo. Unlike air suspension, there is no compressor or air line: the shock pumps itself up as the car moves.