Volvo C70 2
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The C70 II (2006–2013) is the bold leap from soft top to a three-piece retractable steel hardtop (CC, penned at Volvo's California design studio). Closed it's a proper coupé, open a convertible — clever, but mechanically complex. Engine-wise it's solid fare: the five-cylinder B5254T (2.5 T5, up to 220 hp) and the diesel D5204T (D5, 180 hp). They last, the T5 pulls confidently and sounds good, the D5 is the long-distance economy choice. The Powershift dual-clutch demands clean maintenance or it gets cranky.
The crux is and remains the folding roof. Three steel segments, plenty of hydraulics, microswitches and the notorious Hall sensor — if one of those sensors or the hydraulics gives out, the roof stalls somewhere between open and shut, and the repair is expensive. A hydraulic failure quickly hits EUR 1,500–3,000; individual sensors are cheaper, but the fault-finding eats hours. The second recurring theme is water ingress — clogged drain channels, aged seals, wet trunk and footwells. Standing water kills control modules and breeds mold. Add rust at the lower door edges (typical weak spot), a commonly weak A/C condenser, and infotainment that's sluggish by today's standards.
Test-drive red flags: cycle the roof fully several times — any stall, any warning on the display, or uneven segment movement is cause for caution. Check the trunk, spare-wheel well and footwells for moisture and corrosion, inspect lower door edges and sills, run the A/C ice-cold. A C70 II with a broken roof is not a sight-unseen buy — the repair can cost half the car's value.
2026 market price: basic examples from EUR 7,499, well-kept T5/D5 with history EUR 12,000–18,000, top condition up to EUR 26,630. Insider pick: a late T5 with full roof service, fresh seals and clean water drains — diesel only with documented Powershift maintenance. Get a verifiably working roof and you have an elegant, everyday-capable year-round convertible.
230 PS
C70 · Benzin
Turbo Swede under the soft top
DecentGenerations
Engine Overview
The Volvo C70 2 is available with 3 engine variants — from 133 to 230 hp.
Bought-in 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel from the joint PSA–Ford development (factory code DW10), marketed by Volvo as the D3/D4 — NOT a VEA in-house design and NOT the later Volvo four-cylinder. Common-rail at high injection pressure and Euro 5, a service-friendly design with decent performance. Typical weak points are an EGR cooler that sooting paste fouls and that throttles the exhaust-gas recirculation system, a particulate filter of limited durability especially on short trips, plus wear on the high-pressure pump and injectors with poor-quality fuel. The valve gear runs off a timing belt — the belt change must be done strictly on interval, since the high-pressure pump is belt-driven and a failure causes catastrophic damage. With clean diesel, regular EGR checks and an observed belt interval it is a solid diesel.
- !! EGR cooler soot-clogged — VEA diesel problem from 60,000 km
The D5204 engines are VEA successor engines with an identical EGR cooler problem. Soot paste in the EGR system leads to throttling. The 2020 recall also applies to vehicles with D5204 engines.
Symptoms: EGR fault light, engine throttling, rough running, increased fuel consumption - !! Serpentine belt must not reach timing belt — total loss risk from 105,000 km
On the D5204T5, a breaking serpentine belt can be drawn into the timing belt drive and destroy the timing belt — with immediate engine damage. Inspect timing belt and serpentine belt condition together at every service. Timing belt replacement interval: 105,000 km.
Symptoms: Loud clattering or scraping, sudden engine stall, noise from belt area. - !! DPF clogging with short-trip use from 150,000 km
The VEA successor D5204 has the same DPF vulnerability with short-trip use. Regular long-distance runs for active regeneration are necessary. DPF cleaning or replacement from 150,000 km.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, power loss, increased diesel consumption
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Stronger D4 output stage of the bought-in 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel from the joint PSA–Ford development (factory code DW10) — NOT a VEA in-house design and NOT the later Volvo four-cylinder. Higher injection pressure and stronger charging deliver more torque and dynamics, while the mechanical base remains the same as the weaker variant. Typical weak points are an EGR cooler fouled by sooting paste that throttles the exhaust-gas recirculation system, a particulate filter of limited durability especially on short trips, plus wear and contamination on the high-pressure pump and injectors. The valve gear runs off a timing belt that also drives the high-pressure pump — the belt change is strictly due on interval, since a failure brings catastrophic damage. Quality fuel, clean oil maintenance and an observed belt interval keep this diesel reliable.
- !! EGR cooler soot-clogged — VEA diesel problem from 60,000 km
The D5204 engines are VEA successor engines with an identical EGR cooler problem. Soot paste in the EGR system leads to throttling. The 2020 recall also applies to vehicles with D5204 engines.
Symptoms: EGR fault light, engine throttling, rough running, increased fuel consumption - !! Serpentine belt must not reach timing belt — total loss risk from 105,000 km
On the D5204T6, a breaking serpentine belt can get into the timing belt drive and cause severe engine damage. Inspect timing belt and serpentine belt condition together at every service. Timing belt replacement interval: 105,000 km or 10 years.
Symptoms: Scraping or clattering from the engine area, sudden engine stall, tensioner noises. - !! DPF clogging with short-trip use from 150,000 km
The VEA successor D5204 has the same DPF vulnerability with short-trip use. Regular long-distance runs for active regeneration are necessary. DPF cleaning or replacement from 150,000 km.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, power loss, increased diesel consumption
+ 1 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Turbocharged 2.5-litre inline five-cylinder of the Whiteblock family, DOHC, 20 valves, belt-driven, in the more strongly tuned T5 trim. A characterful five-cylinder note with strong mid-range pull. Typical issues are the wearing PCV system (a clogged oil trap builds crankcase over-pressure and forces oil through seals) and rising oil consumption through the piston rings at higher mileage. The turbocharger shaft seal can leak and let oil into the charge pipe. Camshaft seals start to weep over the years. The timing belt must be changed on interval, as this is an interference engine where a snapped belt causes a valve-to-piston collision. A solid, durable drivetrain with consistent maintenance.
- !! Timing belt failure = engine damage (interference engine) from 180,000 km
The B5254T7 in the C70 II is an interference engine with timing belt drive. Replacement interval 180,000 km or 10 years. Belt failure without warning means total engine damage. Always check service book for timing belt history when buying.
Symptoms: No warning before belt breaks. Sudden engine stall, no longer possible to start. - !! Camshaft radial seal leaks — oil in belt area from 140,000 km
Front camshaft radial seals tend to leak at higher mileage. Oil enters the timing belt housing and contaminates the belt. Always replace at the same time as the timing belt. Typical Volvo five-cylinder problem.
Symptoms: Oil film at front underside of engine, oil visible in timing belt housing, slight oil loss with no external puddle. - !! PCV oil separator clogged — elevated crankcase pressure from 100,000 km
The plastic PCV oil separator of the Volvo five-cylinder becomes brittle and clogs with sludge. Elevated crankcase pressure forces oil past seals, causing leaks and oil consumption. Particularly pronounced with short-trip use.
Symptoms: Whistling noise from engine bay, rough idle, oil mist from breather hoses.
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic pumps and sensors — 3-piece folding hardtop The electro-hydraulic 3-piece folding hardtop of the C70 II shows typical wear on hydraulic pumps and sensors. The roof mechanism is excluded from extended warranties; repairs can be costly. Symptoms: Roof does not fully open or close, fault code, roof stalls in intermediate position from 80,000 km | High | |
| Folding roof hydraulic pump loses pressure The hydraulic pump (36011248) loses pressure through worn internal seals. The three-piece hardtop gets stuck half-open or half-closed. Symptoms: Roof stops mid-movement, warning message in display, hydraulic fluid traces in boot. from 90,000 km | High | |
| Water ingress through roof rubber seals Water enters through the folding roof rubber seals during washing or rain, particularly at the rear left and right. Interior dampness and mould are the result. Symptoms: Wet interior carpets after rain or washing, mould smell, damp boot corners from 70,000 km | Medium | |
| Cables in roof mechanism snap The thin cables that move the three-piece hardtop can break after years of use. Replacement parts are in some cases no longer available from Volvo. Symptoms: Roof stalls in intermediate position, metallic snapping during opening/closing, asymmetric roof movement. from 100,000 km | Medium | |
| Boot seal on folding roof leaking The complex seal between the three hardtop segments and the boot lid wears out. Water particularly enters at the transition from roof to A-pillar. Symptoms: Musty smell in boot, water in spare wheel well, condensation in tail lights. from 80,000 km | Low |
Top Reported Issues
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All Volvo models Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 27 weaknesses have been documented for the Volvo C70 2 (2006–2013) — 13 engine-related and 14 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Body, Rust, Electronics, Gearbox.
C70 (D5204T5, 2007–2013) — Be Careful: EGR cooler soot-clogged — VEA diesel problem, Serpentine belt must not reach timing belt — total loss risk, DPF clogging with short-trip use. Power: 136 PS.
C70 (D5204T6, 2007–2013) — Be Careful: EGR cooler soot-clogged — VEA diesel problem, Serpentine belt must not reach timing belt — total loss risk, DPF clogging with short-trip use. Power: 177 PS.
C70 (B5254T7-C70, 2006–2013) — Be Careful: Timing belt failure = engine damage (interference engine), Camshaft radial seal leaks — oil in belt area, PCV oil separator clogged — elevated crankcase pressure. Power: 230 PS.
What to watch out for with the Volvo C70? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Volvo C70 2 have? +
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee