Volvo C70
Four-cylinder turbodiesel with 2.0 litres from the joint Ford-Volvo development for the P1 platform. Common-rail at 1,800 bar and Euro 5 standard. Service-friendly construction; check the particulate filter with predominantly urban driving profiles.
VEA diesel in the compact
100 kW D3 for the P1 compacts: economical and adequate. City-capable, but no long-distance runner.
Engine Weaknesses 4
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
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.
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
The 1,800-bar common-rail injectors of the D5204T5 can leak at over 150,000 km mileage. Excessive return flow causes diesel in the engine oil, diluting it and accelerating bearing wear. Hydraulic tappets can start knocking from as early as 100,000 km with poor oil quality.
Symptoms: Rough idle, diesel smell from the dipstick opening, tapping from valve train on cold start.
Vehicle Weaknesses 12
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.
The hydraulic pump (36011248) loses pressure through worn internal seals. The three-piece hardtop gets stuck half-open or half-closed.
The CRM control module and twelve Hall sensors control the exact position of the folding roof. When a sensor fails, the mechanism stops immediately.
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.
Door bottom edges and areas under the window seals rust through on the C70 II. Treatment is needed as soon as first bubbles appear; open rust spreads rapidly.
The C70 II front axle shows wear on control arm bushings, ball joints, and strut top mounts at higher mileages. Knocking and steering imprecision follow. Typical of the Ford-based platform of the second generation.
The C70 II electric window regulators are prone to cable breaks and failed carriers. Particularly critical on the convertible as the window must function correctly for roof operation.
The C70 II A/C compressor develops rough running noises at higher mileages from a worn magnetic clutch bearing. Without timely bearing replacement, the compressor risks seizing.
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.
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.
The C70 II infotainment system fails through control unit defects and connectivity problems. Replacement units are available; climate control can also be affected.
The C70 II brake discs wear relatively quickly and tend to warp. This shows up as pedal pulsation and steering wheel vibration under braking. Quality discs reduce the problem.
Reports & Tests
108 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2006–2013). Most reported: Body Structure (42), Other (25), Electrical (14).