Volvo C70 (Gen 2) Common Problems & Reliability
The 2006 C70 reinvented the nameplate as a four-seat coupé-cabriolet with a three-piece retractable metal roof that folds in about 30 seconds, built at the Uddevalla (Pininfarina Sverige) plant until June 2013 with total sales of 88,760. UK engines ran from the 2.0D and 2.4i to the 2.5T, D5 and later T5 with the revised 2009 front end. Parkers praises its weatherproofing and refinement against fabric-topped rivals while warning boot access is tricky with the roof stowed, and Auto Express flagged A-pillar wind noise. As a used buy it is a warm, safe, surprisingly practical four-seater - provided the roof cycle, its drains and the 2007-08 recall set (power steering return hose, clutch pedal rod) are all properly discharged.
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Detailed fault breakdown, symptoms, and estimated repair bills by production year.
Most Common Volvo C70 (Gen 2) Faults & Repair Costs
Roof seal and drain leaks - damp boot, mould and wind noise
Owners' Club threads on the 2006-13 C70 describe the full pattern: a mouldy jacket in a boot that looks dry, water dripping from the window-seal join when the car moves, and the car reporting a phantom roof-in-motion warning because moisture has reached the switches. Auto Express’s road test lists wind noise from the A-pillars among the cons. The club’s fix advice is unglamorous - clean and lubricate the seals every year with a proper dressing and keep the drain holes clear with an airline or long cable tie - and it is the difference between a dry car and a corroded electrics bill.
Musty boot or damp items stored in it, Visible water tracking from the door/window seal joins, Roof-open warning messages with the top closed and dry
- Pour water around each seal join while an assistant watches inside
- Open the boot and check under the liner and around the roof compartment
- Ask when the seals were last cleaned and lubricated
Folding roof mechanism - slow, confusing or space-consuming
The three-piece metal top takes around 30 seconds and a button sequence to stow, raising the folded stack on a platform to preserve boot space - Parkers notes boot access becomes tricky with the roof down while also praising the mechanism’s weatherproofing versus fabric rivals. Owners' Club threads show the darker side: the car screaming that the roof is mid-opening when it is not, which is the switch cluster or a misread seal, and the diagnosis is fiddly. Buy a car whose roof has cycled cleanly many times in your presence, and confirm the boot tub and platform are undamaged.
Roof refuses to complete without repeated button presses, False roof-in-motion warnings, Grinding or stalling during the cycle
- Run two complete open/close cycles; listen for hesitation at the boot-platform lift
- Inspect the boot tub for rust and the platform for cracked rollers
- Check the 12V battery health - weak voltage causes phantom roof faults
A-pillar wind noise and door seal deterioration
Auto Express's review of the 2006-2013 C70 lists wind noise from the A-pillars among the cons, and Volvo Owners Club threads describe door and window seals that harden and leak, letting wind whistle into the cabin at motorway speeds and, in worse cases, water track past the seals. The folding hardtop's seals need annual cleaning and lubrication, and neglected seals can also cause phantom roof-in-motion warning messages. Seal dressing and keeping the drain holes clear with an airline or cable tie is the durable fix.
Wind whistle from the A-pillars at motorway speeds, Visible water tracking from door or window seal joins, Roof-open warning messages with the top closed and dry
- Pour water around each seal join while an assistant watches inside
- Drive at motorway speed with the radio off and listen for A-pillar whistle
- Ask when the seals were last cleaned and lubricated
Buying a used Volvo C70 (Gen 2)? Always check for hidden finance and write-off history.
Mechanical problems are only half the battle. Over 1 in 3 UK used cars checked have unpaid finance or accident write-off records that could cause you to lose the car or thousands in value.