IsItAGoodCar
Reliability Guide

Common Problems with the
2006 Volvo C70 (Gen 2)

Launched in 2006 with the three-piece folding hardtop, built in Uddevalla; 2.0D/2.4i/2.5T initially, D5 added, with interior and trim updates arriving along the way.

What changed for 2006

  • •2006: second-generation C70 coupé-cabriolet debuts
  • •2009 revision: new front-end styling with the sharper Volvo face (per Auto Express)
  • •June 2013: production ends at Uddevalla after 88,760 cars

Common MOT watch-outs

  • !Roof-drain blockages causing damp and electrical corrosion
  • !Recalled power steering hose and clutch rod on early cars
  • !A-pillar wind noise as seals age
3
Known Issues
0
Serious
1
Moderate
2
Minor

All Known Issues

Roof seal and drain leaks - damp boot, mould and wind noise

ModerateBodywork & Rust

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.

Est. Repair Cost: £100-£800
Warning Signs:

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

What to Inspect:
  • 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
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Folding roof mechanism - slow, confusing or space-consuming

MinorElectrics & Electronics

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.

Est. Repair Cost: £150-£900
Warning Signs:

Roof refuses to complete without repeated button presses, False roof-in-motion warnings, Grinding or stalling during the cycle

What to Inspect:
  • 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
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

A-pillar wind noise and door seal deterioration

MinorBodywork & Rust

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.

Est. Repair Cost: £100-£300
Warning Signs:

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

What to Inspect:
  • 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
Verified by IsItAGoodCar Research TeamUpdated

Buying Tips for 2006 Volvo C70 (Gen 2)

  • Post-2009 facelift cars look and feel more modern inside.
  • Check the boot hinge area for cracked liners - the roof compartment lives there.