VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Technical Journal TITLE : Vehicle type and platform identification REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ 19245 Technical Service PARTNER : ISSUE DATE : 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America YEAR MONTH DAY 2014 02 06 FUNC GROUP : FUNC DESC : 0 Publications Page 1 of 3 Attachment Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range XXX 1927 - 9999 0000001 - 0999999 0 - 0 CSC Customer Symptom Codes Code Description 1C Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance / Administrative and Factory scheduled maintenance DTC Diagnostic Trouble Codes Rows beginning with * are modified N
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Volvo C70 body problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,500 · see body across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
When does it fail?
Of the 10 body complaints filed for the 2008 Volvo C70, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Volvo C70 we track for body problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
No new NHTSA body complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Title BLIS fault tracing . Status Released Status 2012 - Ref No US25788.1.1 en - US Date 04 - 16 Issue 2012 - Issuer - Date 01 - 19 Vida Partner 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North America Reference Func Group 8462 Func Desc electrical outside mirrors , compl Attachment File Name File Size 156 water egress.pdf 0.1225 MB 134 - 135 - 136 - 124 . pdf 0.2876 MB 542 . pdf 0.2610 MB 544 - 545 . pdf 0.2104 MB TJ 24108 . pdf 0.1225 MB 533 - 156 - 275 . pdf 0.2665 MB TJ 21232 BLIS Functionality and Diagnostic Guide.pdf 0.1098 MB Vehicle Type Eng Struc Week Type Eng Sales Body Gear Steer Model Year Plant Chassis range Desc Range 0000150 - 124 2007 - 2012 0 - 0 0999999 0000150 - 134 2011 - 2012 0 - 0 9999999 00
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Technical Journal TITLE : The Error Frame Finder (EFF) can be an aid in fault tracing intermittent CAN network problems by providing a visible indication of error frames that are being transmitted on the network when the fault becomes active. The advantage of using the EFF function is that error frames are usually transmitted on the network before a vehicle symptom can occur. Hence, if the fault is very intermittent in nature, it may be possible, for example, to induce the wiring fault for a short duration by manipulating the vehicle harnesses and connectors. The electrical fault will occur and be detected by the EFF without ever having a vehicle symptom appear. The instructions for setting
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLVO: RETRACTABLE HARD TOP *RHT): SEAL CARRIER TICKING/SNAPPING NOISE. A TICKING/SNAPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND CENTER ROOF PANELS OF THE RHT CAN BE HEARD WHEN IN USE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLVO: RETRACTABLE HARD TOP (RHT):HEADLINING CLIP NOISE. A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF THE HEADLINING AREA OF THE RHT CAN BE HEARD WHEN IN USE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2008 Volvo C70 describe doors unlatching and popping partially open while driving at all speeds—from city streets to highway, during turns and cornering, and sometimes when hitting bumps. The passenger door is more commonly reported, but the driver door is also affected. The door stays held by a secondary safety latch, preventing it from swinging fully open, but the primary latch gives way. When this happens, the door-open warning light triggers, interior lights come on, the door rattles and shakes, and the window sometimes drops automatically. It occurs randomly with no clear pattern and happens whether the convertible top is up or down.
One owner reported six occurrences per 25-mile trip. Others note it's alarming and worrying because you never know when it will happen next. One dealer tried wedging metal splints into the door frame—that did not fix it. Another dealer replaced the door latch, and the problem stopped. However, some dealers claim the latch is within spec and refuse to warranty the repair. Volvo has not issued a recall for this model, though similar latching failures have been recalled on other Volvo models.
Failure modes owners describe
Door latch failure – unlatching and partial opening during driving
Door latches on the 2008 Volvo C70 are unlatching or partially disengaging while the vehicle is in motion, allowing doors to pop open to an intermediate position. Owners report this occurs on both driver and passenger sides, with doors held only by a secondary safety latch. The condition triggers door-open warning lights and interior lights. In some cases the door window automatically drops as if the door had been deliberately opened.
When: Occurs at highway speeds, city speeds, during turns, cornering, and sometimes over bumps. One owner reported at least 6 occurrences per 25-mile trip. Another noted failure starting around 75,000 miles. Happens with convertible top both up and down.
Symptoms owners cite: Door pops to partially open state while driving; Door-open warning light illuminates; Interior lights come on; Door rattles and shakes while partially open; Window drops as if door were opened; Occurs randomly and intermittently, not always tied to specific driving conditions; Occurs at various speeds: highway, turning, cornering, even flat straight roads
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer initially attempted to wedge metal splints into the front door panel frame – this did not resolve the issue. Subsequent door latch replacement by another dealer stopped the problem for at least 8 months. Another dealer claimed latch was in spec and refused to pursue repair citing manufacturer refusal to reimburse.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified in at least one case and offered no assistance. Some Volvo models have been recalled for similar issues, but the 2008 C70 has not been recalled.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Volvo c70. The contact stated that the driver's side door and the rear trunk would sporadically become unlatched while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that she would have to stop and exit the vehicle to close the trunk and the door before proceeding. The contact stated that the vehicle would be taken to the dealer for inspection of the failure. The…
Doors unlock & randomly pop open during highway driving. Only "safety latch" keeps them from actually swinging out free and clear. Very alarming and disconcerting.
The "passenger side door open" indicator suddenly showed on the dash while driving approximately 50MPH. As I slowed down , I asked my wife that was in the passenger seat to make sure her door was properly shut. The door opened right up without unlatching, she then promptly shut it and made sure it was secure. About 45 minutes later the same thing happened again. After investigating, I found this…
Passenger door keeps opening whether top up or down, mainly on highway driving. Very unsafe!
Right front door unlatches when I go around a corner while driving intermittently. It has not opened all the way yet but I am certain it was fully closed and latched before the car was in motion. I have heard of other people experiencing the same thing.
This vehicle is the C70 convertible. When driving and hitting a speed bump or a pothole, both the driver and passenger doors pop open from a fully closed state to a partially open state. The doors do NOT fully disengage but in the partially closed state the doors rattle and shake. When this happens, the "door open" warning light appears on the dashboard, and you need to fully open the door and…
The passenger door has, on at least ten occasions, partially opened while the car was moving . It opened in the first phase like it is when not fully closed. My mechanic says the latch is bad and will at some point open all the way. Volvo does. Or seem anxious to address the problem. When the Volvo dealership repair was told of the problem on at least two,occasions, they said there was no problem.
The "door open" warning and interior lights come on and the door slumps slightly ajar (even the window drops like when you open the door). This happens only with the top down, driving at highway speeds. Can be either driver or passenger side. Locked or unlocked. Doors are securely closed beforehand
VEHICLE 2008 VOLVO C70 HARDTOP CONVERTIBLE. Doors randomly unlatch/open while the vehicle is in motion. This occurs on both the drivers side and passengers side doors during vehicle operation in drive. It has occurred numerous times while driving on straight flat non bump roads and in roundabouts, while cornering. It is a serious safety issue. It occurs when the top is up and when the top is…
Had body trouble with your 2008 Volvo C70?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2008 Volvo C70?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, body issues most often appear around 79,300 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Volvo/C70.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.