Head-to-head reliability
Volvo S70 vs Toyota Camry
How the Volvo S70 and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Volvo S70 vs Toyota Camry: The S70 averaged 188 complaints per year with 4 recalls, while the Camry averaged 214.3 complaints per year with 31 recalls. Both have safety-related issues: the S70 with throttle surging and the Camry with brake and transmission problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Volvo S70 or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Volvo S70
The Volvo S70 is a luxury sedan that, based on owner complaints, can be demanding to own. Over one year, it averaged 188 complaints per year, with a heavy concentration in vehicle speed control, electrical, and engine issues. Many reports describe electronic throttle module failures causing surging, stalling, and warning lights, which can make the car feel unpredictable. With 4 recalls and 11 injuries reported, buyers should expect to address safety-related repairs.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream family sedan with a much larger complaint volume over ten years, averaging 214.3 complaints per year. Issues span the power train, engine, brakes, and electrical systems, with some reports of sudden acceleration and brake failure. Although it has 31 recalls and 1 death reported, the per-year complaint rate is only slightly higher than the Volvo's. Buyers should be aware of potential transmission and brake problems.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Volvo S70 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 188 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 4 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 10 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.0 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 11 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Volvo S70
- 01VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL74
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM37
- 03ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING24
- 04FUEL SYSTEM19
- 05GASOLINE17
Owners frequently report RPM surging and unintended acceleration linked to a faulty electronic throttle module. This can cause the car to lunge or stall, making it hard to control at low speeds.
Complaints include starting problems where the engine turns but won't start, as well as warning lights like ETS and check engine. These electrical glitches can leave you stranded or mask more serious issues.
Reports describe the ETS light illuminating and sudden RPM increases without pressing the gas pedal. These symptoms often trace back to the electronic throttle system, which can affect drivability and safety.
Some owners report fuel pump failures that prevent the engine from starting, sometimes intermittently over months. A failing fuel pump can cause sudden stalls or no-start conditions.
“I OWN A 2000 VOLVO S70 AND AM WAS EXPERIENCING RPM SURGING. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT VOLVO REPAIR SPECIALIST, SOUTHWEST AUTOMOTIVE, WHO IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE SURGING AS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE PROBLEM, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO A V…”
“**APPROX. INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY ONGOING FOR PAST FOUR YEARS.*** I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S70 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN MAY 2000 FROM VOLVO ATHENS, GA. DEALER. I CURRENTLY HAVE 190,000+ MILES. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE I HAVE HAD CONSIST…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, often diagnosed as transmission failure requiring replacement. Some mention recalls for similar issues, but parts may be backordered, leaving the car undrivable.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration, sometimes leading to crashes, and coolant valve bypass issues that trigger maintenance warnings. These problems can be dangerous and expensive to fix.
Drivers describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on hills or when slowing down. This total brake failure is a severe safety concern that needs immediate attention.
Reports include AC condenser damage from road debris and persistent mildew odors from the vents. While not safety-critical, these issues affect comfort and can be costly to repair.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Volvo S70 — 4 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
The risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
The defect: CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAI…
The risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
The risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
The risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Volvo S70 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Volvo S70 has fewer complaints per year (188) than the Toyota Camry (214.3), but the Volvo's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like throttle control. The Camry's higher total complaints over ten years reflect its longer production run, but its problems span a wider range, including brakes and transmissions. In practice, both cars have notable safety-related complaints, so neither stands out as clearly more reliable.
Key differences
- The Volvo S70's most common complaint area is vehicle speed control (74 complaints), often linked to electronic throttle module failures causing surging and stalling.
- The Toyota Camry's top complaint area is power train (395 complaints), with reports of transmission grinding and failure requiring replacement.
- The Camry has far more recalls (31 vs. 4) and crash-related complaints (181 vs. 10), though it also has a longer data period.
- The Volvo S70 has a higher complaint rate per year (188) compared to the Camry (214.3), but the difference is small and both have safety-related issues.
- Check for any signs of electronic throttle module problems: test drive at various speeds and look for surging, hesitation, or ETS/check engine lights.
- Inspect the fuel pump operation: listen for priming noise and ensure the car starts reliably, as intermittent no-start issues are reported.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front during acceleration, which may indicate transmission problems needing replacement.
- Test the brakes thoroughly, especially on inclines, for any sponginess or failure to respond, as total brake failure has been reported.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models, especially the Volvo's throttle and the Camry's air bags and seats.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electronic throttle system on the Volvo S70 and the transmission on the Toyota Camry.
- During a test drive, pay attention to acceleration, braking, and any warning lights on the dashboard.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, particularly for fuel pump or brake repairs.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with the model's common issues.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Volvo S70 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Volvo S70 vs Toyota Camry
- Volvo S70 total complaints
- 188
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Volvo S70 total recalls
- 4
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Volvo S70 avg complaints/year
- 188.0
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Volvo S70
- Volvo S70 top complaint area
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN