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1998 Volvo S70Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 215 owner complaints about the 1998 Volvo S70, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

49
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the S70 median · #1 of 3 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints21524 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage77kService brakes, hydraulic, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 14, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Volvo S70 has problems

215 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic611
Exterior lighting350
Electrical system311
Engine and engine cooling223
Service brakes, air140
Air bags138
Structure132
Suspension111
Latches/locks/linkages110
16 other systems693

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1998 Volvo S70 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Headlights: switch

Recall 04V-504 · Oct 21, 2004 · 97,000 vehicles

Risk. THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Recall 00V-405 · Dec 6, 2000 · 245,894 vehicles

Risk. THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volvo.

Mileage at failure

When do service brakes, hydraulic problems start?

77kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 26 service brakes, hydraulic complaints. 81% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 33% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles21under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other S70 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S70 median. How we score

'98'99'00'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Volvo S70 safety ratings

1998 Volvo S70 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1998 Volvo S70 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Volvo S70, and the recalls they led to.

  1. TURN SIGNALPE00031 · closed Dec 22, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-405
  2. INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTPE99040 · closed Oct 27, 1999
    No recall
  3. HEADLIGHT FAILURERQ04004 · closed Nov 5, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-504
In owners' words

What S70 owners report

Recent service brakes, hydraulic complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAVE A 1998 VOLVO S70 WHICH HAS ABS/TRAC LIGHT PROBLEMS. I'VE BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT ISSUES WITH THIS WHERE THE INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ABS WILL SOMETIMES PULSATE AND IT MAKES A TERRIBLE NOISE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE ABS INDICATOR IS ON, I DON'T HAVE ABS BRAKES. IT APPEARS…
Complaint 10207804 · Nov 2, 2007
ABS BRAKE UNIT FAILED AT 60K MILES; ALL SERVICE WAS DONE AT DEALER. DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA FOR EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL. NHTS SEEMS POWERLESS TO TAKE ON THIS ISSUE. HOW MANY DEATHS WILL IT TAKE TO GET SOME ACTION? VOLVO DEALERS AND FORD KNOW WELL THE PROBLEM --…
Complaint 10177631 · Jan 3, 2007 · 60,000 miles
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED, THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. ALSO, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE…
Complaint 10176382 · Dec 18, 2006 · 78,000 miles

Own a 1998 S70?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.