VOLVO S70 · model year

1998 VOLVO S70

317 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998VOLVOS70 carries 317 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 5 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 S70 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 31 filings, followed by electrical system (20) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 1998 S70. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

317
Complaints
11
Crashes
5
Fires
17
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

317 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY11
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL10
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS10
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH9
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH6
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK6

Recent Complaints

20180914SERVICE BRAKES

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SEARS AUTO CENTER AT 1178 EL CAMINO REAL IN SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA (SEARS STORE #6909) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 FOR FRONT BRAKES. SEARS RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON 9/2/18 (A COPY OF MY "FINAL INVOICE" IS ENCLOSED). I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT THE DUST BOOT FOR THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER IS MISSING. I RETURNED TO SEARS ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND TOLD THE MANAGER IN CHARGE, MR. HOLLOWAY, THAT I HAD LEARNED - FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO HAD BEEN DOING OTHER FRONT END WORK - THAT THE DUST BOOT WAS MISSING AND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM (DESIGNED TO KEEP DEBRIS AND MOISTURE OUT OF THE BRAKE CALIPER). SEARS RE-INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE DUST BOOT IS MISSING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER (MR. JULIO ESTRADA) WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, THE MANAGER OF THE SEARS AUTO CENTER - MR. JULIO ESTRADA - REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT SEARS' EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT SEARS WAS NEGL

Mileage: 20

20180914UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SEARS AUTO CENTER AT 1178 EL CAMINO REAL IN SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA (SEARS STORE #6909) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 FOR FRONT BRAKES. SEARS RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON 9/2/18 (A COPY OF MY "FINAL INVOICE" IS ENCLOSED). I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT THE DUST BOOT FOR THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER IS MISSING. I RETURNED TO SEARS ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND TOLD THE MANAGER IN CHARGE, MR. HOLLOWAY, THAT I HAD LEARNED - FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO HAD BEEN DOING OTHER FRONT END WORK - THAT THE DUST BOOT WAS MISSING AND THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE BRAKE CALIPER SYSTEM (DESIGNED TO KEEP DEBRIS AND MOISTURE OUT OF THE BRAKE CALIPER). SEARS RE-INSPECTED MY VEHICLE ON SEPTEMBER 10 AND CONFIRMED THAT THE DUST BOOT IS MISSING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEPARTMENT MANAGER (MR. JULIO ESTRADA) WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2018, THE MANAGER OF THE SEARS AUTO CENTER - MR. JULIO ESTRADA - REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT SEARS' EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT SEARS WAS NEGL

Mileage: 20

20180321ENGINE

THE PLASTIC HANDLE OF THE OIL DIPSTICK CAME OFF CAUSING HALF OF THE OIL DIPSTICK TO BE IN THE DIPSTICK TUBE THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING IT HAPPENED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL LEVEL MAKING SURE THERE WAS OIL IN THE CAR MAKING SURE THAT THE ENGINE WILL NOT SEIZE WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 137,500

20170126EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH BRIGHTER BULBS AND THEY ARE STILL DIM I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.

Mileage: 125,000

20170108ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED DECEMBER 16 2016 KNOWING IT NEEDED A LOT OF WORK. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ALL THE REPAIRS DONE ON JAN 4TH 2017. I NOW NEED TO GET THE CAR EMISSION TESTED AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES THE READINESS MONITORS ARE STILL NOT SET AND HAVE SINCE REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL CAN NOT GET AN EMISSIONS TEST. *TR

Mileage: 124,300

20170108ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED DECEMBER 16 2016 KNOWING IT NEEDED A LOT OF WORK. I HAVE SINCE GOTTEN ALL THE REPAIRS DONE ON JAN 4TH 2017. I NOW NEED TO GET THE CAR EMISSION TESTED AFTER DRIVING 200 MILES THE READINESS MONITORS ARE STILL NOT SET AND HAVE SINCE REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL CAN NOT GET AN EMISSIONS TEST. *TR

Mileage: 124,300

20151020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY STUCK IN IGNITION,&ACCELEROMETER, CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON

Mileage: 155,500

20150914VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHICH ALSO FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

20150423ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

KEY WILL NOT COME OUT OF IGNITION. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20150201SEAT BELTS

AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET, MY SEATBELT LET GO, SPONTANEOUSLY RELEASED ITSELF! IT DOES THIS 2-3 TIMES IN A ROW. WHEN I HEAR THE SOUND OF A SEATBELT BUCKLE CLICKING (AFTER I FASTEN MINE, SOUND SEEMS TO COME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE!) THEN I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO RELEASE AGAIN. AT LEAST NOT TIL AFTER I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN START IT AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 148,500

20110816POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE

Mileage: 77,494

20110816VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE

Mileage: 77,494

20110816VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE

Mileage: 77,494

20110816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE

Mileage: 77,494

20110715TIRES

EXCESSIVE TIRE NOISE AND WEAR. *TT

20080615POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

FRONT AXLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE SPLIT IN TWO THROUGH THE CROSS-SECTION. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20071102SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

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 FROM THE VOLVO BRICKBOARD THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY (BESIDES THE FACT THAT IT IS SCARY WHEN THE BRAKES START GOING) AND THINK VOLVO SHOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE ONLY ON THIS YEAR/MAKE. *TR

20070910ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPLACED TIMING BELT AT 76,000 MI. PER VOLVO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. AT 107,000 MI. TIMING BELT TENSIONER AND PULLEY FAILURE RESULTING IN TIMING BELT SLIPPING OFF AND CAUSING MASSIVE VALVE DAMAGE. THANKFULLY, VOLVO OF NA SERVICE STEPPED UP AS DID DARELL WALTRIP VOLVO AND HELPED TO COVER OVER HALF OF THE $4,600 IN DAMAGE THAT WAS CAUSED. STILL I WAS STUCK WITH A $2,000 UNEXPECTED REPAIR BILL. ATTENTION - 1998 VOLVO S70 OWNERS AND ALL INTERFERENCE ENGINE OWNERS WITH TIMING BELTS NOTE REPLACE YOUR TENSIONERS AND PULLEYS WHEN YOU REPLACE THE BELT. *JB

20070217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 1998 VOLVO S70 WITH ABOUT 88K MILES ON IT. I HAD A LOT OF WORK DONE ON IT DEC 20, 2006 INCLUDING REPLACING THE TIMING BELT. ON 2/15, WE WERE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED - WE LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKING, ETC. WE MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR AND GET INTO A PARKING LOT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, JORDAN VOLVO IN MISHAWAKA, IN. WE FOUND THAT THE TENSIONER HAD FAILED CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO SLIP OFF AND CAUSE WHAT APPEARS TO BE VERY MATERIAL (RETAIL AROUND $4K) WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. VOLVO RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE TENSIONER AT 105K MILES I BELIEVE, BUT I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CASES ON MESSAGE BOARDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THEIR TIMING BELT BUT NOT TENSIONER REPLACED AND THEN HAVING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE. WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE NOT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED, OR ALONG SIDE THE ROAD (IT WAS PROBABLY 5 DEGREES OUT). THE DEALERSHIP HAS OFFERED TO REPAIR THE CAR AT 1/2 PRICE, BUT MAINTAIN THAT THEY FOLLOWED VOLVO'S PROCEDURES. I CALLED MY

Mileage: 88,000

20070103SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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 -- JUST COUNT THE CASH THEY ARE MAKING ON THE REPLACEMENTS, AND THEN MULTIPLY BY 10 BECAUSE MOST ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY $1,000 FOR A $200 PART. *NM

Mileage: 60,000

Compare 1998VOLVOS70 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 VOLVO S70 have?
The 1998 VOLVO S70 has 317 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 5 fires, 17 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 VOLVO S70?
The most-complained component for the 1998 VOLVO S70 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 31 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE.
Is the 1998 VOLVO S70 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.