VOLVO S70 · model year

1999 VOLVO S70

257 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999VOLVOS70 carries 257 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 1 fire, 12 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 1999 S70 is vehicle speed control with 65 filings, followed by electrical system (41) and engine and engine cooling (17). 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 1999 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.

257
Complaints
13
Crashes
1
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

257 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL65
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM41
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING17
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH4
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY4
AIR BAGS4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3

Recent Complaints

20171101ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT IS IN PARK ALL THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFICHAVE PIC CAN NOT DOWN LOAD BE GLAD TO SEND

Mileage: 117,000

20171101ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT IS IN PARK ALL THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFICHAVE PIC CAN NOT DOWN LOAD BE GLAD TO SEND

Mileage: 117,000

20171101VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT IS IN PARK ALL THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFICHAVE PIC CAN NOT DOWN LOAD BE GLAD TO SEND

Mileage: 117,000

20170920CrashAIR BAGS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 45MPH COLLISION ON 9/12/2017. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS IMPACTED. THE COLLISION WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO BLOW. HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT BLOW UP, DESPITE THE IMPACT HAPPENING ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. A COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED TO VOLVO ON 9/19/2017. A CALL FROM (201) 768-7300 WAS RECEIVED TODAY 9/20. I FORGOT TO NOTE DOWN HER NAME BUT SHE WAS A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE. SHE CORRECTLY STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OCCUPANT WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THEREFORE THEY CANNOT DISCRIMINATE WHEN A CRASH IS SEVERE. HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT BECAUSE I HAD MY SEAT BELT ON, THE SYSTEM DETECTED THAT I WAS SAFE AND THEREFORE DID NOT BLOW UP THE DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS EXPLANATION SEEMED VERY BIZARRE TO ME AS I BELIEVE IF THE CRASH WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO BLOW UP THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, THE DRIVER AIRBAG SHOULD BLOW UP TOO, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE IMPACT WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I WAS REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THE SYSTEM WAS COMPLICATE

Mileage: 221,000

20160907VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, ALL THE LIGHTING AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL AND THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20160907INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, ALL THE LIGHTING AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL AND THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20160907EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, ALL THE LIGHTING AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SIGNAL AND THROTTLE BODY CONTROL MODULE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

20151004UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR STATIONARY. I HAVE TO TURN KEY TO '1' POSITION, PUSH IN' SHIFTLOCK'OVERRIDE' BUTTON BEFORE I CAN PUT CAR INTO GEAR.

Mileage: 137,955

20150407VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20150407ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20141216ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20141216STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

20140428VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE A VOVLO 1999 S70 TURBO I HAVEN'T HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS OUT OF IT..JUST NORMAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL LATE DEC I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED IT UP IT STARTED WITH NOW PROBLEM BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY PULLED UP INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC I HAD DROVE THIS CAR ALL WEEK NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEM WAS COMING NO LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE CAR PANEL SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO BECAREFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL NOT GIVE YOU NO SIGNS AS IT DIDN'T ME LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING AS FAST AS SOMEONE ON A HIGHWAY BUT AS SOON AS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO WITH THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC I AM GETTING UP TO ABOUT 35 OUT OF NO WHERE I CAN NOT PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET SPEED IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND THE MORE I PUSH ON PEDAL THE MORE IT WOULD SLOW DOWN AND IDLE I WAS CLOSE TO ANOTHER DRIVE WAY SO I JUST LET MY CAR COAST IN THE DRIVE WAY I COULDN'T EVEN PUT ON MY BREAK CAUSE MY CAR HAD DIED SO EVERYTHING KINDA LOCKED UP SO I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT COAST INTO A PARK AND SPACE . ONCE I GOT TO A

Mileage: 10,560

20140428ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAVE A VOVLO 1999 S70 TURBO I HAVEN'T HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS OUT OF IT..JUST NORMAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL LATE DEC I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED IT UP IT STARTED WITH NOW PROBLEM BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY PULLED UP INTO ONGOING TRAFFIC I HAD DROVE THIS CAR ALL WEEK NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEM WAS COMING NO LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE CAR PANEL SO JUST KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO BECAREFUL BECAUSE YOU CAN BE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL NOT GIVE YOU NO SIGNS AS IT DIDN'T ME LUCKILY I WASN'T GOING AS FAST AS SOMEONE ON A HIGHWAY BUT AS SOON AS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO WITH THE FLOW OF THE TRAFFIC I AM GETTING UP TO ABOUT 35 OUT OF NO WHERE I CAN NOT PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GET SPEED IT WAS THE OTHER WAY AROUND THE MORE I PUSH ON PEDAL THE MORE IT WOULD SLOW DOWN AND IDLE I WAS CLOSE TO ANOTHER DRIVE WAY SO I JUST LET MY CAR COAST IN THE DRIVE WAY I COULDN'T EVEN PUT ON MY BREAK CAUSE MY CAR HAD DIED SO EVERYTHING KINDA LOCKED UP SO I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT COAST INTO A PARK AND SPACE . ONCE I GOT TO A

Mileage: 10,560

20140426SERVICE BRAKES

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I CAME TO A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OUT IN ON GOING TRAFFIC I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL IT GAVE ME ENOUGH FORCE TO PULL OUT ON THE STREET AS SOON AS I TRY TO GIVE IT MORE PICK UP BUT KINDA IDLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 40 I WOULD SAY BOUT SOON AS I HIT FORTY IT OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T LET ME PICK UP OR PRESS ON GAS PEDAL WHEN I WOULD IT WOULD SLOW DOWN SO I TRY TO PUSH HARDER THAT IS WHEN THE CAR DIED SO I QUICKLY PULLED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKING UP GAS IT WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE MY CHECK ENGINE LET FLASH ON AND PUT MY FLASH LIGHTS ON AND SAT FOR A MINUTE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAITING A FEW SECONDS STARTED THE CAR IT FIRST LET ME ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO COAST BUT IN THE DRIVE WAY. MY ETS LIGHT FLASHES ON BUT DOESN'T SAY ON. SO I THOUGHT MAYBE CAUSE I WAS LOW ON GAS THAT COULD A HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM I HAVE DROVE THE CAR ALL WEEK NOT A PROB

Mileage: 150,800

20140426ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I CAME TO A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OUT IN ON GOING TRAFFIC I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL IT GAVE ME ENOUGH FORCE TO PULL OUT ON THE STREET AS SOON AS I TRY TO GIVE IT MORE PICK UP BUT KINDA IDLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 40 I WOULD SAY BOUT SOON AS I HIT FORTY IT OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T LET ME PICK UP OR PRESS ON GAS PEDAL WHEN I WOULD IT WOULD SLOW DOWN SO I TRY TO PUSH HARDER THAT IS WHEN THE CAR DIED SO I QUICKLY PULLED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKING UP GAS IT WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE MY CHECK ENGINE LET FLASH ON AND PUT MY FLASH LIGHTS ON AND SAT FOR A MINUTE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAITING A FEW SECONDS STARTED THE CAR IT FIRST LET ME ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO COAST BUT IN THE DRIVE WAY. MY ETS LIGHT FLASHES ON BUT DOESN'T SAY ON. SO I THOUGHT MAYBE CAUSE I WAS LOW ON GAS THAT COULD A HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM I HAVE DROVE THE CAR ALL WEEK NOT A PROB

Mileage: 150,800

20140426VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I CAME TO A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OUT IN ON GOING TRAFFIC I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL IT GAVE ME ENOUGH FORCE TO PULL OUT ON THE STREET AS SOON AS I TRY TO GIVE IT MORE PICK UP BUT KINDA IDLE GOT UP TO ABOUT 40 I WOULD SAY BOUT SOON AS I HIT FORTY IT OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T LET ME PICK UP OR PRESS ON GAS PEDAL WHEN I WOULD IT WOULD SLOW DOWN SO I TRY TO PUSH HARDER THAT IS WHEN THE CAR DIED SO I QUICKLY PULLED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKING UP GAS IT WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE MY CHECK ENGINE LET FLASH ON AND PUT MY FLASH LIGHTS ON AND SAT FOR A MINUTE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WAITING A FEW SECONDS STARTED THE CAR IT FIRST LET ME ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO COAST BUT IN THE DRIVE WAY. MY ETS LIGHT FLASHES ON BUT DOESN'T SAY ON. SO I THOUGHT MAYBE CAUSE I WAS LOW ON GAS THAT COULD A HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM I HAVE DROVE THE CAR ALL WEEK NOT A PROB

Mileage: 150,800

20140421VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA

Mileage: 156,000

20120917FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S-70. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG, OVERPOWERING GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

20120820POWER TRAIN

TWICE, WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT EACH TIME, MY CAR HAS SUFFERED EXTREME ACCELERATION WHILST I WAS BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD. FIRST TIME, MY MECHANIC CHECKED ALL COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS USING TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTER TESTING DEVICES BUT THERE WERE NO FAULT CODES. NOW, AS WELL AS HAPPENING TWICE WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT, I WAS AT THE SAME SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHICH I DO NOT SUSPECT AS BEING THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO NEXT TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WITH AN ADJACENT HELIPAD. MY BEST GUESS AFTER 57 YEARS IN ELECTRONICS AND 40+ IN COMPUTERS IS THAT SOME SORT OF RF INTERFERENCE IS UPSETTING MY VEHICLE. I KNOW VOLVO CHECK ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THEIR CARS IN SWEDEN AND WONDER WHETHER THEY HAVE EVER COME ACROSS MY PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE SCREAMED ITS HEAD OFF ALTHOUGH I HAD NO TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THE TACHOMETER READING. THE NOISE ITSELF WAS ADEQUATE WARNING AND THE LACK OF BRAKING MEANT THAT I HAD TO KILL THE IGNITION TO RECOVER MINE AND THE VEHICLES COMPOSURE. S

Mileage: 78,000

Compare 1999VOLVOS70 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 VOLVO S70 have?
The 1999 VOLVO S70 has 257 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 1 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 VOLVO S70?
The most-complained component for the 1999 VOLVO S70 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 65 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1999 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.