Total Complaints
31 filings
VOLVO V90 · model year
1998 VOLVO V90
31 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998VOLVOV90 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 V90 is structure:body:door with 6 filings, followed by wheels (3) and visibility:sun/moon roof assembly (3). 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 V90. 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.
31
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 6 |
| WHEELS | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070817EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHTS CEASED OPERATING ON MY 1998 VOLVO V90. AFTER CHECKING FOR FAULTY BULBS AND FUSES, I FOUND NHTSA SAFETY RECALL # 04V504000 FOR 1998 VOLVOS OF THE S70/VIA/C70 SERIES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF MY HEADLIGHTS TO OPERATE. THE DEALER FOUND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO BE FAULTY AND REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. V90S ARE NOT CURRENTLY COVERED BY MENTIONED RECALL. *JB
Mileage: 105,578
20051229PARKING BRAKE
VOLVO 1998 MODEL V90--PARKING BRAKE FAILS TO RELEASE AND REAR BRAKE LOCKS. *NM
Mileage: 82,101
20031023STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
REPEATED FAILURE OF SUNROOF "RAILS." *LA
Mileage: 89,000
20010419SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
20010419STEERING:LINKAGES
THIS CAR IS REALLY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO ALARM OR WARNING LIGHT WHEN DOOR IS AJAR. *AK
20010419SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THIS CAR IS REALLY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO ALARM OR WARNING LIGHT WHEN DOOR IS AJAR. *AK
20010419POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
THIS CAR IS REALLY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO ALARM OR WARNING LIGHT WHEN DOOR IS AJAR. *AK
20010419STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THIS CAR IS REALLY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO ALARM OR WARNING LIGHT WHEN DOOR IS AJAR. *AK
19991110CrashAIR BAGS
THE VOLVO AUTOMOBILE WAS HIT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A MERCEDES- BENZ ML 320 SPEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE SIPS DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ; NEITHER DID THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG. THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY CAUSED OR FAILED TO MINIMIZE SEVERE INJURIES TO MY WIFE' S NECK AND BACK. WHEN I DISCUSSED THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH MR. WILLIAM THOMAS OF BERGERON VOLVO, THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE CAR TO US, HE STATED THAT THESE SIPS AIRBAGS WERE INTENDED ONLY TO ACTIVATE WHEN STRUCK DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE VOLVO ADVERTISING, SALES LITERATURE, COMMENTS MADE BY THE SALES STAFF AND THE SALES MANAGER AT THE VARIOUS VISITS PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE ALL LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE PROVIDED WITH SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION. THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 1998 VOLVO MODELS V90, S90, S70 AND C70. I AM INTERESTED IN ANY OTHER REPORTS BY OWNERS/ OPERATORS OF THESE VEHICLES TO NHTSA REGARDING SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE, AS WELL AS HAVING NHTSA IN
19991110CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
THE VOLVO AUTOMOBILE WAS HIT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY A MERCEDES- BENZ ML 320 SPEEDING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. THE SIPS DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY ; NEITHER DID THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIRBAG. THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY CAUSED OR FAILED TO MINIMIZE SEVERE INJURIES TO MY WIFE' S NECK AND BACK. WHEN I DISCUSSED THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH MR. WILLIAM THOMAS OF BERGERON VOLVO, THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE CAR TO US, HE STATED THAT THESE SIPS AIRBAGS WERE INTENDED ONLY TO ACTIVATE WHEN STRUCK DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE VOLVO ADVERTISING, SALES LITERATURE, COMMENTS MADE BY THE SALES STAFF AND THE SALES MANAGER AT THE VARIOUS VISITS PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE ALL LED US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WERE PROVIDED WITH SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION. THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 1998 VOLVO MODELS V90, S90, S70 AND C70. I AM INTERESTED IN ANY OTHER REPORTS BY OWNERS/ OPERATORS OF THESE VEHICLES TO NHTSA REGARDING SIDE AIRBAG FAILURE, AS WELL AS HAVING NHTSA IN
19991029STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NO WARNING LIGHT OR SOUNDS FOR DOOR AJAR. YH
19991029WHEELS
ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOY RUSTED. YH
19991029STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORS SEALS FAILED CAUSING COLD AIR TO LEAK. YH
19991029VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF GASKET WAS FALLING APART. YH
19991029VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD BLADE IS DEFECTIVE. YH
19991029VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
AIR VENTILIATION TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING. YH
19991029STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NO WARNING LIGHT OR SOUNDS FOR DOOR AJAR. YH
19991029WHEELS
ALUMINUM WHEEL ALLOY RUSTED. YH
19991029STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORS SEALS FAILED CAUSING COLD AIR TO LEAK. YH
19991029VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUN ROOF GASKET WAS FALLING APART. YH
Compare 1998VOLVOV90 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 VOLVO V90 have?▼
The 1998 VOLVO V90 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 VOLVO V90?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 VOLVO V90 is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1998 VOLVO V90 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.