VOLVO VOLVO · model year

1998 VOLVO VOLVO

13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998VOLVOVOLVO carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 VOLVO is air bags with 2 filings, followed by suspension:front (2) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (1). 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 23 investigation files overlapping the 1998 VOLVO. 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.

13
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

13 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS2
SUSPENSION:FRONT2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
TRAILER HITCHES1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1
STRUCTURE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
TIRES1

Recent Complaints

20020401FatalTIRES

REAR TIRE EXPLODED SENDING THE TRUCK OUT OF CONTROL.

20011106SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS INTERMITTENTLY FAILS. BRAKES WORK IF SYSTEM ON, BRAKES WORK WHEN SYSTEM OFF. TRANSITIN FROM ON TO OFF RESULTS IN MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKES. MANY REPEATED INCIDENTS, VOLVO CLAIMS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.

20010709STRUCTURE

(CONSUMER WORKS IN A PHYSICIANS OFFICE AND IS WRITING IN CONCERNING A PATIENT'S VEHICLE) VEHICLE IS MANUFACTURER WITH REAR FACING THIRD SEAT/CHILD SEATS, DURING VEHICLE COLLISION OUT OF THE FIVE OCCUPANTS THE ONLY ONE INJURED WAS THE LITTLE BOY IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THIS DESIGNS PUTS CHILDREN IN A VULNERABLE POSITION. *MJS

20001030STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

TO OPEN THE HOOD , THE HOOD RELEASE IS LOCATED INSIDE THE CAB OF THE TRACTOR, LIKE YOU WOULD FIND INSIDE A CAR OR PICK -UP TRUCK. IF IT IS NOT ADJUSTED RIGHT AT TIME OF PURCHASE THE HOOD TENDS TO POP OPEN ON IT'S ON AS YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IF YOU COME TO A STOP OR HIT ABUMP IN THE ROAD IT DOES FLY OPEN ON IT'S ON. ON THE DATE MENTIONED ABOVE THE DRIVER WAS ON HIS WAY TO A DELIVERY APPX.150 MILES FROM HOME TERMINAL WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURED. THERE IS NO WAY TO ADD ANY TYPE OF TEMPORARY FIX AS THERE IS NO WAY TO BUNGEE CORD IT DOWN ANYWHERE ON THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE HOOD, BELIEVE ME I HAVE TRIED AS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS .I ALSO HAVE A 2000 VOLVO WHERE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. ALSO THERE HAS BEEN A TIME OR TWO WHEN I COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD WHICH I FEEL COULD BE A POTENTIAL HAZARD DUE TO UNFORSEEN PROBLEM SUCH AS A ENGINE FIRE ETC.. THE TRUCK LOOKS GOOD WITHOUT THE LATCHES ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT BELIEVE ME I'VE HAD A FEW EXCITING MOMENTS FROM THE

20000516TRAILER HITCHES

WHILE DRIVING SEMI-TRUCK DOWN THE ROAD, HINGES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLEEPER, BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FLAP BACK & FORTH. THE TOP HINGES WERE FINE. ALSO, FRONT END TIRES WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY. TIRES CHANGED 3 TIMES DURING LAST 184,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD A FLUID FLOWING PROBLEM. VOLVO REQUESTED NOT TO BRING TRUCK IN. *AK

20000516STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

WHILE DRIVING SEMI-TRUCK DOWN THE ROAD, HINGES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLEEPER, BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FLAP BACK & FORTH. THE TOP HINGES WERE FINE. ALSO, FRONT END TIRES WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY. TIRES CHANGED 3 TIMES DURING LAST 184,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD A FLUID FLOWING PROBLEM. VOLVO REQUESTED NOT TO BRING TRUCK IN. *AK

20000516SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING SEMI-TRUCK DOWN THE ROAD, HINGES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLEEPER, BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE WINDOW TO FLAP BACK & FORTH. THE TOP HINGES WERE FINE. ALSO, FRONT END TIRES WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY. TIRES CHANGED 3 TIMES DURING LAST 184,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, POWER STEERING PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD A FLUID FLOWING PROBLEM. VOLVO REQUESTED NOT TO BRING TRUCK IN. *AK

20000330CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

I WILL EMAIL A LETTER DESCRIBING THE TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM. *AK

19991103CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 8/2/99 THAT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH IMPACT TO CAUSE $15,500 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE FRONT END WAS DEMOLISHED. THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED BACK, BOTH FRAME RAILS WERE BENT AND REPLACED. THE SRS DID NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED VOLVO TO LOOK AT THE CAR BEFORE IT WAS REPAIRED TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT AND THE SRS AS TO ITS PROPER WORKING CONDITION. THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE WITHIN 10 DAYS. NO ONE SHOWED SO I SENT PHOTOS. THEY DENIED BASED ON PHOTOS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I AM FRUSTRATED WITH THE LACK OF CONCERN FOR ME AND MY SAFETY FROM THIS MANUFACTURER. ALL WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE SAID IN THEIR OPINIONS THE SRS MALFUNCTIONED. MY INJURIES ARE A BULGING DISK IN MY NECK ALONG WITH NERVE DAMAGE AND A BRUISED, DISLOCATED COLLARBONE (NOW HEALED). PLEASE HELP ME FIND INFORMATION ON THE SRS AND ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OR REPORTED MALFUNCTIONS.

19990730STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR PANEL FAILED. YH

19990325SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE PULLING PROBLEM.

19990312LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

LEFT REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED.

19980220CrashAIR BAGS

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, CAUSING INJURY AND BURNS.

Compare 1998VOLVOVOLVO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 VOLVO VOLVO have?
The 1998 VOLVO VOLVO has 13 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 VOLVO VOLVO?
The most-complained component for the 1998 VOLVO VOLVO is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1998 VOLVO VOLVO 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.