VOLVO VOLVO · model year

1999 VOLVO VOLVO

14 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999VOLVOVOLVO carries 14 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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 VOLVO is electrical system with 3 filings, followed by structure:body:roof and pillars (1) and steering:hydraulic power assist system (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 1999 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.

14
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

14 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
TIRES1
STEERING1
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY1
SUSPENSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

Recent Complaints

20050830FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

JUST GOT GAS AND STARTED CAR AND THE TACHOMETER STARTED TO REV UP AND DOWN. I NEEDED TO LEAVE AS I WAS IN A GAS STATION AND IT WAS VERY CROWDED. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT. AFTER WAITING A FEW MINUTES, I LEFT THE SPOT AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE DOWN THE STREET. THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR EXCEPT FIRST AND I WAS ALMOST RUN OFF THE ROAD BY SEVERAL VERY ANGRY DRIVERS SINCE I COULDN'T GO ANY FASTER. I PULLED OVER AGAIN AND WAITED 15 MINUTES. IN ARIZONA WHEN IT'S 115 OUT, THAT IS NOT TOO MUCH FUN. AFTER WAITING, THE CAR MUST HAVE RESET ITSELF AND IT STARTED UP FINE. THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THIS WEEK THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BUT THIS WAS BY FAR THE WORST. *NM

Mileage: 80,000

20050811VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING/NO INJURIES/THROTTLE MODULE REPLACED/BATTERY REPLACED/RECENT NEWS ARTICLE STATED SEVERAL VOLVO SEDANS ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ENGINE STALLING WITH NO WARNING/THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. *NM

Mileage: 68,544

20050806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VOLVO 1999 S70 GLT - I HAD A PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WOULD LOOSE ALL THE POWER. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES AND I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHEN I HAD TO PULL OVER. IT COST $1200.00 FOR VOLVO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 99,000

20050804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

10/04 PURCHASED A 1999 S70 VOLVO. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON; DEALERSHIP HAD IT MAINTENANCE, I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO DO WITH THE WAY THE GAS CAP WAS PUT ON. LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS. 6/20 THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON MORE FREQUENTLY AND LONGER. WHEN THE ETS LIGHT CAME ON, I TOOK IT TO VOLVO OF LOUISVILLE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACED ($1,400) AND GASKETS ($312). THEY MADE THE REPAIRS. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP AND DROVE IT, I COULD STILL HEAR THE SOUND PLUS BOTH LIGHTS WERE ON. THEY WORKED ON IT AGAIN, AND SAID THE O2 SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; INSTEAD THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT. I PICKED THE CAR UP, AND BEFORE I COULD GET HOME, THE CAR WAS NOW RUNNING HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WASN'T WORKING. I CALLED THEM - THEY ASKED ME TO KEEP IT OVER THE WEEKEND AND CALL MONDAY. WHEN THEY PICKED THE CAR UP, I TOLD THEM NOT ONLY WAS THE CAR RUNNING HOT, WITH NO AIR CONDITIO

20050208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2005, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE CHECK AND OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS AND OTHER DEFECTS WHICH I LOCATE ON THE WWW.FOX5DC.COM WEB PAGE LINK FOR NHTS.DOT.GOV ON VARIOUS SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH HAVE BEEN ISSUE ON THE 1999 VOLVO S80. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE BILL RECEIVED OVER $3,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND THIS TO BE AN OUTRAGE. PLEASE FORWARD ALL THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS FOR THE 1999 VOLVO S80 TO ME AND BILL ME ANY CHARGES AS REQUIRED. ALSO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT "OEM" MEANT AND I DID NOT CHECK YES. IF YES IS REQUIRED IN THIS FILED THEN I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YES. THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPONENT SECTION OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU. *AK

20050208ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2005, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE CHECK AND OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS AND OTHER DEFECTS WHICH I LOCATE ON THE WWW.FOX5DC.COM WEB PAGE LINK FOR NHTS.DOT.GOV ON VARIOUS SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH HAVE BEEN ISSUE ON THE 1999 VOLVO S80. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE BILL RECEIVED OVER $3,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND THIS TO BE AN OUTRAGE. PLEASE FORWARD ALL THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS FOR THE 1999 VOLVO S80 TO ME AND BILL ME ANY CHARGES AS REQUIRED. ALSO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT "OEM" MEANT AND I DID NOT CHECK YES. IF YES IS REQUIRED IN THIS FILED THEN I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YES. THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPONENT SECTION OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU. *AK

20050208SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2005, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE CHECK AND OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS AND OTHER DEFECTS WHICH I LOCATE ON THE WWW.FOX5DC.COM WEB PAGE LINK FOR NHTS.DOT.GOV ON VARIOUS SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH HAVE BEEN ISSUE ON THE 1999 VOLVO S80. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE BILL RECEIVED OVER $3,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND THIS TO BE AN OUTRAGE. PLEASE FORWARD ALL THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS FOR THE 1999 VOLVO S80 TO ME AND BILL ME ANY CHARGES AS REQUIRED. ALSO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT "OEM" MEANT AND I DID NOT CHECK YES. IF YES IS REQUIRED IN THIS FILED THEN I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YES. THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPONENT SECTION OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU. *AK

20050208ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2005, I TOOK MY CAR FOR SERVICE CHECK AND OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS AND OTHER DEFECTS WHICH I LOCATE ON THE WWW.FOX5DC.COM WEB PAGE LINK FOR NHTS.DOT.GOV ON VARIOUS SERVICE BULLETINS WHICH HAVE BEEN ISSUE ON THE 1999 VOLVO S80. I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE BILL RECEIVED OVER $3,000.00 FOR REPAIRS. I FOUND THIS TO BE AN OUTRAGE. PLEASE FORWARD ALL THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPORTS FOR THE 1999 VOLVO S80 TO ME AND BILL ME ANY CHARGES AS REQUIRED. ALSO NOTE THAT I WAS NOT SURE WHAT "OEM" MEANT AND I DID NOT CHECK YES. IF YES IS REQUIRED IN THIS FILED THEN I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED YES. THIS CAN BE FOUND IN THE COMPONENT SECTION OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU. *AK

20031120FireSUSPENSION

VEHICLE'S AXLE BRAKE CAUGHT FIRE. *MR THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE BROKE AND CAUGHT FIRE. (VOLVO CONVENTIONAL 1999) *SCC

20031104VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

I HAD MY SUNROOF OPEN. A LARGE FLAT METAL ROD FELL OUT OF IT AND HIT ME ON THE HEAD. THE ROD IS ABOUT 3 FEET LONG AND WEIGHTS ABOUT 2-4 POUNDS. IT IS LIKE A CROWBAR IN COLOR, WEIGHT AND THICKNESS, BUT IT IS FLAT AND STRAIGHT.*AK I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS THE PIECE ATTACHED TO THE INNER RIM OF THE SUNROOF. THE DEALER CALLED IT A SUNROOF BRAKE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HELD IN PLACE BY DOUBLE STICK TAPE. I HAD A SLIGHT BUMP ON MY HEAD AND I HAVE HAD HEADACHES. I WAS VERY STARTLED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT FELL OFF A TRUCK OR POWER LINE, NOT MY OWN CAR. MY CAR MODEL IS AN S80, BUT IT ISN'T IN YOUR LIST OF CHOICES.

Mileage: 30,000

20030428STEERING

WE FEEL VOLVO DESIGNED A DEFECTIVE STEERING U-JOINT AND SHOULD PAY FOR ALL TO BE REPLACED WHETHER THEY HAVE GONE BAD YET OR NOT. *TS *NLM ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS****760815

20030204TIRES

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *AK

20010118STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20000322STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS UP CONSUMERS VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED DUE TO DESIGN CAUSING SEVERE BLIND SPOTS. *MJS

Compare 1999VOLVOVOLVO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 VOLVO VOLVO have?
The 1999 VOLVO VOLVO has 14 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 VOLVO VOLVO?
The most-complained component for the 1999 VOLVO VOLVO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS and STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM.
Is the 1999 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.