IllustrationMY 1998 VOLVO S70 HAD THE ABS MODULE FAILED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. HAD THIS FAILED IN RAIN OR SNOW, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE.*AK FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY VOLVO, BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THE COST IS OUTRAGEOUS, OVER $600.
1998 Volvo S70
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S70 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
725–50K
1450–75K
2375–100K
15100–150K
5150K+
70 reports with mileage · 145 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports
Service Brakes, Air complaints
14 reportsTHE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MY TECHNICIAN SAYS IT IS A FAULTY ABS CONTROLLER. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL POSTS ON BRICKBOARD.COM IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT VOLVO HAS RELEASED A CAR WITH AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. *AK
ABS/TRACS LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF INDICATING A BRAKE MODULE MALFUNCTION
REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SENSOR FOR THE ABS, SHOWS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE AUTO TECH RESEARCHED FROM A COMMON AUTO TECHNICHIANS WEB PAGE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE S70. THE PROBLEM LAYS WITH A FAULTY COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLES. AS A RESULT THE ABS DOES NOT OPERA…
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REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SENSOR FOR THE ABS, SHOWS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE SENSOR REPLACEMENT DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE AUTO TECH RESEARCHED FROM A COMMON AUTO TECHNICHIANS WEB PAGE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE S70. THE PROBLEM LAYS WITH A FAULTY COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLES. AS A RESULT THE ABS DOES NOT OPERATE. 1998 VOLVO S70T.
ABS COMPUTER CHIP WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAS FEWER THAN 60,000 MILES. THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF FAILURE OF THE ABS CHIP IS AS COMMON AS I'M TOLD, THEN I BELIEVE VOLVO SHOULD PICK UP THE COST FOR REPLACING…
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ABS COMPUTER CHIP WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR HAS FEWER THAN 60,000 MILES. THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND COST OVER $600 TO REPLACE. I HAVE HEARD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IF FAILURE OF THE ABS CHIP IS AS COMMON AS I'M TOLD, THEN I BELIEVE VOLVO SHOULD PICK UP THE COST FOR REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT IN THEIR VEHICLES.*AK
ABS AND TRACS LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. AFFECTS THE BRAKES BECAUSE ABS IS DISABLED AND ALSO ACTIVATED DURING DRIVING. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WIDELY DISCUSSED IN ONLINE FORUMS, AND IS ALSO WELL-KNOWN TO DEALERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE ABS/TRACS CONTROL UNIT.*AK
THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNS OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A FAIRLY RAPID DECELERATION. SOMETIMES, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SET.
ASB/TRACS MODULE FAILURE ON MY 1998 VOLVO S70
IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL ENGAGE SOMETIMES WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. (IE. ON ACCELERATING) FOLLOWING THIS, THE "ABS" AND "TRACS" LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS CONDITION PRESENTS ITSELF DURING NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES GET "SOFT" FROM ANTI-LOCKING PULSES UNTIL THE COMPUTER FINALL…
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IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL ENGAGE SOMETIMES WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. (IE. ON ACCELERATING) FOLLOWING THIS, THE "ABS" AND "TRACS" LIGHT COMES ON. WHEN THIS CONDITION PRESENTS ITSELF DURING NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES GET "SOFT" FROM ANTI-LOCKING PULSES UNTIL THE COMPUTER FINALLY RECOGNIZES THE ERROR AND REALIZES THAT IN FACT THERE IS NO NEED TO ENGAGE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM, AFTER WHICH REGULAR BRAKING MAY RESUME. DT
I HAD THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED INCORRECTLY AT LAUREL JAGUAR VOLVO OF TINLEY PARK, IL., AT A COST OF $341.00. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY TO CORRECT A SAFETY PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS. DT
Official recalls
404V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 21, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
00V405000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
Dec 6, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
99V235000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Aug 30, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
99V236000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 30, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT GROUNDING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3RQ04004 · Headlight Failure
Opened Jun 8, 2004 · Closed Nov 5, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights; Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
Exterior Lighting:headlights
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MASTER LIGHT SWITCH WITH ONE OF AN IMPROVED DESIGN. SEE SAFETY RECALL 04V504 FOR DETAILS.
PE00031 · Turn Signal
Opened Aug 15, 2000 · Closed Dec 22, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available
PE99040 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Jun 7, 1999 · Closed Oct 27, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
No summary supplied.