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
What owners actually said
215 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Electrical System
THIS CAR HAS A HX OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT(AT NIGHT) AS HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OPERATED AT A DIFFERENT SEQUENCE THAN THE RIGHT ONE. WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT THESE LIGHT FAILURES ARE SOMEWHAT COMMON WITH THIS MODEL..OUR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE OBVIOUS. TH E MANUF…
Read full complaint
THIS CAR HAS A HX OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AS YOU CAN SEE, BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT(AT NIGHT) AS HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL OPERATED AT A DIFFERENT SEQUENCE THAN THE RIGHT ONE. WE HAVE INFORMATION THAT THESE LIGHT FAILURES ARE SOMEWHAT COMMON WITH THIS MODEL..OUR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE OBVIOUS. TH E MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROPOSED ANY SOLUTIONS OTHER THAN REPLACEMENT OF THE BULBS. THIS IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS THERE IS APPARENTLY A MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #701252
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES, AND EVERYTIME THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE NOISE WAS STILL COMING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER,AND THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES AND CHECKED THE BRAKES, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831273
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
EXHAUST PIPE IS EXTENDED TO FAR OUT FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER'S CHILD TO BE BURNED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #830103
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1998
Air BagsCrashInjury
CHECK YOU EMAIL FROM. NOT AIR BAG COMPLAINT (E.G., SEAT BELT, TRAILER SUSPENSION AIR BAG, ETC.). ADDED ON 09-07-1999. *AK
NHTSA ODI #700238
Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY. ECU INDICATES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. DEALER INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT GAS CAP HAD BEEN REMOVED WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. TO DATE, SOURCE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. PRESENTLY, CAR IS WITH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR SERVICE.
NHTSA ODI #700118
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1998
Suspension
SQUEAKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. OWNER TOLD BY SERVICE AND VOLVO THAT THE REAR COIL SPRINGS HAD BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS AT THE FACTORY. ALL ATTEMPT TO SOLVE PROBLEM HAS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #538760
Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1998
Seats
THE HEIGHT OF THE FRONT SEATS CREATE A DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT AND OBSTRUCT VIEW DUE TO DESIGN.
NHTSA ODI #537067
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1998
Exterior Lighting
TURN SIGNNAL BULB SIGNAL SOCKET WAS SCORCHED BLACK ON INSIDE, MELTING THE PLASTIC.
NHTSA ODI #536632
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS SPONTANEOUS INCREASE IN RPM WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON GAS. BRAKES LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN.*AK
NHTSA ODI #815509
Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1997
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
GAS PEDAL LOST RESPONSIVENESS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AT THE SAME TIME, BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
1998 Volvo S70 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration