IllustrationDT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK
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
What owners actually said
215 reports1998 VOLVO S70 T5-VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATION WILL CEASE TO OPERATE WHILE TRAVELING. ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND THEN SHUT DOWN. OCCURS GENERALLY 2 OR 3 TIMES IN A DAY OR TWO AND THEN MAYBE NOT AGAIN FOR A MONTH OR SO. THREE DIFFERENT VOLVO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE IN DIA…
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1998 VOLVO S70 T5-VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY, WITHOUT PRIOR INDICATION WILL CEASE TO OPERATE WHILE TRAVELING. ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND ENGINE WILL HESITATE AND THEN SHUT DOWN. OCCURS GENERALLY 2 OR 3 TIMES IN A DAY OR TWO AND THEN MAYBE NOT AGAIN FOR A MONTH OR SO. THREE DIFFERENT VOLVO REPAIR SHOPS HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE IN DIAGNOSING...FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON HIGH SPEED ARTERIAL ROADS AS WELL AS WHILE IDLING/ STOPPED . *NM
MY WIFE'S CAR ('98 S70 T5) STOP LAST WEEK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE TENSIONER SEIZED UP. THIS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE ABOUT $3500 WORTH. I GOT THE TIMING BELT CHANGED AT 71,000 ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALERSHIP SO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT IT DID ANYWAY. THE CAR NOW HAS 1…
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MY WIFE'S CAR ('98 S70 T5) STOP LAST WEEK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE TENSIONER SEIZED UP. THIS CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE ABOUT $3500 WORTH. I GOT THE TIMING BELT CHANGED AT 71,000 ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DEALERSHIP SO THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT IT DID ANYWAY. THE CAR NOW HAS 108,000 MILES. VOLVO'S CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ME TODAY AND SAID THE THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR AND IT IS FAR OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. SEARCHING THE WEB I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS POSTINGS OF SIMILAR COMPLIANTS WITH THE TENSIONER. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.
DT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTACT STATES EACH TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND THE WHEELS HAVE ALSO LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE MAKE A SQUEAKING NOSE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING CONTACT STA…
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DT ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTACT STATES EACH TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO STOP AND THE WHEELS HAVE ALSO LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE MAKE A SQUEAKING NOSE WHEN PARKING, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING CONTACT STATES OIL MOVES UP THROUGH THE IGNITION CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *NM *SB
UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE/VIBRATION THAT DID NOT ALLOW THE BRAKES TO RESPOND. THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE COMPUTER THAT ENGAGED THE ABS BRAKES. *AK UPDATED 8/9/2006 - *NM
FAILURE OF CAM BELT ADJUSTER, AT SPEED WITH NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-85 S. ON 12/30/04 IN MY 1998 VOLVO S-70 THE TENSIONER WHEEL EXPLODED CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE THUS LOOSING ALL ENGINE POWER AT 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND DOING OVER 2000.OO DOLLARS WORTH OF ENGINE DAMAGE. FROM EXAMINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART, THE GOOVE GUIDES JUST SHATTERED LE…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN I-85 S. ON 12/30/04 IN MY 1998 VOLVO S-70 THE TENSIONER WHEEL EXPLODED CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE THUS LOOSING ALL ENGINE POWER AT 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND DOING OVER 2000.OO DOLLARS WORTH OF ENGINE DAMAGE. FROM EXAMINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART, THE GOOVE GUIDES JUST SHATTERED LEAVING NO GROOVES FOR BELT GUIDANCE.*AK
FRONT PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR HANDLE WOULD STICK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB
IGNITION LOCKED UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. *AK *TC
THE 2 OF 4 WELDS ON THE JACKING POINT BRACKET FAILED. THE JACKING POINT BENT OVER, CAUSING THE CAR TO FALL DOWN ABOUT 1" ONTO THE VOLVO JACK, PINNING THE JACK BETWEEN THE CAR AND THE PAVEMENT. NO INJURIES.*AK
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.