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1998 Volvo V70XC

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all V70XC 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

Limited mileage data: 17 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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118,042 miles · Jul 5, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineFire

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT START. UPON INSPECTION, THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS OBSERVED TO BE BLOWN. THE FUSE WAS CHANGED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WA…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT START. UPON INSPECTION, THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS OBSERVED TO BE BLOWN. THE FUSE WAS CHANGED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING APPEARED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WAS SMOLDERING, AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC SHOP. THE MECHANIC SHOP DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP SHORT-CIRCUITED.

NHTSA ODI #10161427

75,000 miles · May 3, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAVE NOTICED A STRONG GAS FUEL SMELL FROM MY 98 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY AWD FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE RR WHEEL, ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC PANEL WHICH COVERS THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK IS NOTICEABLE WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO KEEP THE SMELL FROM POPPING…

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A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAVE NOTICED A STRONG GAS FUEL SMELL FROM MY 98 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY AWD FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE RR WHEEL, ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC PANEL WHICH COVERS THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK IS NOTICEABLE WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO KEEP THE SMELL FROM POPPING OUT IS TO NOT FILL UP THE TANK MORE THAN 8 OR 10 GALLONS. THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE PARKED IN THE GARAGE AS THE FUEL SMELL IT RELEASES IS SO STRONG THAT I CAN FILL THE HOUSE WITH IT THROUGH MY VENTS. I WANT THE NHTSA TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THE V70 AWD. MANY VOLVO INTERNET BOARDS HAVE MENTIONED POSSIBLE FAILURE WITH THE GAS TANK/EXPANSION VALVE/FUEL PUMP AREA. CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A LOOK, THANKS. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156667

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL. TANK IS CRACKED, SO THERE IS ALWAYS PUDDLES OF FUEL IN THE CONSUMER'S GARAGE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT IT APPEARS TO BE AN EMISSION PROBLEM, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM AND A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ODI #8007354

Official recalls

1

04V504000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.