Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo C70, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Vehicle speed control1
- Steering1
- Tires1
- Structure1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Volvo C70 failed the safety check 1.45% of the time — 15% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,015 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Volvo C70 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.3 petrol (177 kW, 237 hp), 2.4 petrol (142 kW, 190 hp) and 2.3 petrol (176 kW, 236 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.3 petrol | 177 kW 237 hp | 56 |
| 2.4 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 47 |
| 2.3 petrol | 176 kW 236 hp | 31 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
201 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 23% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde89
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen57
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan41
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af37
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld31
- Band onvoldoende profiel26
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)23
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage23
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
39 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 107 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
60 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 299,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
8 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 25% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
4 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Volvo C70.
| 2004374 19 Oct 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the Master Light Switch may cease to function. If this occurs, the headlights will not function and a loss of visibility will occur, incre… |
| 2001101 9 May 2001 | Lights And Instruments On certain Volvo C70, C70 convertible, C70 coupe, S70 and V70, inadequate contact between the bulb and socket could cause the front turn signal not to function … |
| 1999194 20 Oct 1999 | Lights And Instruments On certain Volvo 850, C70, S70 and V70, the connections in the headlight switch may deteriorate. If this occurs, the headlights will not function and a loss of… |
| 1999163 16 Sept 1999 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, the frontal passenger air bag may be overly sensitive to certain electrostatic discharges. This could cause the possibility of inadvertent… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volvo told its dealers about the 1998 Volvo C70: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635212 | SUBJECT REGRDING CABIN AIR FLITER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 627799 | B+CABLE, BATTERY-TO-FUSE BOX, REPLACEMENT. *YD |
| 626958 | POWER WINDOW MECHANISM, NOISE AT THE LOWER LIMIT POSITION. *YD |
| 626955 | ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SEAT, MINIMIZING LATERAL MOVEMENT. *YD |
| 626872 | INFORMATION REGARDING WINDOW CASSETTE INSTALLATION. *YH |
| 624137 | SUBJECT REGARDING A/C PRESSURE SWITCH- EVAPORATOR FREEZING. *YD |
| 621858 | SUBJECT REGARDING TRAVEL-FORWARD FUNCTION REPAIR OF THE FRONT POWER SEATS. *TT |
| 620152 | ENHANCED INSPECTION / MAINTENANCE (I/M) PROGRAMS. THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 1996 VOLVO MODEL 850 AND 1996 - 1997 VOLVO MODEL 960. FOR THESE VEHICLES, INCOMPLETE READINESS CODES WILL NOT INHIBIT THE OBD II SYSTEM FROM MONITORING, DETECTING, AND SUBSEQUENTLY STORING A CORRESPONDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE IN SYSTEM MEMORY. IT CAN BE EXPECTED THAT ONE OF THESE VEHICLES EXHIBITING INCOMPLETE READINESS CODES, BUT PRESENTING NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), WILL MEET I/M EMISSION STANDARDS. *TT |
| 620109 | INFORMATION TO ALL VOLVO RETAILERS (US & CANADA) REGARDING VEHICLES WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT WIPER BLADE AND THE STOP LUG. INFORMATION CONTAINS SERVICE MANAGER BULLETIN 35-101A, SERVICE BULLETIN 36-0018, PARTS BULLETIN 35-101A AND OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. *TT |
| 620108 | THIS SERVICE CAMPAIGN NO. 101A INVOLVES HEADLIGHT WIPER ARM ADJUSTMENT AND STOP LUG REPLACEMENT FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES WITH INADEQUATE CLEARANCE. *TT |
| 619521 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER SEAT, TILT-TRAVEL-FORWARD FUNCTION REPAIR. *TT |
| 619110 | INFORMATION TO ALL VOLVO RETAILERS REGARDING SERVICE CAMPAIGN 101A - INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT WIPER BLADE AND THE STOP LUG. *TT |
| 619104 | ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULBS AND THE SOCKETS. *TT |
| 619103 | ON CERTAIN VEHICLES THERE MAY BE INADEQUATE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT WIPER BLADE AND THE STOP LUG. *TT |
| 618500 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPAIR A TRIM MOULDING THAT HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE DRIP RAIL ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 615901 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 615038 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO REPAIR A TRIM MOULDING THAT HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE DRIP RAIL ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 615035 | HEAD LAMP WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 615021 | SUBJECT REGARDING CABIN AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 613429 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES INDICATING MISFIRES AND / OR A HARD ENGINE START CONDITION. *TT |
| 612380 | SUBJECT ON THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM, NOISE AT THE LOWER LIMIT POSITION. *MJS |
| 610598 | SUBJECT REGARDING MODIFICATION TO THE POWER ANTENNA GROUND STRAP TO IMPROVE FM RADIO DISTRUBRANCE / STATIC. *TT |
| 610592 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW DRIVE SHAFT NUT. *TT |
| 610588 | SUBJECT REGARDING NEW ROUTING OF WIRING FOR OXYGEN SENSOR. *TT |
| 610396 | EXPERIENCING NOISE WHEN THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM REACHES ITS LOWER LIMIT POSITION. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation