Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S70, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic61
- Exterior lighting35
- Electrical system31
- Engine and engine cooling22
- Service brakes, air14
- Structure13
- Air bags13
- Latches/locks/linkages11
- Suspension11
- Vehicle speed control9
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 16 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 1998 S70 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Volvo S70 failed the safety check 2.23% of the time — 30% more often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 142,025 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1998 Volvo S70 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp) and 2.4 petrol (142 kW, 190 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 254 |
| 2.4 petrol | 142 kW 190 hp | 27 |
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
360 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 11% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde179
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan147
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af131
- Band onvoldoende profiel112
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af89
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen86
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld76
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm69
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
138 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 172 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
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 184 of these cars first registered in 1998 took their annual MOT test. 76% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1998 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1998 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 10.3% | 11.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.6% | 16.0% |
| Suspension | 7.1% | 12.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 4.9% | 9.3% |
| Steering | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Visibility | 3.8% | 6.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
394 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 355,000 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
5 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 40% arrived as used imports, 60% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 5 variants: combined 11.4–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 262–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S70 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 8.9 | 11.4 |
| S70 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.5 | 9.3 | 11.6 |
| S70 GLT · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 9.7 | 11.9 |
| S70 T5 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.2 | 10.2 | 12.4 |
| S70 T5 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.4 | 10.2 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Volvo S70.
| 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… |
| 1999007 14 Jan 1999 | Emissions On certain vehicles, the "Vehicle Emission Control Information" label may be incorrect. The label originally affixed incorrectly states that the vehicle confor… |
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 S70: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635212 | SUBJECT REGRDING CABIN AIR FLITER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 635176 | ON SOME VEHICLES OIL WEEPAGE CAN BE FOUND AT THE BEVEL GEAR VENT. *TT |
| 629014 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SERVICE MANUAL TP2321201. *TT |
| 627799 | B+CABLE, BATTERY-TO-FUSE BOX, REPLACEMENT. *YD |
| 626955 | ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SEAT, MINIMIZING LATERAL MOVEMENT. *YD |
| 624137 | SUBJECT REGARDING A/C PRESSURE SWITCH- EVAPORATOR FREEZING. *YD |
| 621829 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT REGARDING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP ENGAGEMENT / DISENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING SPEEDS (90 - 100 KM/H / 55 - 60 MPH) MAY BE DUE TO COOLANT CONTAMINATED, DEGRADED OR OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION FLUID. *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 |
| 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 |
| 616758 | SUBJEC REGARDING DOOR PANEL INSERT REPLACMENT FOR CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF LOOSE INNER DOOR PANEL INSERT(S). *TT |
| 616755 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN CONTAINS INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM IS NOT DAMAGED WHEN SERVICING WHEELS AND TIRES. IT ALSO CONTAINS INFORMATION ABOUT CHECKING THE FREEWHEEL AND VISCOUS COUPLING FOR THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) SYSTEM. *TT |
| 616737 | CUSTOMER COMPLAINT OF THE INNER DOOR PANEL INSERT COMING LOOSE. *TT |
| 615901 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT AND NOISE FROM THE DASHBOARD. *TT |
| 615037 | SOME AWD / XC CAR MIGHT HAVE A SQUEAKING SOUND WHEN MAKING SHARP TURNS AT LOW SPEED (E.G., DURING PARKING MANEUVERS). *TT |
| 615035 | HEAD LAMP WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 615021 | SUBJECT REGARDING CABIN AIR FILTER REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 614252 | SUBJECT REGARDING STEREO RECEPTION CONTROL (SRC) SETTINGS. *TT |
| 613430 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. *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 |
| 612379 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSTALLATION OF THE DOOR LOCK PROTECTIVE COVER. *MJS |
| 612378 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW FUEL TANK WITH INTEGRATED ROLL-OVER VALVE. *MJS |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
TURN SIGNAL
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation