Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Volvo S70, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Vehicle speed control66
- Electrical system48
- Engine and engine cooling40
- Fuel system, gasoline18
- Structure14
- Exterior lighting9
- Air bags9
- Power train8
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Fuel system, other5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1999 S70 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. 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 1999 Volvo S70 failed the safety check 1.82% of the time — 4% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 146,514 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 1999 Volvo S70 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.4 petrol (106 kW, 142 hp), 2.4 petrol (103 kW, 138 hp) and 2.4 petrol (125 kW, 168 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.4 petrol | 106 kW 142 hp | 122 |
| 2.4 petrol | 103 kW 138 hp | 63 |
| 2.4 petrol | 125 kW 168 hp | 26 |
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
256 first registered in 1999 are on Dutch roads; 9% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde106
- Band onvoldoende profiel75
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af69
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm59
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen54
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld47
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af44
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm43
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
65 cars built in 1999 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 84 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
317 of these cars first registered in 1999 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 351,000 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
7 1999 cars are on the New Zealand register; 57% arrived as used imports, 43% 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 6 variants: combined 11.0–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–21 mpg US), CO₂ 253–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S70 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 12.7 | 9.0 | 11.0 |
| S70 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.1 | 9.1 | 11.3 |
| S70 T5 Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| S70 T5 Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.4 | 11.6 |
| S70 GLT Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.5 | 9.6 | 11.8 |
| S70 AWD Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.3 | 10.4 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Volvo S70.
| 2006311 14 Nov 2006 | Other On certain vehicles, a combination of throttle position sensor (TPS) irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration, may caus… |
| 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 … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
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: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SEDANS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET CONFIGURATION MARGINS ARE INSUFFICIENT.
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 1999 Volvo S70: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627799 | B+CABLE, BATTERY-TO-FUSE BOX, REPLACEMENT. *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 |
| 620880 | THIS SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBES HOW TO CLEAN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) BORE. *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 |
| 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 |
| 615913 | INFORMATION ON CERTAIN CARS BUILT IN THE HALIFAX PLANT WHICH MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ANTI-FREEZE PROTECTION IN THE COOLANT. *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 |
| 615027 | INFORMATION ON HOW TO RUN AND EVALUATE AN EVAP QUICK TEST ON A CAR WITH THE B5254S ENGINE, WHICH HAS THE DENSO ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. *TT |
| 615014 | NEW REAR BRAKE PADS FOR VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING CONDITION. *TT |
| 613430 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTALLATION OF PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE DOOR LOCKS. *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 |
| 612377 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN REGARDING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP ENGAGEMENT/DISENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING SPEEDS (90-100 KM/H/55-60 MPH) |
| 610596 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN REGARDING TRANSMISSION LOCKUP ENGAGEMENT / DISENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING AT CRUISING SPEEDS (55 - 60 MPH) DUE TO WORN, OVERHEATED TRANSMISSION FLUID. *TT |
| 610589 | INFORMATION AND PROCEDURES ON REPLACING THE FUEL TANK. *TT |
| 610436 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE (FINAL DRIVE) BETWEEN 80 AND 95 KM/H (50 - 60 MPH). *TT |
| 610418 | EXPERIENCING A WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR AXLE (FINAL DRIVE) BETWEEN 80 AND 120 KM/H (50-75 MPH). *TT |
| 610391 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING PROTECTIVE COVER FOR DOOR LOCKS. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
TURN SIGNAL
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation