Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S90, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Visibility5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Equipment4
- Power train3
- Structure2
- Unknown or other2
- Electrical system1
- Parking brake1
- Engine and engine cooling1
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 S90 failed the safety check 0.90% of the time — 47% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 130,838 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
46 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 11% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde22
- Band onvoldoende profiel15
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen15
- Remvertraging / remwerking parkeerrem onvoldoende13
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse7
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt6
- Ruitensproeierinstallatie werkt niet6
- Mistlicht voor onjuist afgesteld5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
11 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 13 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
64 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 323,000 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; 80% arrived as used imports, 20% 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 1 variant: combined 12.8 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 294 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| S90 · Compact · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 10.3 | 12.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 1998 Volvo S90.
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 S90: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 608292 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS OF CASES WHERE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) 313 (GEAR SHIFT POSITION SENSOR) REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSOR. *TT |
| 607363 | INFORMATION REGARDNG PULSED SECONDARY AIR INJECTION SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS. *TT |
| 604508 | SUBJECT REGARDING UPGRADED PROCEDURES ON THE USE OF M 4.4 SOFTWARE. *TT |
| 600959 | INFORMATION ON REPLACING A/C COMPRESSORS. *YC |
| 600922 | ADDITIONAL ACTIONS WHEN REPLACING REAR WINDOW. *YC |
| 10241661 | COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION. |
| 10241651 | Rubber cushion |
| 10213885 | The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve. |
| 10213883 | ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations |
| 10213882 | Battery Charger/maintainer requirement |
| 10212892 | Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS) |
| 10212891 | VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App |
| 10188881 | Volvo?s Warranty Department tracks Retailer warranty spending by utilizing the Warranty Retailer Counseling Process (WRCP). The WRCP is used to gauge individual retailer performance on objective measures over time. By setting clear performance expectations and parameters and assisting retailers in focusing on individual processes and procedures, all retailers are provided with adequate tools to help achieve the ultimate goal of qualifying for self-authorization status. |
| 10181041 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10177386 | Service Manager Bulletin: Vehicle Type and Platform Information |
| 10171682 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Windshield Cleaning Operation Service Interval Change. Will only be performed at 20k |
| 10171676 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
| 10170147 | Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : Service Action Notification Re - Mails GROUP : NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : Product Safety & Compliance United States and Canada 00 325 REFERENCE BULLETINS : DATE : SMB00 - 323 and SMB00 - 323A YEAR MONTH DAY SERVICE SERVICE WARRANTY 2013 02 15 MANAGER WRITER ADMINISTRATOR Service Personnel : Read and initial Page 1 of 1 Volvo monitors completion rates for all service actions and will complete notification re - mails to vehicle owners when necessary . Listed below are the latest notification re - mails . Please refer to SMB 00 - 323 and SMB 00 - 323A |
| 10169394 | This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169393 | This is a Technical Journal: Swapping control modules from vehicle to vehicle for diagnostics should be avoided. Swapping control modules may result in consequential damage to the swapped control module and in certain cases several other control modules in the vehicle. Swapping the Driver Information Module (DIM) is strictly forbidden as the DIM it is the main carrier of the odometer function, and will, in case of swapping, result in manipulated odometer value. Service: Please do NOT swap any control modules from vehicle to vehicle for testing, unless instructed to do so in a Vehicle Report by |
| 10169391 | Software Installation Policy changes. |
| 10169389 | This is a Service Manager Bulletin: Technician Skillset Requirments |
| 10169388 | This is a Technical Journal: This Journal is a guide for performing Software Downloads. Service: *See guide updated Oct. 12, 2016 for relevant P5/SPA Software Download information: P5_SPA_SW_Guide.pdf See VIDA Software tab for all other vehicles.The attached checklists can be used for restoring customer settings, where applicable. |
| 10169036 | Mandatory Tool List bulletin: Volvo mandatory Special Tools are necessary for technicians to properly diagnose and repair Volvo cars. They are used in development of Volvo labor operations and repair methods, and promote safety and quality repairs in a timely manner. Tools are classified as mandatory because associated repairs and/or diagnostics cannot be completed properly without them. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation