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1998 Volvo S70 problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Volvo S70 is brakes, typically around 78,000 miles. It has 71.7 times the complaints of a typical S70 model year.

Typical year71.7x the typical complaints
Owner complaints
215
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
221
Worst area
Brakes
Fuel economy
19-21mpg
Typical repair
$600

The worst 1998 Volvo S70 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Volvo S70

ABS 53Headlights 21Door locks 13Check engine light 11Loss of power 6Stalling 5Tire blowout 5

Recalls 4

Exterior lighting: headlights: switchReported October 21, 2004 · 97,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, over an extended period of time, the headlight switch may cease to function.
Risk
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.

Recall number 04V504000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: turn signalReported December 6, 2000 · 245,894 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
This would fail to warn an approaching driver that the vehicle is turning and could lead to a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right front turn signal bulb and socket.

Recall number 00V405000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: headlights: switchReported August 30, 1999 · 139,588 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.
Risk
Driver's could experience a loss of visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the headlight switch.

Recall number 99V235000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontalReported August 30, 1999 · 124,381 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The frontal passenger air bag may be overly sensitive to certain electrostatic discharge.
Risk
This could possibly cause an inadvertent deployment.
Remedy
Dealers will install an additional ground wire in the passenger side to assure sufficient grounding.

Recall number 99V236000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 1998 Volvo S70

Defect investigations

Headlight failureOpened June 8, 2004, closed November 5, 2004

On august 23, 1999, volvo notified the federal safety agency that it would conduct a safety recall (99v235) on certain 1997 model year (my) 850 vehicles and certain 1998 s/v/c 70 series vehicles for failure of the headlight switch.the defect report stated in part: operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.volvo's remedy for this recall was to replace the headlight switch.this recall query investigation was opened on june 8, 2004, based on 13 reports of headlight failure on 1998 and 1999 s/v/c 70 series vehicles that were not included in the earlier recall.by letter of october 18, 2004, volvo has notified the agency that it will now conduct a safety recall of an additional 97,000 my 1998 through 2000 s70/v70/v70xc and c70 vehicles built from june 5, 1997 through january 11, 2000. Volvo dealers will replace the original equipment master light switch with one of an improved design. See safety recall 04v504 for details.

RQ04004

Turn signalOpened August 15, 2000, closed December 22, 2000

There is no summary currently available

PE00031

Inadvertent side air bag deploymentOpened June 7, 1999, closed October 27, 1999

PE99040

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Volvo S70 221

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 221 bulletins for the 1998 Volvo S70

1998 Volvo S70 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
2.4L 5‑cylFWD17-1824-2720-21
2.3L 5‑cylFWD16-1723-2419

What 1998 Volvo S70 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Sep 14, 2018 · Brakes · 20 miles · CA

I took my car to the sears auto center at 1178 el camino real in san bruno, california (sears store #6909) on september 2, 2018 for front brakes. Sears returned the car to me on 9/2/18 (a copy of my "final invoice" is enclosed). I subsequently learned that the dust boot for the right front brake caliper is missing. I returned to sears on september 10 and told the manager in charge, mr. Holloway, that I had learned - from another mechanic who had been doing other front end work - that the dust boot was missing and that this is one of the component parts of the brake caliper system (designed to keep debris and moisture out of the brake caliper). Sears re-inspected my vehicle on september 10 and confirmed that the dust boot is missing. I was told that the department manager (mr. Julio estrada) would need to address the situation. On september 11, 2018, the manager of the sears auto center - mr. Julio estrada - refused to fix the problem at sears' expense. I believe that sears was negligent and ask that the federal safety agency investigate the conduct of sears auto center.

Filed Mar 21, 2018 · Engine · 137,500 miles · PA

The plastic handle of the oil dipstick came off causing half of the oil dipstick to be in the dipstick tube the car was not moving it happened while checking the oil level making sure there was oil in the car making sure that the engine will not seize while driving

Filed Jan 26, 2017 · Lights · 125,000 miles · PA

The low beam headlights are dim I have replaced the bulbs with brighter bulbs and they are still dim I have to drive with the fog lights on all the time in order to drive at night.

Filed Jan 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 124,300 miles · PA

I purchased this car used december 16 2016 knowing it needed a lot of work. I have since gotten all the repairs done on jan 4th 2017. I now need to get the car emission tested after driving 200 miles the readiness monitors are still not set and have since repaired the check engine light and still can not get an emissions test.

Filed Oct 20, 2015 · Electrical · 155,500 miles · MD

Key stuck in ignition,&accelerometer, causes check engine light to stay on

Filed Sep 14, 2015 · Acceleration · 165,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 volvo s70. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the rpms increased and the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The brake pedal failed to slow the vehicle down as the accelerator pedal went all the way to the floor. The contact put the vehicle in neutral, which also failed to slow the vehicle down. The contact continued to depress the brake pedal and the vehicle eventually slowed down. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Apr 23, 2015 · Electrical · 150,000 miles · MD

Key will not come out of ignition.

Filed Feb 1, 2015 · Seat belts · 148,500 miles · PA

As I was pulling out onto a busy street, my seatbelt let go, spontaneously released itself! It does this 2-3 times in a row. When I hear the sound of a seatbelt buckle clicking (after I fasten mine, sound seems to come from the passenger side!) then I know it's not going to release again. At least not til after I shut the car off and then start it again.

Filed Aug 16, 2011 · Acceleration, Engine · 77,494 miles · MA

Upon accelerating up the hill of my street, today, august 16th, 2011, my car, a 1998 volvo s70 , sped up, unnaturally, close to the top . I had just driven out of my driveway, as I back into it always, and proceeded up the hill. As usual, the automatic transmission shifted down as the car approached a steeper portion of the hill. When braking for the stop sign at the top, I noticed that the engine was racing. I was unable to stop fully at the stop sign, and after going around the corner to the right, I pulled the floor mat away from the accelerator pedal. My left foot was now firmly planted on the brake pedal, as well as my right foot quickly pumping the accelerator pedal , all in an attempt to have the gas pedal unstuck, which it didn't. It just made the car engine continuously race even more. The RPM's increased also the more that the engine raced. Unable to fully stop at the next subsequent 2 stop signs, on a straight away, and my left foot to the floor with the brake pedal, I finally decided to place the car in neutral, the engine racing at what seemed a very high rate of speed by evidence of those RPM's. I continued to pump the gas pedal,with the car in neutral, my left foot on the brake, when suddenly the racing ceased, and the RPM's came down to an idle, just below 1000, I believe. I then proceeded to the side of the road, and stopped. After a bit, I placed the car from neutral into park, and then again shifted the automatic transmission into drive. I began moving down a hill by mere idling speed. I was careful, just coasting now, not to initially place any pressure on the accelerator as I proceeded in drive. I came to a stop at an intersection, for a red signal light, and when it was green, I drove back around a large city block to my driveway. I backed into my driveway with no further issues of sudden acceleration during the final distance driven. This has happened 2 other times recently when setting cruise control going up a hill.

Filed Jul 15, 2011 · Tires · MD

Excessive tire noise and wear.

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Questions about the 1998 Volvo S70

Is the 1998 Volvo S70 reliable?

Owners have filed 215 complaints about the 1998 Volvo S70, 71.7 times a typical S70 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Volvo S70?

Brakes, with 76 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles. Next is lights (37).

How many recalls does the 1998 Volvo S70 have?

4 recalls, covering exterior lighting and air bags.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Volvo S70 get?

Official estimates for the 1998 Volvo S70 range from 19 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 17-18 city and 24-27 highway.

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