10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,887 miles

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problem #31

Aug 132005

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles
ABS brake unit failed at 60K miles; all service was done at dealer. Dozens and dozens of owners have reported this to NHTSA for exact same make and model. Nhts seems powerless to take on this issue. How many deaths will it take to get some action? Volvo dealers and Ford know well the problem -- just count the cash they are making on the replacements, and then multiply by 10 because most are not willing to pay $1,000 for a $200 part.

- El Cerrito, CA, USA

problem #30

Dec 182006

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 78,000 miles
: the contact stated while driving various speeds, the antilock brake light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined while the light was illuminated, there was a failure of the antilock brakes. Also, the dealer determined the computer needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was alerted.

- Adelphi, MD, USA

problem #29

Sep 202006

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
: the contact stated the ABS and traction control lights on the dash illuminated causing both components to be inoperable. This occurred intermittently. The vehicle was driven to the dealer who determined both systems needed to be replaced. Updated 10/31/2006 -

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #28

Apr 152005

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 119,000 miles
Intermittent failure of the ABS/tracks system - well known/documented defect. Volvo parts center says cause was faulty ABS units from the philippines. This causes a failure of the ABS system, yet Volvo does not recall?.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #27

Oct 112004

S70 5-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 113,500 miles
ABS/tracs failure.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #26

Nov 302002

S70 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles
ABS and trac lights work only part of the time. Lights for these features usually light up after an odd, one-second humm.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #25

May 012003

S70

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles
My wife's 1998 Volvo S70 had 74,000 miles when her ABS and tracs warning light came on. After taking it into the Volvo dealership it was assessed that the ABS/tracs is not working because of a failure of the ABS/tracs control module. After some research I found a large number of people having the same issue when their same model car reached anywhere between 50 and 100 thousand miles. This is a serious safety concern and Volvo should recall and replace the part.

- Sinking Spring, PA, USA

problem #24

Dec 012002

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,000 miles
The ABS light was coming on intermittently. After consulting the web I learned this was a common problem in the 98 S70's. Volvo is aware of the problem! while driving with the condition I noticed if the ABS pump cycled and the lights come on you lose braking unless you pump the brakes. Extremely dangerous condition for a many drivers. I'm a law enforcement officer and my training helped me avoid the accident.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #23

Nov 222002

S70

  • miles
Brake pedal pulsating, car making noises when brakes applied normally in heavy traffic. ABS/tracs light came on. The noise and failure light have occurred several times.

- Highland Village, TX, USA

problem #22

Nov 062002

S70

  • miles
ABS control module failed after only five years and less than 50,000 miles and Volvo or the vip extended warranty will cover the cost of part replacement or.

- Arlington, VA, USA

problem #21

Oct 012002

S70

  • miles
No summary.

- Berkeley, CA, USA

problem #20

Oct 052002

S70

  • miles
ABS light comes on and off randomly. Been told by Volvo dealer that it is a bad ABS module.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #19

Oct 032002

S70

  • miles
ABS module on the car failed. While driving, the ABS light came on and upon taking it to the dealer, I was told that the ABS module had to be replaced at a cost of $615. The car is a certified per-owned with less than 60K miles. The module should not have failed and by reading the other complaints, it seems to be a common issue on the 1998 S70 models.

- Lansdale, PA, USA

problem #18

Oct 072002

S70

  • miles
This seems to be a common problem with these models (98 S70), I was encouraged to report here because Volvo na is not responding to customer complaints. ABS dash light illuminates intermittently, sometimes resets correctly upon ign. Off and restart, sometimes not. While light is illuminated, ABS non-functional.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #17

Jul 052002

S70

  • miles
Problem reported to dealer and Volvo na. Critical part of safety system, out of warranty, $553 repair cost. Known defect in S/V/C 70 series.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #16

Aug 292002

S70

  • miles
No summary listed for above vehicle.

- Wadsworth, IL, USA

problem #15

Jul 012002

S70

  • miles
While driving, I noted that the ABS light was on. The next trip in the car, the ABS sign was still on. I waited because intermittently various lights come on my dash, disappear, and never reappear. I went to the dealer to verify the failure of the ABS. The dealer affirmed the failure and replaced the ABS. The car is a 1998 S70. Two of my coworkers have discovered that they have to have their ABS replaced, within one month of my ABS failure. One coworker has a Volvo that is the same year as mine; the other car is a year or 2 older. This sounds like manufacturer planned obsolescence to me. How could this be a coincidence? I bought this car because of its reputation for reliable sturdy structure and safety and I am disappointed.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #14

Aug 132002

S70

  • miles
ABS is working only some of the time (Volvo of las vegas has concluded that ABS module is faulty and needs to be replaced). You never know at which point when you are driving that the ABS decides not to function anymore. Braking can become quite worrisome and frightening ABS is a critical safety component of the car and Volvo has failed to correct this problem. The sporadically functioning ABS system can become very dangerous and cause a serious, if not fatal accident. Volvo stands for safety and they should stand behind their product. This faulty ABS module has become a major problem for 1998 S70's. I believe the NHTSA should mandate a recall.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #13

Sep 102001

S70

  • miles
This is a common, expensive, and potentially dangerous failure on 1998 Volvo 70-series..

- South Hamilton, MA, USA

problem #12

Aug 152002

S70

  • miles
I purchased this car in May 1997 and the warranty expired in May 2001. In July of 2001, I noticed that the ABS warning light on the dashboard would intermittently flash on and off. It did not seem to affect my regular braking. At my next oil change in December I reported this problem to the dealer. They checked it out and found no problem. Now a year later I found that the ABS light was staying on for longer and longer periods, but it was still intermittent. I brought the car in this month while the light was on. They tested it with the computer and found that the ABS control module had failed. Besides being a $600 item, this meant that whenever the light was on, which was often over the last year, I actually had no ABS function although I had no way of knowing it. I have since spoken to other Volvo owners who have had the same problem with intermittent failure of this module. I am reporting this because I feel that this is a defective part made by Volvo, and very dangerous. If someone is on an icy surface and steps on the brakd hard to activate the ABS, they will be shocked to find out the the system has failed because the ABS warning light is on. This module should last for the life of the car.

- Union, NJ, USA

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