5.2

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,833 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1998 Volvo S70:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Oct 192003

S70

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles
While driving 25 mph, the headlights went out. The dealer determined that the headlight switch needed to be replaced.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #5

Aug 272003

S70 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
Volvo customer relations re: VIN [xxx], 1998 S70 sir or madam my wife and I purchased a pre-owned 1998 Volvo S70 in 2000. Two nights ago as we were driving on a 30-mile rural-stretch home, our headlight switch began to malfunction. With the switch in the on position, the dashboard lights were off and the headlights and taillights would intermittently go out. We pulled off the road and discovered that by pushing the switch inward toward the dash, the dashboard lights, headlights and taillights would stay lit, so long as you were constantly pushing in the switch. Yesterday I searched the internet and discovered that this is a problem that has been addressed by NHTSA recall no. 99V235/Volvo recall no. 94. I immediately started making phone calls to get this part replaced. Volvo of lisle retrieved my carS information and informed me that the switch had already been replaced under the recall on 051799, prior to our purchase of the vehicle. They also informed me that because the original switch had already been replaced according to their records, I would be required to pay for the repair. The recall on the switch was issued by the NHTSA because the problem put the driver at risk of having an accident. Obviously, the problem still exists, and to my dismay I am forced to pay for it. I feel that Volvo is always responsible for fixing the design, regardless of how many times the part under recall breaks. I expect the NHTSA to investigate this issue, as I am sending them a copy of this letter. I kept the broken switch and I would like a name and address in your warranty department to send it to. I expect to be refunded the costs I incurred for this repair, as well as receiving a new switch installed free of charge, once this problem is fixed. I am looking forward to hearing from you. Cc: NHTSA. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #4

Sep 292002

S70

  • miles
99 V 235 000/headlight switch: Consumer states that the head lights went out while driving at night. A recall is on this make & model, but the dealer and the manufacturer informed that the vehicle VIN# was not cover under that recall. Nlm

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 022002

S70

  • miles
Headlights will go out while consumer is driving, and the only way to keep headlights on is to hold switch in the on position. Contacted dealer.

- Manomet, MA, USA

problem #2

Aug 121999

S70

  • miles
Repeated failure of headlamps, selector switch (lights go out), and turn signal. I need to continuously apply pressure to the selector switch in order to keep the lights on - this makes driving unsafe.

- Warren, NJ, USA

problem #1

Jan 011998

S70

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Headlight switch failed.

- Tustin, CA, USA