Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. OTHER VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BUMPER, AND CAUSED CONSUMER TO HIT A TREE. THEN, BOUNCED OFF INTO A RETAINING WALL WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. WINDOWS WERE BUSTED OUT THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DAMAGED, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK
DUE TO A PROBLEM WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS AND SIGNAL LIGHTS PREMATURELY BLEW OUT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
HEADLIGTHS BURNED OUT FREQUENTLY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES OVER 2YRS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON. RECALL 99V235000. *AK *ML
1ST PROBLEM WITH CAR, DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO SLAM DOOR WOULD BOUNCE OFF DOOR FRAME. 2ND PROBLEM STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS ONLY WHICH WOULD RESULT IN STIFFNESS OF LEFT TURN. 3RD PROBLEM , 1ST WINTER THAT I HAD THE CAR, THE MOLDING AT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WOULD BE OFF OF THE WINDOW BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THE SNOW, THE DEALER REPLACED MOLDING. 2ND WINTER CAME ALONG, FRONT WINDSHIELD MOLDING OFF OF THE WINDOW. THE DEALER STATED I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT, AND STATED THAT IT WAS BECAUSE I HIT MOLDING WITH ICE SCRAPER, I EXPLAINED MOLDING WAS ALREADY OFF BEFORE ICE & SNOW REMOVAL. DEALER/OWNER ASKED WHERE IS THE MOLDING I TOLD HIM I DO NOT KNOW, IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT IT WAS NO LONGER THERE. SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT SINCE I HIT MOLDING WITH ICE SCRAPER THAT AIR GOT UNDER MOLDING AND WHEN DRIVING CAME OFF. BUT BOTH TIMES MOLDING OFF WINDOW PRIOR TO ANY ATTEMPT OF ICE & SNOW REMOVAL. THEREFORE, I WILL HAVE TO PAY $50.00. THANK YOU. *AK
ROUTINELY, WHEN SEAT BELT IS DISENGAGED, IT DOES NOT WITHDRAW COMPLETELY AND CATCHES IN DOOR JAM OF DOOR (DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER). *AK
THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED FAILURES OF LIGHT BULBS (TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.)-- 12 DOCUMENTED FROM DEALER, ANOTHER 4-6 NOT DOCUMENTED BECAUSE FIXED "INFORMALLY" . THE DEALER CLAIMS THE FAILURES ARE DUE TO CHEAP HALOGEN BULBS NOW USED BY VOLVO RATHER THAN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. I NOTICE THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL INVOLVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHETHER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR THE BULBS ARE AT FAULT, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE FAILURE RATE OF HEADLIGHTS FOR A LONG TIME (3 BURNED OUT IN 1 YEAR ON MY CAR!)BUT THEY MAKE OWNERS PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS AS "A MAINTENANCE ITEM". LIGHT BULBS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY (E.G. 10,000 HOURS) UNDER THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF "REASONABLE EXPECTATION". C'MON, VOLVO, 'FESS UP!
ENGINE FAILED.*ET
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON USING THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL THE BULB BLEW, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. *AK
THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT TWICE, AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ONCE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND KEEP BURNING OUT, AND THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS EIGHT OR NINE TIMES. *AK
BATTERY FAILURE.
PASSENGER SIDE AUTO DOOR LOCK.
BATTERY.
POOR VISIBILITY BEHIND VEHICLE. HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IS INAPPROPRIATELY POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT HANDLE, AND IS ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHED ON. REMOTE CONTROL FOR THE REAR TRUNK IS OVER-SENSITIVE.
TIRE BLEW. MICHELINSIZE 195/6/1215.
POWER WINDOW SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO BECOME STUCK IN ONE POSITION OR NOT TO GO UP OR DOWN, ALSO A PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE POWER DOOR LATCHES AND LOCKS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON REGULARLY. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *ML
VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT 30-35 MPH; HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION *AK.
INTAKE VENT PORT BLEW OUT, ALSO, LOST BRAKING.
1. 12/23/97: CAR DIED IN SLOW FREEWAY TRAFFIC; RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES, BUT "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" STAYED ON. DIAGNOSED AS PROBLEM WITH AIR MASS SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. 2. 11/11/98: RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED; MOTOR REPLACED. 3. EACH OF FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT WITH LESS THAN 15K IN MILEAGE. 4. 1/13/99: RT AND LT OUTER TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT; BULBS WERE REPLACED. 5. 3/3/99: RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BEGAN FLASHING TOO QUICKLY; BOTH RT AND LT TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS WERE REPLACED. 6. 4/28/99: TAILIGHTS AGAIN FAILED, SOCKETS AND BULBS WERE REPLACED; 7. 4/29/99: LEFT TURN SIGNAL FLASHING TOO QUICKLY (EVEN THOUGH SOCKET HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON 3/3/99 TO DEAL WITH ANTICIPATED CORRUSION PROBLEM). MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAVE HAD MORE SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN IN 25 YEARS OF OWNING ALL OF OUR OTHER CARS COMBINED.
CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, AND THE PASSAGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. *AK
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL ASSEMBLY DISENGAGED FROM THE CAR WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT
WHEEL RIMS BENT DUE TO WEAK DESIGN MATERIAL. *YC
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.
TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY FAILS TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE GEAR. ADDITIONALLY, TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY KICKS STRONGLY WHEN IT ENGAGES IN REVERSE GEAR.
CYNSUMER FEEL THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE RIMS ARE NOT OF PROPER STRENGTH UPON IMPACT.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION DUE TO (4) WHEELS BEING BENT, MATERIAL USED IS NOT THE PROPER STRENGTH TO ABSORB THE IMPACT CREATED BY ROAD CONDITION.
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE CAR STARTED "BUCKING/ WOULD FEEL A LUNGING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHILE IDLING AT STOP SIGNS. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WAS TOLD "THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM" - IT IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS PRIOR TO PURCHASE. SAID VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR WORKING ON IT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING A COMPUTER CHIP IS DEFECTIVE AND IT IS FIRING FUEL INTO THE INJECTORS RANDOMLY. I ASKED IF THIS IS DANGEROUS, COULD THIS CAUSE A FIRE, ETC. AND WAS TOLD NO. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN TWICE AND HAD THIS PROBLEM DOCUMENTED AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING. IT HAS NOT IMPROVED, ONLY BECOME MORE FREQUENT. THE CAR SURGES WHEN AT STOP SIGNS, IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HAS BUMPED INTO ME. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I PURCHASE THIS CAR "NEW" AND WAS NOT ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT CAR. ALSO WHETHER THE CAR IS IN DRIVE OR PARK, THIS SURGING OCCURS. ALSO A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED CAR THE O'RING CRACKED AND OIL AND TRANSAXLE GREASE WAS LEAKING OUT, UNBEKNOWNST TO ME IMMEDIATLEY. WHEN I TOOK IT IN WAS ADVISED THE RING HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY AND IT HAD BROKEN. I ASKED SINCE ALL THAT FLUID LEAKED OUT HAS ANY DAMAGE BEEN DONE OR WOULD THIS AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE IN THE FUTURE, WAS ADVISED NO. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. PLEASE HELP ME.
WHILE DRIVING HAD NO FRONTAL IMPACTS, HOWEVER, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED IN GERMANY. *AK
HEAD RESTRAINTS MOUNTED TOO HIGH CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.
HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED.
LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. *YC
NO DEPLOYMENT OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DURING COLLISION. *YC
POWER DOOR LOCK FAILS WITH REMOTE UNIT. MJS
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED. *YC
PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT OPEN VEHICLE. MJS
RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED. NLM
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. YH
SHOCK ABSORBER FAILED. YH
TRUNK LID STRUTS FAILED,CAUSED MINOR INJURIES WHEN LID COLLASPED. YH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED. *YC
HEADLIGHT FAILED. *YC
BATTERY FAILED. *YC
SIGNAL LIGHT FAILED. (BLINKER) YH
LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL SOCKET BEGAN TO SMOULDER AND CHAR POSSIBLE FIRE COULD HAVE RESULTED. OTHER INSTANCES REPORTED ON WWW.DEJANEWS.COM
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15 MPH THROUGH A GREEN LIGHT. AND COMING FROM MY LEFT A 1988 CHEVY S-10 WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 30MPH. I HAD NO TIME TO REACH FOR THE BRAKES, AND I RAMMED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE S10 . THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE VOLVO WAS SMASHED . IF I'M TOLD YOU NEED A HEAD-ON COLLISION FOR DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. O.K. IF THE WHOLE FRONT END IS GONE WHY DIDN'T THE AIR BAGS WORK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
WHEN DRIVER TURNED ON THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH TO MAKE A TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WON'T RETURN TO PLACE UNLESS THE CONSUMER DID IT MANUALLY OR MADE A WIDER TURN. ALSO, WHEN THE LIGHT IS BEING USED TO TURN TO LEFT, CONSUMER HAS TO TURN TO RIGHT SO THE BLINKING LIGHT CAN STOP. *AK *ML
CONSUMER DROVE CAR TO GAS STATION, PUMPED GAS, TURNED THE KEY AND THE BATTERY EXPLODED, SMOKE UNDERHOOD AND FLUID ON THE GROUND, ACID AND HOLES ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIR WORK WAS DONE. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE AND EXPLAIN. *AK.ET.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERICING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING STARTS TO SHAKE AND THE PEDAL VIRBRATES. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO GO UP.*AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Volvo S70 → · Every S70 year → · How the figures are calculated →