1998 Volvo S70 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1998 Volvo S70 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 317
- on record
- Top problem area
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
- 31 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 0
- none on record
- Reported harm
- 11 reported crashes · 17 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#1,669
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Volvo median
+151
median 166 across 37 Volvo records
Vs 1996-2000
+49
median 268 complaints in 623 records
Top component share
15%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 47 complaints
What owners report fails — 1998 Volvo S70
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 31
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20
- SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 16
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL 13
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY 11
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1998 Volvo S70
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1998 Volvo S70 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Volvo S70 reliable?
NHTSA has 317 consumer complaints on record for the 1998 Volvo S70. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (31 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1998 Volvo S70 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volvo S70?
Owners most often report problems with: service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (31), electrical system (20), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module (16), exterior lighting:turn signal (13). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 1998 Volvo S70?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.