Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Volvo S70 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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
I have a 1998 Volvo S70 with about 88K miles on it. I had a lot of work done on it dec 20, 2006 including replacing the timing belt. On 2/15, we were driving and the engine suddenly stopped - we lost power steering and braking, etc. We managed to slow the car and get into a parking lot and had the car towed to the dealer, jordan Volvo in mishawaka, in. We found that the tensioner had failed causing the timing belt to slip off and cause what appears to be very material (retail around $4K) worth of damage to the engine. Volvo recommends replacing the tensioner at 105K miles I believe, but I have found numerous cases on message boards of people having their timing belt but not tensioner replaced and then having catastrophic engine damage. We are fortunate that we were not on a highway when this happened, or along side the road (it was probably 5 degrees out). …
My wife's car ('98 S70 t5) stop last week. I took it to the dealer and they said that the tensioner seized up. This caused major damage to the engine about $3500 worth. I got the timing belt changed at 71,000 on the recommendation of the dealership so this type of problem would not happen, but it did anyway. The car now has 108,000 miles. Volvo's corporate customer service called me today and said the they are not responsible due to the mileage of the car and it is far out of warranty. I am awaiting a response from the dealership. Searching the web I have found numerous postings of similar compliants with the tensioner. Something must be done to correct this problem.
1998 Volvo S70 lost power then stalled multiple times (9) while driving approximately July 27, 2005 . I am concerned about danger of stalling in traffic and getting rear ended or if stalls in intersection. Or being stranded. Was able to get it to the dealer. They found "failing mass air flow sensor". They replaced it and it runs fine now. Old part is not available. But service and repair cost $369.20. I noticed that there are other S70 owners with this problem on mycarstats.com and an article in caranddriver.com.
1998 Volvo S70 t5-vehicle intermittently, without prior indication will cease to operate while traveling. Engine light will come on and engine will hesitate and then shut down. Occurs generally 2 or 3 times in a day or two and then maybe not again for a month or so. Three different Volvo repair shops have been ineffective in diagnosing...failure has occurred on high speed arterial roads as well as while idling/ stopped .
Prior to the 30K mile tune-up the consumer complained to the dealer and the vehicle driving hard, shifting hard, the tachometer reading higher and the smell of burning oil, the dealer check the vehicle and found nothing wrong, while driving with 36K miles on the vehicle it began to smoke under the hood and caught fire, the manufacturer is denying any responsibility. Nlm
While driving down I-85 s. On 12/30/04 in my 1998 Volvo s-70 the tensioner wheel exploded causing the timing belt to disengage from the engine thus loosing all engine power at 70 MPH without warning and doing over 2000.oo dollars worth of engine damage. From examination of the defective part, the goove guides just shattered leaving no grooves for belt guidance.
While braking, the vehicle vibrated. Took vehicle to dealership and the mechanic indicated there was a crack in the brake master cylinder. The ABS light illuminated, the oxygen sensor was replaced, the vacuum line was replaced, the upper torque arm bushing broke, the door locking system broke, the inside door panel came apart.
Consumer 1998 S70 engine has failed on two different occasions, timing belt serpentine belt has been replaced. ***** the consumer believed this was a premature failure. The water pump was leaking. The front spring seat was replaced.
Engine complaints in other S70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Volvo S70?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Volvo S70, 11% of the model year's 215 complaints. The component named most often is engine (8 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Volvo S70 engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Volvo S70, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Volvo S70 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 94,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.