Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
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 the car jan.26 2001. Two days later I had it in for repeated oil leaks. Dealer stated they were unable to locate any leaks. Also the headlight was out, the foglight was out, the car had mismatched tires, the fuel cap was not attached properly and was tied on with a wire. A month later the o2 sensor went out in the car and was also making a winding noise. Dealer came out and told me that the hub was bad and needed to be replaced. The car continued to have oil leaks. Dealer stated they could not find anythihg. Approx. 1 month later the rear passenger window switch went out. The air guide was also replaced on the car. Oil continued to leak. I took it to an outside source an dthey were able to find three oil leaks in a matter of two hours. They reccomended the turbo unit be replaced that it was bad. …
Volvo customer relations re: VIN [redacted], 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. …
Electrical problems since shortly after purchase of vehicle, to dealer 25 times. Dashboard light would come on, indicating that headlights were not working when in fact they were. Dealer stated vehicle had a bulb and socket problem, taillight bulb failed, signal lights flash very fast, side signals sockets and bulbs shorted, 4 running light contacts melted, front headlight shorted, left front headlight inoperable, and bulb indicator illuminated. Door locks inoperable, windows would not go up, master window control switch faulty, and speakers distorted. Seat belt plastic part cracked. Transmission sticks on lowe gear, happened twice. Gas light comes on even when tank is full. Washer fluid inidcator illuminated, washer jets inoperable, wiper blads replaced, right side mirror did not adjust all the way out. Front and rear brake pads worn, rotors replaced, brakes cause screeching noises. …
Over maximum "30" second period, vehicle bucked, then interior lights came on and began blinking, then throttle stuck in "full" position, then brakes failed completely while black smoke emerged from under hood and wheel wells, then flames visible from from grill over hood of car, then vehicle finally brought to stop using emergency brakes at which time flames were two-three feet high from grill and wheel well(s) area of car - exited immediately - car total loss ..... Have since been made aware of "another" '98 S70 fire with very similar sequence of failure events and result - Volvo contacted and claims evidence of animal nest under hood (assistance denied) - cinncinati insurance (my carrier) hired & conducted professional/independent fire investigation with results pending ...... …
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.
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.
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!
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.
I believe the information is self explanatory. Thank you. My situation has been escalated to the manufacturer who over the past 6-7 weeks has been extremely unresponsive to my requests to establish meeting. No safety defect listed in summary.
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
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, over an extended period of time, the headlight switch May cease to function.
Remedy: On vehicles with an original OEM switch, dealers will replace the headlight switch. All other vehicles will be inspected to determine if the switch has een damaged and replace only if necessary.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. There could be inadequate contact between the bulb and socket which could cause the front turn signal not to function as designed.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front turn signal bulb and socket.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlight switch.
NHTSA investigations
Headlight failure
On August 23, 1999, Volvo notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall (99V235) on certain 1997 model year (my) 850 vehicles and certain 1998 s/v/c 70 series vehicles for failure of the headlight switch.the defect report stated in part: operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.Volvo's remedy for this recall was to replace the…
TURN SIGNAL
There is no summary currently available
Headlight complaints in other S70 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 1998 Volvo S70?
NHTSA has 37 complaints about the lights of the 1998 Volvo S70, 17% of the model year's 215 complaints. The component named most often is turn signal (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Volvo S70 headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-504 (switch, Oct 21, 2004); NHTSA recall 00V-405 (turn signal, Dec 6, 2000); NHTSA recall 99V-235 (switch, Aug 30, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Volvo S70 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles.
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.