Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 249 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S70, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 46 | 18% |
| Exterior lighting | 31 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 10% |
| Air bags | 14 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 12 | 5% |
| Structure | 10 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 9 | 4% |
| Tires | 8 | 3% |
| Suspension | 8 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SEARS AUTO CENTER AT 1178 EL CAMINO REAL IN SAN BRUNO, CALIFORNIA (SEARS STORE #6909) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 FOR FRONT BRAKES. SEARS RETURNED THE CAR TO ME ON 9/2/18 (A COPY OF MY "FINAL INVOICE" IS E
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Engine
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH BRIGHTER BULBS AND THEY ARE STILL DIM I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 MONITO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
KEY STUCK IN IGNITION,&ACCELEROMETER, CAUSES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
AS I WAS PULLING OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET, MY SEATBELT LET GO, SPONTANEOUSLY RELEASED ITSELF! IT DOES THIS 2-3 TIMES IN A ROW. WHEN I HEAR THE SOUND OF A SEATBELT BUCKLE CLICKING (AFTER I FASTEN MINE, SOUND SEEMS TO COME F
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 Volvo S70. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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. TH
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE.
Risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT GROUNDING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Risk: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
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.
Risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 84 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 249 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 46 of them (18%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.