Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 218 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 52 | 24% |
| Electrical system | 30 | 14% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 24 | 11% |
| Fuel system | 15 | 7% |
| Structure | 15 | 7% |
| Air bags | 9 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 2% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 45MPH COLLISION ON 9/12/2017. FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS IMPACTED. THE COLLISION WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO BLOW. HOWEVER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT BLOW
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, ALL THE LIGHTING AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
CAR STATIONARY. I HAVE TO TURN KEY TO '1' POSITION, PUSH IN' SHIFTLOCK'OVERRIDE' BUTTON BEFORE I CAN PUT CAR INTO GEAR.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT A LOW SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I HAVE A VOVLO 1999 S70 TURBO I HAVEN'T HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS OUT OF IT..JUST NORMAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL LATE DEC I GOT IN MY CAR STARTED IT UP IT STARTED WITH NOW PROBLEM BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY PULLED UP INTO ONGOING TRA
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPEN I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY. I CAME TO A STOP RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME TO PULL OUT IN ON GOING TRAFFIC I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL IT GAVE ME ENOUGH FORCE TO PULL
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1999 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 VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Risk: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
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.
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: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SEDANS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET CONFIGURATION MARGINS ARE INSUFFICIENT.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL FILTER PROTECTION BRACKET.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | 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 218 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 52 of them (24%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.