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1998 Volvo V70XC

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Compare all V70XC years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports
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104,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System

ON A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLVOS THE ABS COMPUTER FAILS RESULTING IN LOSS OF PROPER BRAKING. NORMAL USE CAUSES THIS, IN THIS ALL TO COMMON FAILURE, AND VOLVO IS AWARE OF THEIR SHORT COMINGS IN THIS PROBLEM, THUS FAR REFUSING TO CORRECT A HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY RESULTED IN INJURY AND DEATH. THE REPLACEMENT C…

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ON A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLVOS THE ABS COMPUTER FAILS RESULTING IN LOSS OF PROPER BRAKING. NORMAL USE CAUSES THIS, IN THIS ALL TO COMMON FAILURE, AND VOLVO IS AWARE OF THEIR SHORT COMINGS IN THIS PROBLEM, THUS FAR REFUSING TO CORRECT A HIGHLY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY RESULTED IN INJURY AND DEATH. THE REPLACEMENT COMPUTERS FROM VOLVO ARE OF THE SAME LACK OF RELIABILITY. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND CERTAINLY REPRESENTS A SERIOUS FAILURE IN A CRITICAL SYSTEM TO THE AUTOMOBILE. IN ADDITION TO BEING A SERIOUS FAILURE, VOLVO HAS MADE IT A VERY EXPENSIVE (HENCE PROFITABLE) REPAIR. ESTIMATES RANGING FROM $500.00 TO $850.00 FOR THE REPAIR ARE THE NORM. THE PART ITSELF IS AROUND $500.00, SO VOLVO MAKES A NICE PROFIT FROM EACH ONE REPLACED AND IS GUARANTEED ANOTHER REPLACEMENT FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD SINCE THEY HAVE NOT EVEN ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH THEIR REPLACEMENT UNITS. TO DO SO WOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF, SO THEY WONT. IF EVER A GOVERNMENT MANDATED RECALL WAS APPROPRIATE THIS IS IT. IT WOULD SEEM THAT A CAR COMPANY AS PROUD OF THEIR SAFETY RATINGS AS VOLVO IS WOULD BE WILLING TO CORRECT THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL FLAW. AS THEY SEEM NOT TO BE IT SHOULD BE DEMANDED OF THEM. THEY SHOULD BE MANDATED TO RECALL ALL MODELS PRONE TO THIS FAILURE AND TO BE REQUIRED TO REIMBURSE CONSUMERS THAT CAN PRODUCE RECEIPTS PROVING THEY HAD TO HAVE THIS REPAIR DONE. THERE ARE REBUILDERS THAT CAN MAKE THE OLD UNIT STRONGER, MORE RELIABLE, IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, SO VOLVO COULD DO IT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10346048

Official recalls

1

04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 21, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

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. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.