general problems of the 1998 Volvo V70

Five problems related to electrical system have been reported for the 1998 Volvo V70. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 03/22/2006

While running slowly my Volvo 98 xc just slowed up and stopped. I was able to restart after about a half minute and 3 tries. When it did not start, there was no sound of "turnover" occurring. No damage happened, since I was driving slowly within a parking garage. The first failure (that mirrored the most recent) was about a month ago while driving slowly down a residential street. The dealer could not find a defect following the first failure, so I have been driving the car since then. The dealer did no repairs after the first failure. The weather has been cool (30-50f) and dry.

2 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 12/22/2005

I have a Volvo V70 xc, awd, 1998. I brought the car to a Volvo dealer, smythe Volvo, for a routine repair of clunking noise I heard. They said it was due to a strut problem, but also found several un-related repair items. All together, they spent two days on repair and charged me $1700 for it. On the same night that I got the car back, the engine died on the freeway without any warning before, during, and after the incidence. I almost got killed on the freeway. I was able to slide it out of the freeway ramp and had the car towed back to the dealer. On the 3rd day, the dealer said it was an engine sensor failure but had no explanation of why there was no warning signal to user, and why they couldn't pick up any sign from the prior two days of repair. If what they said was true, there is a very serious safety issue here that could impact the lives of millions of drivers out there. Please clarify for me if this issue was known to the NHTSA and what Volvo as a company should do or have done about it. I'm afraid to drive the car under the circumstances and would like to see this issue got answered quickly.

3 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 11/26/2005

Volvo V70 1998 - fire in engine compartment - car destroyed during routine driving, engine stops. Driver notices smoke coming from engine compartment and electrical systems (lights) blinking. In a few minutes the car is totally destroyed by fire. When I visited the wrecker's yard I found a Volvo 850 wagon that was destroyed by fire in the same way!.

4 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 08/03/2003

Rear passenger side doors can not be opened manually or electrically. Consumer stated there is no way his paraplegic son can exit the vehicle if there was a fire or collision. Lock motors failed once and were replaced. Mechanic had to break a part in the door to release the lock.

5 Electrical System problem

Failure Date: 04/01/1999

Vehicle is experiencing possible electrical problems, the passenger window will not close from the driver's side, the front headlight wiper won't work, the lights on the console don't seem to work properly, and the left headlight went out.




Fuel Economy of V70 Vehicles
V70 Service Bulletins
V70 Safety Recalls
V70 Defect Investigations