1998 Volvo V70: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 242 complaints
242
Total Complaints
78,582mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
20
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

55,000 25th Percentile
78,582 Median Mileage
120,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
19
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
TIRES
6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6

Severity Assessment

20
Crashes
9
Fires
15
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CONSUMER WOULD SMELL GAS VERY STRONGLY AFTER FILLING TANK. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/12/9., DEALER STATED THAT A PROLBEM EXISTED WITH THE EXPANSION TANK AND THAT THE TANK WOULD BE REPLACED. *AK"
"THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE REAR SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS OUT OF THE SEAT BACK MECHANISM AND WILL NOT GO BACK INTO THE MECHANISM. THE MIDDLE BELT WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST OF 97 FOR THE SAME REASON. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE IS BEING REPAIRED BY DEALER AT THIS TIME."
"CONSUMER'S SON WAS EXITING FROM THE REAR DOOR. WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN HIS LEG WAS RIGHT UP AGAINST THE TAIL PIPE, HE SUFFERED 2ND DEGREE BURNS. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO DOCTOR AND WAS PRESCRIBED ANTI-BIOTICS FOR INFECTION DUE TO BURN. INCIDENT HAPPENED ON MAY 13, WHICH IS THE FIRST TIME CONSUMER WAS TAKE..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28