Problems · by component

1998 Volvo S-Class electrical system problems

30 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S-Class cite electrical system, 12% of all 251 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
30
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 MONITORS ARE STILL NOT SET AND HAVE SINCE REPAIRED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STILL CAN NOT GET AN EMISSIONS TEST. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 8, 2017Electrical system, EngineODI 10940374
“DT: THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER, IT SHUTS DOWN. USUALLY IT WILL START BACK. CAN CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC, AND IT WILL JUST STALL. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY PUT DIFFERENT PARTS ON IT TO NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING AFTER IT STALLS. BACK IN JANUARY THE TURBO WENT IT OUT AND THEY REPLACED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL SKIPPING. THIS STARTED HAPPENING AROUND JANUARY 15, 2005. *NM THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2005Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 10130962
“ENGINE STALLED LEAVING ME STRANDED IN AN INTERSECTION IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART. POLICE OFFICER HAD TO PUSH ME OFF THE STREET BECAUSE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER STILL HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2005Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10137808
“98 VOLVO S70; EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING; I'VE HAD TWO MECHANICS LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND NO ONE CAN PIN POINT THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, DICK DYER VOLVO ON AUGUST 2ND AND THEY CAN NOT LOOK AT MY CAR UNTIL AUGUST 19TH. AS A MOTHER OF A YOUNG CHILD, IT IS FRIGHTENING TO PULL OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. I EMAILED CORPORATE VOLVO ON 8/3/05 AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THIS HAD BEEN A RECURRING PROBLEM SINCE FEB 05; ABOUT EVERY 1-2 WEEKS MY CAR WILL STALL WHEN I BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN AT A LIGHT. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2005Electrical systemODI 10132055
“WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN THREE TIMES IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS. THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. *JB THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS AND THE 4 TRACKING SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER SUGGESTED THAT THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN VALID DUE TO A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL MODULE. *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2004Electrical systemODI 10083336
“I PURCHASED A 1998 S70 VOLVO FROM SUBURBAN VOLVO IN TROY MICHIGAN. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD TO RETURN IF THE A/C LEAKED. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHYSICAL LEAK, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THERE IS NO PHYSICAL INDICIATION OF A PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE CAR ON TWO MORE OCCASSIONS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE A/C HAD A LEAK AND I HAD TO PAY $1,400 TO HAVE REPAIRED. I EXPLAINED TO THE SUBURBAN DEALER THAT I FELT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A LEAK. TO FURTHER ADD TO THE STORY, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED FOR A RECALL ON THE LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THE RECALL WAS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS OR TAILIGHTS. WHILE IN THE SHOP, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT WIPERS NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A HEADLIGHT MOTOR AT A COST OF ABOUT 4 OR 5 HUNDRED DOLLARS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD NO IT HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT LATER (AFTER THE TIRE ROD BROKE WHILE BEING DRIVEN) THAT THE TIRE ROD HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD REPAIRED AT A COST OF 800.00…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2003Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EquipmentODI 10048874

Showing 6 of 30 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.