Problems · by component

1998 Volvo S-Class exterior lighting problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S-Class cite exterior lighting, 13% of all 251 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.

Complaints
32
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH BRIGHTER BULBS AND THEY ARE STILL DIM I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 26, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10947858
“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
“VOLVO CUSTOMER RELATIONS RE: VIN [XXX], 1998 S70 SIR OR MADAM MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 1998 VOLVO S70 IN 2000. TWO NIGHTS AGO AS WE WERE DRIVING ON A 30-MILE RURAL-STRETCH HOME, OUR HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. WITH THE SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT BY PUSHING THE SWITCH INWARD TOWARD THE DASH, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD STAY LIT, SO LONG AS YOU WERE CONSTANTLY PUSHING IN THE SWITCH. YESTERDAY I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY NHTSA RECALL NO. 99V235/VOLVO RECALL NO. 94. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS TO GET THIS PART REPLACED. VOLVO OF LISLE RETRIEVED MY CARS INFORMATION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL ON 051799, PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE RECALL ON THE SWITCH WAS ISSUED BY THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE PROBLEM PUT THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2003Exterior lightingODI 10036937
“99 V 235 000/HEADLIGHT SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. A RECALL IS ON THIS MAKE & MODEL, BUT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL. NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 1, 2002Exterior lightingODI 8019959
“I PURCHASED THE CAR JAN.26 2001. TWO DAYS LATER I HAD IT IN FOR REPEATED OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY LEAKS. ALSO THE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, THE FOGLIGHT WAS OUT, THE CAR HAD MISMATCHED TIRES, THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY AND WAS TIED ON WITH A WIRE. A MONTH LATER THE O2 SENSOR WENT OUT IN THE CAR AND WAS ALSO MAKING A WINDING NOISE. DEALER CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THE HUB WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHIHG. APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH WENT OUT. THE AIR GUIDE WAS ALSO REPLACED ON THE CAR. OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK. I TOOK IT TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AN DTHEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THREE OIL LEAKS IN A MATTER OF TWO HOURS. THEY RECCOMENDED THE TURBO UNIT BE REPLACED THAT IT WAS BAD. ON VACATION THIS SUMMER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONCE MORE CAM ON AND DEALER STATED A FUEL GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. AUGUST THIS YEAR THE FAN BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG. SEPT. 24 2001, I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND IT WOUL DNOT TURN OVER. THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2001Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Exterior lighting, TiresODI 752678
“PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE BULBS, FRONT AND REAR AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER IS NOW RECONIZING THE PROBLAM AS A DEFECT.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2001Exterior lightingODI 562496

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

3 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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

Exterior lightingReported Oct 21, 2004NHTSA 04V504000

Exterior lighting: turn signal

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Dec 6, 2000NHTSA 00V405000

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.

Exterior lightingReported Aug 30, 1999NHTSA 99V235000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

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