NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 415 owner complaints for the 1999 Volvo S-Class. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (120) and electrical system (85).
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each S-Class model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 251 |
| 1999 | 415 |
| 2000 | 628 |
| 2001 | 322 |
| 2002 | 216 |
| 2003 | 141 |
| 2004 | 298 |
| 2005 | 140 |
| 2006 | 102 |
| 2007 | 70 |
| 2008 | 52 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 36 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 129 |
| 2013 | 94 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 67 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
“WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER”
“THERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTING OFF WORK, I HIT FULL GAS AND IT ONLY GAVE ME 3 MPH AND ALSO WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONE NIGHT FROM WORK I FEEL THE WHEEL FEEL LIKE ITS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE OR LOOSENING I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS ROUGH”
“TWICE, WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT EACH TIME, MY CAR HAS SUFFERED EXTREME ACCELERATION WHILST I WAS BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD. FIRST TIME, MY MECHANIC CHECKED ALL COMPUTER DIAGNOSTICS USING TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTER TESTING DEVICES BUT THERE WERE NO FAULT CODES. NOW, AS WELL AS HAPPENING TWICE WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE SAME SPOT, I WAS AT THE SAME SET OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS, WHICH I DO NOT SUSPECT AS BEING THE PROBLEM, BUT ALSO NEXT TO A MAJOR HOSPITAL WITH AN ADJACENT HELIPAD. MY BEST GUESS AFTER 57 YEARS IN ELECTRONICS AND 40+ IN COMPUTERS IS THAT SOME SORT OF RF INTERFERENCE IS UPSETTING MY VEHICLE. I KNOW VOLVO CHECK ALL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THEIR CARS IN SWEDEN AND WONDER WHETHER THEY HAVE EVER COME ACROSS MY PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THE ENGINE SCREAMED ITS HEAD OFF ALTHOUGH I HAD NO TIME TO WORRY ABOUT THE TACHOMETER READING. THE NOISE ITSELF WAS ADEQUATE WARNING AND THE LACK OF BRAKING MEANT THAT I HAD TO KILL THE IGNITION TO RECOVER MINE AND THE VEHICLES COMPOSURE. SWITCHING ON THE IGNITION AGAIN BOTH TIMES, THE VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN IDLED NORMALLY AND OPERATED AS IT SHOULD. *TR”
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
8 safety recalls as of Oct 31, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 415 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (120), electrical system (85), engine and engine cooling (73). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.