Problems · by component

1999 Volvo S-Class electrical system problems

85 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Volvo S-Class cite electrical system, 20% of all 415 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
85
20% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11373728
“WHILE DRIVING SPEED NEEDLE GOES BACK TO ZERO AS IF YOU ARE NOT MOVIN, SHOW NO MILEAGE NUMBERS N MILES YOU HAVE GONE OR ZERO TRIP MILES, MANY LIGHTON BREAKS, ABS ECT.ALL WHILE DRIVINGIF STOP WHEN TIME TO GO CAR THINKS IT IS IN PARK ALL THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFICHAVE PIC CAN NOT DOWN LOAD BE GLAD TO SEND”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2017Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11042001
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A MASS AIR FLOW FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DON IMPORTS AUTO SERVICE IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEIGHBOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2017Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11034282
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND WAS ABLE TO TURN IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2014Steering, Electrical systemODI 10664507
“I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I LOSE BRAKE CONTROL! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2014Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 10558799
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S70. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ETS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000. UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CAMSHAFT SEAL, IDLER PULLEY, TENSIONER AND WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10450293

Showing 6 of 85 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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