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Research · Midsize Station Wagons

1998 Volvo V70Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 187 owner complaints for the 1998 Volvo V70. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (40) and exterior lighting (29). The EPA rates it 19–21 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
19–21mpg
EPA · 7 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Oct 2004
Owner complaints
187
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$3,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

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

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE.

Air bagsReported Aug 30, 1999NHTSA 99V236000
See all 5 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

187 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 1997 – Oct 2016
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic40
  2. Exterior lighting29
  3. Engine and engine cooling23
  4. Fuel system, gasoline13
  5. Power train12
  6. Structure12
  7. Seat belts12
  8. Electrical system11
  9. Air bags10

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

By model year

Complaints for each V70 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1998187
1999169
200093
2001221
2002106
200347
200489
200521
200624
200711
200811
20094
20104
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
15
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes, hydraulic

40 reports4 crashes1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO V70. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-60 MPH, THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND THE BRAKES MADE A GRINDING NOISE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT APPLIED. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED NORMALLY. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT (PART NUMBER 860266) WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CEASED FOR 30,000 MILES BEFORE IT RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2007Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10206298

Exterior lighting

29 reports1 crash
“EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT WHILE DRIVING, BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. FUSES ARE GOOD AND BULBS ARE GOOD AS WELL! BRAKES HAVEN'T WORKED SINCE THE DRIVE HOME HEADLIGHTS GO IN AND OUT. COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2011Exterior lightingODI 10386483

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports2 fires
“THE TIMING BELT HOLDER BROKE ON MY 1998 VOLVO WHILE ON DRIVING ON US ROUTE 40 IN CHAPEL HILL NORTH CAROLINA. THIS CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. FORTUNATELY WE WERE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 27, 2006Engine and engine coolingODI 10151274
All 1998 V70 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

7 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Station Wagons
Engines
2.4L 5-cyl · 2.4L 5-cyl turbo · 2.3L 5-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
V70 FWD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182621$3,800423
V70 FWD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172721$3,800423
V70 FWD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
172420$4,000444
V70 AWD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162319$4,200468
V70 AWD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
162219$4,200468
V70 FWD
Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
162319$4,200468
V70 FWD
Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
172319$4,200468
  • V70 FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L
    18 city · 26 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L
    17 city · 27 hwy · $3,800/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo
    17 city · 24 hwy · $4,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • V70 AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    16 city · 23 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • V70 AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.4 L, Turbo
    16 city · 22 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Auto 4-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    16 city · 23 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
  • V70 FWD
    Man 5-spd, 5 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo
    17 city · 23 hwy · $4,200/yr
    19
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 29, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1998 Volvo V70 as of Oct 29, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 29, 2026
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1998 V70 questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Volvo V70 have?

5 safety recalls as of Oct 29, 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.

What are the most common 1998 Volvo V70 problems?

Owners filed 187 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (40), exterior lighting (29), engine and engine cooling (23). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1998 Volvo V70 get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Volvo V70 at 19–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (7 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 29, 2026