The 1998 Volvo C70 has 4 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (2 complaints).
Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints7filed by owners
Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
NHTSA recall 04V504000 · Oct 21, 2004 · 97,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Risk: THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal
NHTSA recall 00V405000 · Dec 6, 2000 · 245,894 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
Air bags › Frontal
NHTSA recall 99V236000 · Aug 30, 1999 · 124,381 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE OVERLY SENSITIVE TO CERTAIN ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE.
Risk: THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GROUND WIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT GROUNDING.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
NHTSA recall 99V235000 · Aug 30, 1999 · 139,588 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.
Risk: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
C70
20mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.4 L · 5 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
C70 Convertible
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.3 L · 5 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
C70 Convertible
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.3 L · 5 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
C70 Convertible
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.4 L · 5 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
C70
19mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.3 L · 5 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
C70
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.3 L · 5 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
2
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
1
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Doors › Latch
1
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
1
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
1
0
0
0
—
Steering
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 20, 2011 · 78,200 milesSteering CAR HAS BEEN AT A RECOGNIZED AUTO REPAIR FACILITY AND HAS BEEN HAVING MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED. IT WAS SEEN THAT THE CAR HAD SUFFERED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING RACK WITH THE HOUSING FRACTURING, AND ALL OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID BEING LOST. THERE WAS NO IMPACT AND THE HOUSING APPEARS CRYSTALLINE AT THE BREAK. THERE WAS NO IMPACT CAUSING THIS DAMAGE, WHICH HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD HAVE HAD SEVERE CONSEQUENCES
Jun 16, 2006 · 90,000 milesStructure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOORS SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE ALSO FAILED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THIS COULD LEAD TO ENTRAPMENT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
Jul 7, 2004 · 51,700 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THIS HAS BEEN A REGULAR OCCURRENCE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED REPLACED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED.
Dec 9, 2004 · 125,000 milesVehicle speed control DT: CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 45 MPH. . THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 8-12 MONTHS AGO. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. CONTACT HAD NOT REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER. ALSO, LOST POWER STEERING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT TOOK ABOUT 30-60 SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START AGAIN. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Nov 12, 2003Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch 1998 VOLVO C70 PASSENGER DOOR LATCH FAILURE - HAVE REPLACED MECHANISM TWICE IN PAST 2 YEARS. NO INJURY BUT 2ND FAILURE PREVENTED OPENING DOOR FROM INSIDE CAR CREATING SAFETY RISK. THANK YOU. *LA
Oct 24, 2003 · 89,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE SENSOR LIGHT TO STAY ON. *AK
Dec 11, 2002 · 72,453 milesTires › Tread/belt WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON OPEN HIGHWAY, DRIVER SIDE FONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND TIRE DESINTEGRATED CAUSING VEHICLE TO TURN LEFT ALMOST RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. TIRE TYPE BF GOODRICH COMP T/A, 225/45ZR-17. TIRE CAME APART COMPLETELY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD SURFACE, EVEN PAVEMENT, AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 46 DEGREES, DRY SURFACE AND CALM WINDS.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
RQ04004 · opened Jun 8, 2004 · closed Nov 5, 2004 · led to recall 04V504000HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN RESULT IN INCONSISTENT OPERATION OF THE SWITCH.VOLVO'S REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL WAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THIS RECALL QUERY INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON JUNE 8, 2004, BASED ON 13 REPORTS OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE ON 1998 AND 1999 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE EARLIER RECALL.BY LETTER OF OCTOBER 18, 2004, VOLVO HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL NOW CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF AN ADDITIONAL 97,000 MY 1998 THROUGH 2000 S70/V70/V70XC AND C70 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE 5, 1997 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2000. VOLVO DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT…