Model year record
1998 Volvo S90 recalls & problems
The 1998 Volvo S90 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 25 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (12 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1998 Volvo S90.
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.
Crash test ratings
1998 Volvo S90 4-DR. w/SAB
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
S90
| City / highway | 16 / 23 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
2.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Pads; Foundation components | 12 | — |
| VisibilitySun/moon roof assembly; Windshield | 6 | 50,000 mi |
| EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 4 | — |
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 4 | — |
| Power trainDriveline › Universal joint; Automatic transmission | 3 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline | 1 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition | 1 | — |
| SteeringRack and pinion › Rack | 1 | — |
| Parking brakeDriveline › Hydraulic › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 1 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Tires
MICHELIN TIRES - PILOT SPORT A/S SPORT PLUS- 205/55/ZR16. TIRE SIDE WALLS ARE SEPARATING - THIS PROBLEM IS KNOW AS CHUNKING. TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
- Vehicle speed control
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING VOLVO PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD RACE IN AN ERRATIC MANNER FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON AS HIGH AS 5,000 RPM'S. USING THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
- Vehicle speed controlCrash
WHILE BACKING INTO MY GARAGE ON 2/6/2010, MY 1998 VOLVO S90 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS SPEEDING AND I APPLIED THE BRAKE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS GOING SO FAST THAT IT CRASHED INTO A WOODEN PLATFORM IN MY GARAGE. THE PLATFORM AND MY CAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN REPAIRED; BUT MY CAR WAS TOTALED (>$5000.00 IN DAMAGES). I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND VOLVO CUSTOMER CAR AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
- Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO S90. THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. SHE PRESSED THE GEAR RELEASE BUTTON AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE WALL AND THEN INTO THE HOUSE. THE VEHICLE, GARAGE WALL, AND HOUSE WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000.
- Parking brake › Driveline › Hydraulic › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING A STATE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE WORN AND FRACTURED. THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THE SAME CONDITION, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
- Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
1988 VOLVO S90 SUNROOF HAS BROKEN DOWN REPEATEDLY SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT WOULD TYPICALLY WORK APPROXIMATELY A FEW TIMES THEN MALFUNCTION UNEXPECTEDLY WITH BROKEN PIECES RAINING DOWN UPON THE HEADS OF THE FRONT OCCUPANTS, POSING A DANGER TO DRIVING. AFTER THE MALFUNCTION IT WOULD THEN NOT BE OPERABLE AT ALL, POSING A THREAT TO WEATHER DAMAGE, THEFT, ETC. AFTER REPAIRING IT SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH THE DEALER (DICK DYER VOLVO OF COLUMBIA, SC) AND VOLVO REFUSED TO FIX IT ANY MORE UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EXACTLY AT 50,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLVO CLAIMED THE WARRANTY WAS GOOD UP TO, BUT NOT INCLUDING, 50,000 MILES. *JB
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 VOLVO S90 WITH 69,000 MILES. THE ETM UNIT ON THE CAR HAS FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND FOUND THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR. IT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO ACT ERRATICALLY. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT EVEN IF I CHANGE IT , IT WILL FAIL AGAIN IN A SHORT WHILE BECAUSE IT HAS A BAD DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO ABOUT IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS COMPLAINT REGISTERED IN CASE VOLVO IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS THROUGH SOME LAWSUIT OR OTHER. *NM
- Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
THE SUN ROOF STRUTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO OPEN/CLOSE THE SUN ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
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
- INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTClosed