1999 Volvo S70: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
199 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
80,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 148 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 199 complaints (32.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 59 | 29.6% |
| Braking behavior | 18 | 9.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 65 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 17 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 4 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 65; Electrical System: 41; Engine And Engine Cooling: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Air Bags: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 38 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 39 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 13 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 39; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 13
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 51 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 87 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 9; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 13; 2004: 9; 2005: 87; 2006: 12; 2007: 8; 2008: 6; 2009: 11; 2010: 9; 2011: 9; 2012: 7; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 59 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001564 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018361 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
THE HINGE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR MAKES A HORRIBLE POPPING NOISE WHEN I OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE MECHANIC HAS SEEN ON THIS MODEL VOLVO BEFORE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018950 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
RIVETED DOOR STOP POST WELD SNAPS OFF-DRIVERS SIDE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019766 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE DOOR. *NLM PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028931 · 2003-07-23 (July 23, 2003)
I OWN A VOLVO S70, SEDAN YEAR 1999 4 DOOR. I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 1999. AT 12K MILES THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED MALFUNCITIONING WITHOUT WARNING. MOST RECENTLY THE ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEMS HAS STARTED TO HEAT UP AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIIDLE OF THE NIGHT. FOR A COMPANY WHO CLAIMS TO HAVE THE "SAFETEST VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I DO NOT CONSIDER THE VEHICLE WHICH LIGHTS AND ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHTSAFE? . I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT VOLVO MULTIPLE TIMES. ONCE THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029441 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING ABS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030347 · 2003-07-29 (July 29, 2003)
WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. I START THE CAR AND IT STRUGGLES TO TURN ON AFTER A COUPLE OF SECOND IT IDLES NORMALLY. I THINK IT'S A FEUL DILIVERY PROBLEM BUT I'M NOT A MECHANIC. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO SERVICE AND THE PROBLEM PERSIST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038796 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, I HAD THE HEADLIGHTS SWITCHED ON. THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE LIT AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. AS I DROVE INTO A LESS LIGHTED AREA, I NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WERE IN FACT NOT LIT. I CONFIRMED THAT THE SWITCH WAS ON, WHICH THEY WERE. I CONFIRMED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. LATER, I HAD THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH REPLACED, WHICH FIXED THIS PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. MY VOLVO MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT A DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1998 VOLVO…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038796 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V405000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal
Reported: 2000-12-06 (December 6, 2000)
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.
Consequence: THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V504000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch
Reported: 2004-10-21 (October 21, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗06V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2006-11-15 (November 15, 2006)
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.
Consequence: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V035000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1999-02-25 (February 25, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SEDANS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET CONFIGURATION MARGINS ARE INSUFFICIENT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL FILTER PROTECTION BRACKET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗