1998 Volvo V70XC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
83,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 31 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 29.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 5; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000821 · 2003-01-08 (January 8, 2003)
VOLVO CROSS COUNTRY'S FROM 1998 AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODEL YEARS ARE TURNING UP WITH MALFUNCTIONING CENTRAL CONTROL UNITS FOR THEIR ABS . IT IS HARD TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT IS CLEAR THE MALFUNCTION IS WIDESPREAD IN THIS MODEL AND THAT IT ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE CAR'S BRAKING AND ABS. REPLACEMENT OF THE PART COSTS MORE THAN $500, WHICH MAY PREVENT MANY VOLVO OWNERS FROM QUICKLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, WHICH ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY THREAT. I KNOW FIRST-HAND THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016958 · 2003-05-03 (May 3, 2003)
INTERMITTENT OUTAGE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE (TRACS OFF/ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON). DEALER STATES THE BRAKES WILL STILL WORK WITH THE LIGHTS ON/FAULTY PART. HOWEVER, I DON'T FEEL "SAFE" IN THE CAR AND FEEL THE PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY MANUFACTURER. BRAKES HAVE SINCE HESITATED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE STOPPING. THERE WERE NO BRAKES FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN THE BRAKES SLOWLY (2-3 SECONDS) REGAINED POWER AND CONTROL OF THE CAR. NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE DEALER (SUPERIOR VOLVO) STATED THIS IS A COMMO…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156667 · 2006-05-03 (May 3, 2006)
A FEW WEEKS AGO, I HAVE NOTICED A STRONG GAS FUEL SMELL FROM MY 98 VOLVO V70 CROSS COUNTRY AWD FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. THE SMELL COMES FROM THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE RR WHEEL, ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC PANEL WHICH COVERS THE FUEL TANK. THE LEAK IS NOTICEABLE WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE ONLY WAY FOR ME TO KEEP THE SMELL FROM POPPING OUT IS TO NOT FILL UP THE TANK MORE THAN 8 OR 10 GALLONS. THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO BE PARKED IN THE GARAGE AS THE FUEL SMELL IT RELEASES IS SO STRONG THAT I CAN FILL THE HOUSE WITH IT THROUGH MY VENTS. I WANT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161427 · 2006-07-05 (July 5, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CRANKED BUT WOULD NOT START. UPON INSPECTION, THE FUSE TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS OBSERVED TO BE BLOWN. THE FUSE WAS CHANGED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND LOSE POWER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AN ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING APPEARED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WAS SMOLDERING, AND THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECH…
Owner-reported narrative. 118,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010692 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 68000 MILES WITH GOOD MAINTENANCE AND NO PRECIPITATING FACTORS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192484 · 2007-06-05 (June 5, 2007)
65,000 MILES - TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A REGULARLY DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020894 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
COMING DOWN A HILL IN VALLEY CENTER CA. THE TIMING BELT ON MY VOLVO XC 1998, VIN # [XXX], BROKE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DESTRUCT AND LOSS OF HYDRAULICS TO POWER THE BRAKES AND STEERING, NEARLY VEERED INTO A CANYON. THE OWNERS MANUAL RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE TIMING BELT AT 70,000 MILES. THE VOLVO HAS 61,000 MILES AND WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AT AN AUTHORIZED VOLVO DEALER IN HOUSTON TEXAS. THERE WAS ALMOST A MAJOR CASH BOTH REAR END AND FRONTAL WHEN THE CAR ALMOST CROSSED OVER THE HIGHWAY. CONTACTED VOLVO OF N. AMERICA AND WAS TOLD CAR WAS OUT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128646 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER PURCHASED HER VEHICLE OVER TWO YEARS AGO. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT WILL NOT HOLD A BALANCE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY ARE CURRENTLY TELLING HER IT IS FIXED. THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL SHAKING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE PURCHASE. VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE BOTH TELLING HER THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED. SHE REPLACED THE TIRES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED, THEY WENT BAD AND SHE'S HAD TO PUT ON 2 MORE SETS OF TIRES. THEY RECOMMENDED SHE U…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104790 · 2004-12-30 (December 30, 2004)
1998 VOLVO V70XC, REPLACEMENT OF MECHANICAL TIMING BELT TENSIONER NOT SPECIFIC AS TO MILEAGE FOR SUCH REPLACEMENT, REPLACED TIMING BELT AT 70,000 MILES AS REQUIRED, TENSIONER APPEARED GOOD ON INSPECTION, NO VOLVO TSB ADVISING REPLACEMENT, TENSIONER FAILED AT 84,000 MILES, VOLVO WARRANTY REJECTED REPAIR CLAIM FOR TENSIONER, VALVE DAMAGE, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT APPROX. $2,400.00 NO RESPONSE FROM VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE TO EMAIL FOR REVIEW OF CLAIM. HAD I BEEN ON THE TURNPIKE LOSS OF POWER MAY HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH SINCE ALL POWERED SYSTEMS WOUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104790 at NHTSA ↗