FaultScore

Worst years for a Volvo S70

Owners have filed 781 complaints about the Volvo S70 with NHTSA across model years 1995 to 2002. More of them are about the acceleration & cruise control than anything else.

Avoid

1998 Volvo S70

317 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly brakes.

Cleanest on record

2000 Volvo S70

197 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Volvo S70 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2002 3 0 0 Lights
2000 B 197 10 1 69,450 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1999 C 257 13 1 82,000 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1998 C 317 11 5 78,000 Brakes
1997 4 0 0 Electrical System
1995 3 2 0 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a Volvo S70

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2000

Electrical System 122 15.6%

Worst in 1999

Brakes 96 12.3%

Worst in 1998

Engine & Cooling 94 12.0%

Worst in 1999

Lights 74 9.5%

Worst in 1998

Worst in 1999

Worst in 1999

Airbags 30 3.8%

Worst in 1998

Transmission & Drivetrain 24 3.1%

Worst in 1998

Doors, Latches & Locks 20 2.6%

Worst in 1998

Seat Belts 15 1.9%

Worst in 1998

Suspension 13 1.7%

Worst in 1998

Tires 12 1.5%

Worst in 1998

Equipment & Accessories 12 1.5%

Worst in 1998

Exactly what failed on a Volvo S70

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 38 22.0%
Engine 23 13.3%
Control Unit/Module 19 11.0%
Turn Signal 16 9.2%
Frontal 16 9.2%
Gasoline 14 8.1%
Door 13 7.5%
Latch 12 6.9%
12V/24V/48V Battery 11 6.4%
Headlights 11 6.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Volvo S70, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Aug 1997 peak 95 Apr 2026

Volvo S70 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Volvo S70

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.