14 of the
242 complaints about the 1998 Volvo V70 are about the
electrical system — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
88,500 miles.
THE IGNITION SWITCH FREQUENTLY JAMS, LOCKED, IN THE "OFF" POSITION. THE KEY CAN BE INSERTED, BUT THE IGNITION LOCK WILL NOT TURN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START AND OPERATE THE VEHICLE OR TURN ON ACCESSORIES OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, RENDERING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. WHEN THE IGNITION IS IN THE "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE TURNED OFF WITHOUT DIFFICULTY. WHEN IT IS "OFF," HOWEVER, IT FREQUENTLY CAN NOT BE TURNED "ON". A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10884834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 72,592 milesRaleigh, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ONE DAY, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE FIRE. THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/18/2006 - THE VEHICLE WAS LAST DRIVEN ABOUT 14 HOURS PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE HARNESS TO THE ABS CONTROL UNIT.
NHTSA complaint #10168235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,000 milesKatonah, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VOLVO V70 1998 - FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT - CAR DESTROYED DURING ROUTINE DRIVING, ENGINE STOPS. DRIVER NOTICES SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS (LIGHTS) BLINKING. IN A FEW MINUTES THE CAR IS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. WHEN I VISITED THE WRECKER'S YARD I FOUND A VOLVO 850 WAGON THAT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN THE SAME WAY!
NHTSA complaint #10143876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesWalnut Creek, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY OR ELECTRICALLY.*AK CONSUMER STATED THERE IS NO WAY HIS PARAPLEGIC SON CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE IF THERE WAS A FIRE OR COLLISION. LOCK MOTORS FAILED ONCE AND WERE REPLACED. MECHANIC HAD TO BREAK A PART IN THE DOOR TO RELEASE THE LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10034428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Marion, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ABS & TRAC OFF LIGHT ARE DISPLAYED RANDOMLY, OBD SCAN SAYS SENSOR FAILED, HAVE INSTALLED TWO SETS OF SENSORS TO NO AVAIL, IT TURNS OUT ENCAPSULATED PC BOARD CRACKS BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS. THE 1996 850 HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. DT
NHTSA complaint #769215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weymouth, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #564029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Weston, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE CAR ON A ROUTINE BASIS. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN OIL LEAKS, GASOLINE LEAKS, AIR CONDITIONER FAILURE AND SEAT BELT FAILURES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED ALMOST ON A MONTHLY BASIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF OWNERSHIP. THIS PAST WEEK, IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES FOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS. THE VOLVO DEALERSHIPS HAVE MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AND WARRANTIES HAVE PAID MOST OF THE COSTS, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THIS CAR HAS SPENT BEING SERVICED IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. EVEN THE VOLVO DEALER HERE IN FLORIDA (PLANTATION VOLVO) SUGGESTED WE RESEARCH THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW. THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY TO US BECAUSE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MASSACHUSETTS. WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE IN GETTING VOLVO'S ATTENTION THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR HAS MAJOR FLAWS, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL.
NHTSA complaint #745792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merrifield, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE FRONT HEADLIGHT WIPER WON'T WORK, THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE DON'T SEEM TO WORK PROPERLY, AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #782520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suwanee, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON. THEN, ACTIVATED TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, AND LIGHT ON DASH PANEL WILL BLINK FAST, AND LET CONSUMER KNOW TO CHANGE THE LIGHT BULBS. ALSO, BATTERY WILL DIE WITHOUT A REASON FOR IT.
NHTSA complaint #867830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Florissant, MO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THIS CAR HAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, TURN SIGNALS...ALL HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE STEREO AND BATTERY HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. BOTH THE DRIVERS WINDOW AND THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THEM TO "STICK" IN THE POSITION THAT THEY ARE IN. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MOST OF THE BULBS AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE HAD 2 REPLACED WHILE ON VACATION AT VARIOUS TIMES. I CAN NOT THINK OF ANYTHING OTHER THEN THE TIRES, THAT IS NOT GOVERNED BY THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE. WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CONCERN TO ME. VOLVO AS A MANUFACTURER HAS PROMISED A FULL SYSTEM CHECK TWO TIMES. IT NEVER HAPPENED. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD TRUST THE CAR EVEN IF IT DID CHECK OUT OK.
NHTSA complaint #716056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lafayette, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
"FREEZE" PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO FREEWAY. THAT RESULTED IN VERY LOW ENGINE POWER AVAILABLE, A LOT OF NOISE, AND INEFFECTIVE FOOTBRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR WITH THE PARKING BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint #715074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redlands, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #606287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Princeton, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION LOCK FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oceanside, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY VENT MISSING, BATTERY BOILED OVER. BATTERY ACID SPRAYED OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT DRIVE BELTS, POWER STEERING HOSES AND BRAKE LINES.
NHTSA complaint #536829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.