1998 Volvo V70XC Problems
- Complaints
- 31filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 83,000miles, 17 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Volvo V70XC (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 1998 Volvo V70XC. The part named most often is brakes, with 8 complaints (26% of the total), followed by engine cooling (6) and fuel system (4). 17 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 83,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 9 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes8 26%
- Engine cooling6 19%
- Fuel system4 13%
- Air bags3 9.7%
- Electrical system2 6.5%
- Suspension2 6.5%
- Exterior lighting1 3.2%
Also reported: Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “Failure of ABS control unit on 1998 Volvo xc70 automobile. According to dealers, it is a common failure and happens all the time. It renders the traction control and ABS system as not-working and it is an intermittent problem that causes the tracs and ABS systems to fail without any warning.”
NHTSA complaint #10110697, filed 2005-02, 77,126 milesEngine cooling: “I have a Volvo v70 xc, awd, 1998. I brought the car to a Volvo dealer, smythe Volvo, for a routine repair of clunking noise I heard. They said it was due to a strut problem, but also found several un-related repair items. All together, they spent two days on repair and charged me $1700 for it. On the same night that I got the car back, the engine died on the freeway without any warning before, during, and after the incidence. I almost got killed on the freeway. I was able to slide it out of the freeway ramp and had the car towed back to the dealer. …”
NHTSA complaint #10148049, filed 2006-01, 59,000 milesFuel system: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10156667, filed 2006-05, 75,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “The complaint that I have with my 98 v70 xc awd is with a recent tire rotation with my oil change a week after it started to sound as if my muffler was dragging and it also sounded like rear tires are dragging. My mechanic think it may possibly be the drive shaft and from the internet what I've this seems to be a consistent problem. I would like to know why isn't Volvo taking accountability to fix this problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10247384, filed 2008-10Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 17 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 65,000 and 107,100 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 04V504000Oct 21, 2004Exterior lighting › Headlights › SwitchCovers: Volvo V70XC 1998–2000, S70 1998–2000, V70 1998–2000 +1 more
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, over an extended period of time, the headlight switch may cease to function.
Recall details for the 1998 Volvo V70XC → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 9 on record; the latest 9 are shown.
- 10241661Jul 21, 2023Other or unknown, Electronic stability control. Complimentary upgrade c00009 description.
- 10241651Jun 12, 2023Other or unknown. Rubber cushion
- 10213885May 12, 2022Other or unknown. The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.
- 10213883May 6, 2022Other or unknown, Equipment. ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations
- 10212891Feb 9, 2022Equipment. VIDA QR Scanner Mobile App
- 10212892Feb 3, 2022Electrical system, Equipment. Shipping and Handling of Volvo Lithium-ion 48V Mild Hybrid Battery to Global Battery Solutions (GBS)
- 10213882Jun 23, 2020Electrical system, Other or unknown. Battery Charger/maintainer requirement
- 10088374Oct 7, 2016Equipment. Warranty, customer pay and/or internal repairs performed must be verified by a punched time flag on the back of the repair order hard copy. Each repair line must have a separate and identifiable…
- 10087107Apr 19, 2016Electrical system. This is a service product journal : the previously reported issue with vida 2015 and battery testing has been resolved. Vida 2015 battery testing is the only approved method for producing battery…
Other model years of the Volvo V70XC
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 | 103,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 12 | 90,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 27 | 98,000 | 1 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 144 | 71,000 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 103 | 67,393 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 79 | 80,000 | 2 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 31 | 83,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Volvo V70XC model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Volvo V70XC have?
NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 1998 Volvo V70XC as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Volvo V70XC is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 8 complaints (26% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 6.
Has the 1998 Volvo V70XC been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Volvo V70XC reported?
Among the 17 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 83,000 miles and the middle half falls between 65,000 and 107,100 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.