1998 Volvo C70 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1998 Volvo C70, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

19–20

MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1998 Volvo C70

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

Switch (exterior lighting)

NHTSA 04V504000 Reported October 21, 2004 97,000 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.

On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, over an extended period of time, the headlight switch may cease to function.

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…
Turn signal (exterior lighting)

NHTSA 00V405000 Reported December 6, 2000 245,894 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right front turn signal bulb and socket.
Switch (exterior lighting)

NHTSA 99V235000 Reported August 30, 1999 139,588 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Operation of the headlight switch, over an extended period of time, can result in inconsistent operation of the switch.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlight switch.
Air bags: frontal

NHTSA 99V236000 Reported August 30, 1999 124,381 vehicles potentially affected VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC.

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The frontal passenger air bag may be overly sensitive to certain electrostatic discharge.

Remedy: Dealers will install an additional ground wire in the passenger side to assure sufficient grounding.

7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 Volvo C70 have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 84,392 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Latches/locks/linkages: latch1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1
Service brakes, hydraulic: control unit/module1
Steering1
Structure: hinge and attachments1
Tires: tread/belt1
Vehicle speed control1

What owners are reporting

“Car has been at a recognized auto repair facility and has been having maintenance work performed. It was seen that the car had suffered a complete failure of the power steering rack with the housing f”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 25, 2011 · Steering

“Dt*: the contact stated the passenger and driver's side front doors suddenly became inoperable from the inside of the vehicle. The contact has to roll the window down and open the doors from the outsi”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 16, 2006 · Structure

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 Volvo C70 (C70 Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined	19–20 mpg
City / Highway	16–17 / 23–24
Fuel	Premium
EPA class	Compact Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engine	5 cyl, 2.3/2.4 L
Transmission	Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Volvo C70 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo C70 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model year	Recalls	Complaints
1998 Volvo C70	4	7
1999 Volvo C70	3	23
2000 Volvo C70	3	26
2001 Volvo C70	2	7
2002 Volvo C70	1	5
2003 Volvo C70	0	4
2004 Volvo C70	0	15
2006 Volvo C70	2	9
2007 Volvo C70	4	17
2008 Volvo C70	3	22
2009 Volvo C70	3	10
2010 Volvo C70	2	4
2011 Volvo C70	1	12
2012 Volvo C70	1	23
2013 Volvo C70	0	11

Checking a specific 1998 Volvo C70

How do I know if my 1998 Volvo C70 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 Volvo C70; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V405000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volvo models

XC901,528 complaints
S601,266 complaints
S80954 complaints
V70933 complaints
XC60651 complaints
S70593 complaints
850569 complaints
S40491 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.