RoadVitals

1998 Volvo S70 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 14, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 215 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Volvo S70 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed Sep 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLVO S70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, WHICH ALSO FAILED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SLOWED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID
10763454
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
Mileage
165,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineTransmission
Filed Aug 16, 2011

UPON ACCELERATING UP THE HILL OF MY STREET, TODAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2011, MY CAR, A 1998 VOLVO S70 , SPED UP, UNNATURALLY, CLOSE TO THE TOP . I HAD JUST DRIVEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, AS I BACK INTO IT ALWAYS, AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. AS USUAL, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN AS THE CAR APPROACHED A STEEPER PORTION OF THE HILL. WHEN BRAKING FOR THE STOP SIGN AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RACING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP FULLY AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AFTER GOING AROUND THE CORNER TO THE RIGHT, I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. MY LEFT FOOT WAS NOW FIRMLY PLANTED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AS WELL AS MY RIGHT FOOT QUICKLY PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL , ALL IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE GAS PEDAL UNSTUCK, WHICH IT DIDN'T. IT JUST MADE THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY RACE EVEN MORE. THE RPM'S INCREASED ALSO THE MORE THAT THE ENGINE RACED. UNABLE TO FULLY STOP AT THE NEXT SUBSEQUENT 2 STOP SIGNS, ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, AND MY LEFT FOOT TO THE FLOOR WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL, I FINALLY DECIDED TO PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE RACING AT WHAT SEEMED A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED BY EVIDENCE OF THOSE RPM'S. I CONTINUED TO PUMP THE GAS PEDAL,WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE RACING CEASED, AND THE RPM'S CAME DOWN TO AN IDLE, JUST BELOW 1000, I BELIEVE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND STOPPED. AFTER A BIT, I PLACED THE CAR FROM NEUTRAL INTO PARK, AND THEN AGAIN SHIFTED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE. I BEGAN MOVING DOWN A HILL BY MERE IDLING SPEED. I WAS CAREFUL, JUST COASTING NOW, NOT TO INITIALLY PLACE ANY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR AS I PROCEEDED IN DRIVE. I CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, FOR A RED SIGNAL LIGHT, AND WHEN IT WAS GREEN, I DROVE BACK AROUND A LARGE CITY BLOCK TO MY DRIVEWAY. I BACKED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO FURTHER ISSUES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION DURING THE FINAL DISTANCE DRIVEN. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 OTHER TIMES RECENTLY WHEN SETTING CRUISE CONTROL GOING UP A HILL.*KB

NHTSA ID
10419690
Incident
Aug 16, 2011
Mileage
77,494 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED CAUSING BOTH COMPONENTS TO BE INOPERABLE. THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED BOTH SYSTEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 10/31/2006 -*NM

NHTSA ID
10168756
Incident
Sep 20, 2006
Mileage
76,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 30, 2006

THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN WHILE DRIVING!!! THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE ENGINE FROM REVVING TO MAXIMUM RPM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167072
Incident
Aug 30, 2006
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 8, 2005

DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10131939
Incident
Jul 28, 2005
Mileage
175,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 5, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE REVVED AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046379
Incident
Nov 5, 2003
Mileage
76,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Nov 29, 2001

OVER MAXIMUM "30" SECOND PERIOD, VEHICLE BUCKED, THEN INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND BEGAN BLINKING, THEN THROTTLE STUCK IN "FULL" POSITION, THEN BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDER HOOD AND WHEEL WELLS, THEN FLAMES VISIBLE FROM FROM GRILL OVER HOOD OF CAR, THEN VEHICLE FINALLY BROUGHT TO STOP USING EMERGENCY BRAKES AT WHICH TIME FLAMES WERE TWO-THREE FEET HIGH FROM GRILL AND WHEEL WELL(S) AREA OF CAR - EXITED IMMEDIATELY - CAR TOTAL LOSS ..... HAVE SINCE BEEN MADE AWARE OF "ANOTHER" '98 S70 FIRE WITH VERY SIMILAR SEQUENCE OF FAILURE EVENTS AND RESULT - VOLVO CONTACTED AND CLAIMS EVIDENCE OF ANIMAL NEST UNDER HOOD (ASSISTANCE DENIED) - CINNCINATI INSURANCE (MY CARRIER) HIRED & CONDUCTED PROFESSIONAL/INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATION WITH RESULTS PENDING ...... HAVE FULL SET OF PHOTOS - GENERAL COMMENT: IF THERE WERE AN ELDERLY PERSON, DIABLED PERSON OR CHILD STRAPPED IN CHILDSEAT RIDING IN VEHICLE, UNABLE TO REACT/MOVE SO QUICKLY, RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!!!!!

NHTSA ID
755069
Incident
Nov 16, 2001
Driver assistanceElectricalInterior & seats+4 more
Filed Mar 24, 1999

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.

NHTSA ID
544574
Incident
May 27, 1998
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 3, 1998

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THERE WAS SPONTANEOUS INCREASE IN RPM WITHOUT HAVING FOOT ON GAS. BRAKES LOCKED UP ON VEHICLE. CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS UNKNOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID
815509
Incident
Aug 16, 1997
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 23, 1997

GAS PEDAL LOST RESPONSIVENESS AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AT THE SAME TIME, BRAKES LOCKED UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
521241
Incident
Aug 17, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .