Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 34 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.
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM I HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS WITH BRIGHTER BULBS AND THEY ARE STILL DIM I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE FOG LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO DRIVE AT NIGHT.
I PURCHASED A 1998 S70 VOLVO FROM SUBURBAN VOLVO IN TROY MICHIGAN. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD TO RETURN IF THE A/C LEAKED. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHYSICAL LEAK, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THERE IS NO PHYSICAL INDICIATION OF A PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE CAR ON TWO MORE OCCASSIONS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE A/C HAD A LEAK AND I HAD TO PAY $1,400 TO HAVE REPAIRED. I EXPLAINED TO THE SUBURBAN DEALER THAT I FELT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME WITH A LEAK. TO FURTHER ADD TO THE STORY, I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO BE REPAIRED FOR A RECALL ON THE LIGHTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THE RECALL WAS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS OR TAILIGHTS. WHILE IN THE SHOP, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHT WIPERS NOT WORKING. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PURCHASE A HEADLIGHT MOTOR AT A COST OF ABOUT 4 OR 5 HUNDRED DOLLARS BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD NO IT HAD NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I FOUND OUT LATER (AFTER THE TIRE ROD BROKE WHILE BEING DRIVEN) THAT THE TIRE ROD HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD REPAIRED AT A COST OF 800.00 WHICH I PAID. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF RELIEF FOR ME SINCE THE CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO ME PURCHASING THE VEHICLE? THE A/C IS NOT WORKING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOESNT WORK AT ALL, THE HEADLIGHT WIPERS DON'T WORK AT ALL. THE A/C AND HEADLIGHT WIPERS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE I PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY 2001. I HAVE WRITTEN THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA (VNA). THE DEALERSHIP NEVER RESPONDED. VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA DID RESPOND AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. VNA SHARED I HAD TO WORK IT OUT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. HAVE BEEN READING THAT THE CHECK ENGINE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SOME VOLVOS. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS PRESENTING PROBLEMS ALSO. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE AFTER OWNING THE CAR SINCE 2001?*AK
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
VOLVO CUSTOMER RELATIONS RE: VIN [XXX], 1998 S70 SIR OR MADAM MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A PRE-OWNED 1998 VOLVO S70 IN 2000. TWO NIGHTS AGO AS WE WERE DRIVING ON A 30-MILE RURAL-STRETCH HOME, OUR HEADLIGHT SWITCH BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. WITH THE SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE OFF AND THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY GO OUT. WE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT BY PUSHING THE SWITCH INWARD TOWARD THE DASH, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WOULD STAY LIT, SO LONG AS YOU WERE CONSTANTLY PUSHING IN THE SWITCH. YESTERDAY I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY NHTSA RECALL NO. 99V235/VOLVO RECALL NO. 94. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED MAKING PHONE CALLS TO GET THIS PART REPLACED. VOLVO OF LISLE RETRIEVED MY CARS INFORMATION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL ON 051799, PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE RECALL ON THE SWITCH WAS ISSUED BY THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE PROBLEM PUT THE DRIVER AT RISK OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, AND TO MY DISMAY I AM FORCED TO PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THAT VOLVO IS ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DESIGN, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES THE PART UNDER RECALL BREAKS. I EXPECT THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, AS I AM SENDING THEM A COPY OF THIS LETTER. I KEPT THE BROKEN SWITCH AND I WOULD LIKE A NAME AND ADDRESS IN YOUR WARRANTY DEPARTMENT TO SEND IT TO. I EXPECT TO BE REFUNDED THE COSTS I INCURRED FOR THIS REPAIR, AS WELL AS RECEIVING A NEW SWITCH INSTALLED FREE OF CHARGE, ONCE THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. CC: NHTSA. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
99 V 235 000/HEADLIGHT SWITCH: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. A RECALL IS ON THIS MAKE & MODEL, BUT THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN# WAS NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL. NLM
HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING, AND THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON IS TO HOLD SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
I PURCHASED THE CAR JAN.26 2001. TWO DAYS LATER I HAD IT IN FOR REPEATED OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY LEAKS. ALSO THE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, THE FOGLIGHT WAS OUT, THE CAR HAD MISMATCHED TIRES, THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT ATTACHED PROPERLY AND WAS TIED ON WITH A WIRE. A MONTH LATER THE O2 SENSOR WENT OUT IN THE CAR AND WAS ALSO MAKING A WINDING NOISE. DEALER CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THE HUB WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR CONTINUED TO HAVE OIL LEAKS. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHIHG. APPROX. 1 MONTH LATER THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH WENT OUT. THE AIR GUIDE WAS ALSO REPLACED ON THE CAR. OIL CONTINUED TO LEAK. I TOOK IT TO AN OUTSIDE SOURCE AN DTHEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THREE OIL LEAKS IN A MATTER OF TWO HOURS. THEY RECCOMENDED THE TURBO UNIT BE REPLACED THAT IT WAS BAD. ON VACATION THIS SUMMER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONCE MORE CAM ON AND DEALER STATED A FUEL GASKET NEEDED REPLACING. AUGUST THIS YEAR THE FAN BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE NOISE SO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG. SEPT. 24 2001, I WENT TO GET INTO THE CAR AND IT WOUL DNOT TURN OVER. THE IGNITION SYSTEM HAD GONE OUT. MEANWHILE THE LEATHER HAS DETACHED FROM THE INTEREIOR OF THE DOOR AS WELL.
PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE BULBS, FRONT AND REAR AND IS NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT, SINCE THE MANUFACTURER IS NOW RECONIZING THE PROBLAM AS A DEFECT.*JB
PLASTIC HINGE ON THE BASE OF THE REAR SEAT BROKE OFF CAUSING THE BASE OF THE REAR SEAT TO BE UNSTABLE, VOLVO DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY STATING THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO EXCESS FORCE NOT A DEFECT IN THE SEAT. (FATHER OF OWNER) *SLC
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION 101A HE STATES WORK WAS COMPLETED, BUT STILL HAVING INTERMITTENT TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. *JB
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, TO DEALER 25 TIMES. DASHBOARD LIGHT WOULD COME ON, INDICATING THAT HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING WHEN IN FACT THEY WERE. *AK DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A BULB AND SOCKET PROBLEM, TAILLIGHT BULB FAILED, SIGNAL LIGHTS FLASH VERY FAST, SIDE SIGNALS SOCKETS AND BULBS SHORTED, 4 RUNNING LIGHT CONTACTS MELTED, FRONT HEADLIGHT SHORTED, LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT INOPERABLE, AND BULB INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP, MASTER WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH FAULTY, AND SPEAKERS DISTORTED. SEAT BELT PLASTIC PART CRACKED. TRANSMISSION STICKS ON LOWE GEAR, HAPPENED TWICE. GAS LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN TANK IS FULL. WASHER FLUID INIDCATOR ILLUMINATED, WASHER JETS INOPERABLE, WIPER BLADS REPLACED, RIGHT SIDE MIRROR DID NOT ADJUST ALL THE WAY OUT. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS WORN, ROTORS REPLACED, BRAKES CAUSE SCREECHING NOISES. ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, CABLE UNDER ENGINE LOOSE. HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, DEALER REPLACED RIGHT FRONT HUB, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT STABILIZER LINKS. MUDFLAPS LOOSE. EVAP VALVE REPLACED. *SLC
FRONT TURN SIGNALS SOCKET HOUSING IS BURNING, CAUSING MALFUNCTION IN HEAD LIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
I BELIEVE THE INFORMATION IS SELF EXPLANATORY. THANK YOU. MY SITUATION HAS BEEN ESCALATED TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OVER THE PAST 6-7 WEEKS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS TO ESTABLISH MEETING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS BULBS GOING OUT WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFI CULTY, AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
REPEATED FAILURE OF HEADLAMPS, SELECTOR SWITCH (LIGHTS GO OUT), AND TURN SIGNAL. I NEED TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE SELECTOR SWITCH IN ORDER TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON - THIS MAKES DRIVING UNSAFE.
HEADLIGTHS BURNED OUT FREQUENTLY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 6 TIMES OVER 2YRS. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON. RECALL 99V235000. *AK *ML
THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED FAILURES OF LIGHT BULBS (TURN SIGNAL, BRAKE LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, ETC.)-- 12 DOCUMENTED FROM DEALER, ANOTHER 4-6 NOT DOCUMENTED BECAUSE FIXED "INFORMALLY" . THE DEALER CLAIMS THE FAILURES ARE DUE TO CHEAP HALOGEN BULBS NOW USED BY VOLVO RATHER THAN AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM. I NOTICE THAT MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS FILED ON THIS MAKE/MODEL INVOLVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHETHER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OR THE BULBS ARE AT FAULT, THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
VOLVO HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE EXCESSIVE FAILURE RATE OF HEADLIGHTS FOR A LONG TIME (3 BURNED OUT IN 1 YEAR ON MY CAR!)BUT THEY MAKE OWNERS PAY FOR REPLACEMENTS AS "A MAINTENANCE ITEM". LIGHT BULBS SHOULD LAST AT LEAST AS LONG AS THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY (E.G. 10,000 HOURS) UNDER THE LEGAL DEFINITION OF "REASONABLE EXPECTATION". C'MON, VOLVO, 'FESS UP!
ENGINE FAILED.*ET
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON USING THE FRONT LEFT TURN SIGNAL THE BULB BLEW, CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BURN OUT. *AK
HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND KEEP BURNING OUT, AND THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS EIGHT OR NINE TIMES. *AK
POOR VISIBILITY BEHIND VEHICLE. HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH IS INAPPROPRIATELY POSITIONED IN FRONT OF THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT HANDLE, AND IS ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHED ON. REMOTE CONTROL FOR THE REAR TRUNK IS OVER-SENSITIVE.
1. 12/23/97: CAR DIED IN SLOW FREEWAY TRAFFIC; RESTARTED AFTER 5 MINUTES, BUT "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" STAYED ON. DIAGNOSED AS PROBLEM WITH AIR MASS SENSOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. 2. 11/11/98: RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED; MOTOR REPLACED. 3. EACH OF FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS BURNED OUT WITH LESS THAN 15K IN MILEAGE. 4. 1/13/99: RT AND LT OUTER TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT; BULBS WERE REPLACED. 5. 3/3/99: RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BEGAN FLASHING TOO QUICKLY; BOTH RT AND LT TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS WERE REPLACED. 6. 4/28/99: TAILIGHTS AGAIN FAILED, SOCKETS AND BULBS WERE REPLACED; 7. 4/29/99: LEFT TURN SIGNAL FLASHING TOO QUICKLY (EVEN THOUGH SOCKET HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED ON 3/3/99 TO DEAL WITH ANTICIPATED CORRUSION PROBLEM). MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAVE HAD MORE SERVICE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THAN IN 25 YEARS OF OWNING ALL OF OUR OTHER CARS COMBINED.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR.
HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED.
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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