1998 Volvo S90 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Volvo S90, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes929.0%
- Visibility516.1%
- Driver assistance412.9%
- Body & structure26.5%
- Heating & air conditioning26.5%
- Electrical26.5%
- Transmission26.5%
- Powertrain (other)13.2%
- Steering13.2%
- Tires & wheels13.2%
- Engine13.2%
- Other / unspecified13.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING A STATE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE WORN AND FRACTURED. THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THE SAME CONDITION, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.
BRAKE LINE IS FRAYED WITHOUT ANYTHING TOUCHING THE LINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
1988 VOLVO S90 SUNROOF HAS BROKEN DOWN REPEATEDLY SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT WOULD TYPICALLY WORK APPROXIMATELY A FEW TIMES THEN MALFUNCTION UNEXPECTEDLY WITH BROKEN PIECES RAINING DOWN UPON THE HEADS OF THE FRONT OCCUPANTS, POSING A DANGER TO DRIVING. AFTER THE MALFUNCTION IT WOULD THEN NOT BE OPERABLE AT ALL, POSING A THREAT TO WEATHER DAMAGE, THEFT, ETC. AFTER REPAIRING IT SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH THE DEALER (DICK DYER VOLVO OF COLUMBIA, SC) AND VOLVO REFUSED TO FIX IT ANY MORE UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS EXACTLY AT 50,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. BOTH THE DEALER AND VOLVO CLAIMED THE WARRANTY WAS GOOD UP TO, BUT NOT INCLUDING, 50,000 MILES. *JB
THE SUN ROOF STRUTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN TRYING TO OPEN/CLOSE THE SUN ROOF. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING VOLVO PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD RACE IN AN ERRATIC MANNER FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON AS HIGH AS 5,000 RPM'S. USING THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB
WHILE BACKING INTO MY GARAGE ON 2/6/2010, MY 1998 VOLVO S90 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS SPEEDING AND I APPLIED THE BRAKE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS GOING SO FAST THAT IT CRASHED INTO A WOODEN PLATFORM IN MY GARAGE. THE PLATFORM AND MY CAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN REPAIRED; BUT MY CAR WAS TOTALED (>$5000.00 IN DAMAGES). I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND VOLVO CUSTOMER CAR AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK. AIR CONDITIONING.
INSIDE MAIN LOCK SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD FAILED. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUALLY WARPING AND PADS FAILING. MJS
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK. AIR CONDITIONING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STICKS CONSTANTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STICKS IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK NOISES COMING FROM STEERING. GEAR SHIFT DID NOT RELEASE, WASHERS ARE INOPERABLE, KEY STICKS IN IGNITION.*TS ALSO THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ANTENNA WERE REPLACED. *JB
RADIO ANTENNA FAILURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 VOLVO S90 WITH 69,000 MILES. THE ETM UNIT ON THE CAR HAS FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND FOUND THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR. IT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO ACT ERRATICALLY. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT EVEN IF I CHANGE IT , IT WILL FAIL AGAIN IN A SHORT WHILE BECAUSE IT HAS A BAD DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO ABOUT IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS COMPLAINT REGISTERED IN CASE VOLVO IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS THROUGH SOME LAWSUIT OR OTHER. *NM
TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STICKS CONSTANTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STICKS IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK NOISES COMING FROM STEERING. GEAR SHIFT DID NOT RELEASE, WASHERS ARE INOPERABLE, KEY STICKS IN IGNITION.*TS ALSO THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ANTENNA WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE ROTORS CONTINUALLY WARPING AND PADS FAILING. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STICKS CONSTANTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STICKS IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK NOISES COMING FROM STEERING. GEAR SHIFT DID NOT RELEASE, WASHERS ARE INOPERABLE, KEY STICKS IN IGNITION.*TS ALSO THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ANTENNA WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
MICHELIN TIRES - PILOT SPORT A/S SPORT PLUS- 205/55/ZR16. TIRE SIDE WALLS ARE SEPARATING - THIS PROBLEM IS KNOW AS CHUNKING. TIRES ARE UNSAFE AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT REGULAR SPEED ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STICKS CONSTANTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STICKS IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK NOISES COMING FROM STEERING. GEAR SHIFT DID NOT RELEASE, WASHERS ARE INOPERABLE, KEY STICKS IN IGNITION.*TS ALSO THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ANTENNA WERE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .