1998 Volvo S70 STD review from North America

The 12-volt connections both in front and in back are too weak to support a mobile phone recharger. The front one has broken twice now, in two years.

Individual door locks fail.

Cup holder seems flimsy and has broken.

Rear-view mirror became loose in its housing. The dealer had to remove the headliner to repair - not covered under warranty.

The CD player locked up, and had to be replaced.

The ignition switch wore out after 65,000 miles.

Brake pads wore out after only 20,000 miles.

Coin cup hinges simply broke - made of very thin plastic.

Brake bulbs have had to be replaced several times.

The antenna grinds when it lowers or raises.

The steering wheel creaks in the mornings.

This car is loaded with many unexpected occurrences. I owned a Volvo previously, and did not have the myriad of small problems that I have had with this 1998 Volvo S70.

The engine and transmission perform adequately. They are everything I expected them to be, and continue to do very well.

Visibility is excellent. The left rear is a bit of a challenge to see, but the mirrors compensate well.

The small interior issues have made this car a bust for me. Each one represents a major inconvenience. The rear-view mirror came loose, and was difficult to drive until I paid the Volvo dealership about $100 to repair it. Door locks, ignition switch, brake bulbs make this car a time guzzler.

The dealer has now admitted to me that the S70s produced during the period mine was produced have come with many flaws. But Volvo itself has not offered repair. My current problem, the 12-volt connections that are not strong enough to handle a mobile phone recharger cord, is a big inconvenience for anyone who needs a mobile phone and drives a lot.