1998 Volvo S70 T5 review from North America
"This car has some serious quality issues"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Rattling began at 20,000 miles. The dealer was unable to resolve the problem.
The panels feel apart, but the dealer covered them under warranty.
Leather seats wore down at 50,000 miles. Mind you I only weigh 165 pounds.
ABS Brake Sensor broke at 60,000 miles. I asked the dealership about this problem because the guy standing next to me had the same problem. The service person said that this problem is common and to expect it to happen in another 60,000 miles. Cost $700 to repair (must be more expensive to fix in New Jersey).
At 60,000 miles the struts and shocks needed replacing, but I've forgone that expense and have accepted the seriously rough ride.
The window control (which also controls the sun roof) unit has just broke at 81,000 miles. I'm not looking forward to this repair bill.
Lights on the shifter and radio no longer function.
The headlight switch needs to be jiggled in order to work.
General comments?
The performance and paint job are great with this car, but it pretty much ends there. The traction is bad in the snow unless you get snow tires. The traction is bad on a dry summer day unless you have Z-rated performance tires. The repairs are prohibitively costly.
Recommended reviews
| Great vehicle, but potentially costly |
| Regardless of the great handling and comfort, terrible engineering makes this my last Volvo ever |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Year of manufacture | 1998 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.5 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 81000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Maxima |
| Date of Entry | 30th August, 2004 |