The 1999 Volvo S70 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 516,625 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the vehicle speed control. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Consequence
THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY CEASE TO FUNCTION.
Consequence
THE HEAD LIGHTS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR NO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION. THIS COULD IMPAIR A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
ON VEHICLES WITH AN ORIGINAL OEM SWITCH, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THE SWITCH HAS EEN DAMAGED AND REPLACE ONLY IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE COULD BE INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET WHICH COULD CAUSE THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL NOT TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
Consequence
THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN AN APPROACHING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING AND COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TURN SIGNAL BULB AND SOCKET.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SEDANS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY." THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET CONFIGURATION MARGINS ARE INSUFFICIENT.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL FILTER PROTECTION BRACKET.
Complaints by component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
65
3crashes2injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
41
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
17
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
9
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
AIR BAGS
4
4crashes1fires4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
4
Total complaints257
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Vehicle was involved in a 45mph collision on 9/12/2017. Front driver's side was impacted. The collision was severe enough to cause the front passenger airbag to blow. However, the front driver's side airbag did not blow up, despite the impact happening on the front driver side. A complaint was…”
“While driving speed needle goes back to zero as if you are not movin, show no mileage numbers n miles you have gone or zero trip miles, many lighton breaks, abs ect.all while drivingif stop when time to go car thinks it is in park all this is while in traffichave pic can not down load be glad to…”
“While driving speed needle goes back to zero as if you are not movin, show no mileage numbers n miles you have gone or zero trip miles, many lighton breaks, abs ect.all while drivingif stop when time to go car thinks it is in park all this is while in traffichave pic can not down load be glad to…”
“While driving speed needle goes back to zero as if you are not movin, show no mileage numbers n miles you have gone or zero trip miles, many lighton breaks, abs ect.all while drivingif stop when time to go car thinks it is in park all this is while in traffichave pic can not down load be glad to…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volvo s70. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. In addition, all the lighting and warning indicators illuminated. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volvo s70. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. In addition, all the lighting and warning indicators illuminated. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volvo s70. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. In addition, all the lighting and warning indicators illuminated. The dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that…”
“Car stationary. I have to turn key to '1' position, push in' shiftlock'override' button before I can put car into gear.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA05021 Opened 2005-12-06 · closed 2006-12-12
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR…
InvestigationPE00031 Opened 2000-08-15 · closed 2000-12-22
TURN SIGNAL
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE05041 Opened 2005-07-26 · closed 2005-12-07
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING…
InvestigationPE99040 Opened 1999-06-07 · closed 1999-10-27
INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
InvestigationRQ04004 Opened 2004-06-08 · closed 2004-11-05
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN…
InvestigationRQ04004 Opened 2004-06-08 · closed 2004-11-05
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
ON AUGUST 23, 1999, VOLVO NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (99V235) ON CERTAIN 1997 MODEL YEAR (MY) 850 VEHICLES AND CERTAIN 1998 S/V/C 70 SERIES VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THE DEFECT REPORT STATED IN PART: OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, CAN…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1999 Volvo S70 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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