1998 Volvo S90 problems
The 1998 Volvo S90 has 38 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (34%) concerns brakes. Next are wipers, windshield & visibility (16%) and cruise control (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 38 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 49,000 miles 10 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 7 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 10 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 49,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 88% of model years in our database.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 volvo s90. The gear shift became stuck when the contact attempted to drive the vehicle in reverse. She pressed the gear release button and placed the vehicle into reverse. The vehicle surged forward and crashed into the garage wall and then into the house. The vehicle, garage wall, and house were damaged. There were no injuries. The dealer has not been notified. The speed was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 109,000.
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.
Manufacturing defect on the rotors and brake pads. This results in brake vibration and premature/excessive wearing of brakes. Volvo is apparently aware of the problem and has instructed dealers as to what to do but has neglected to issue a technical bulletin.
Transmission shifter sticks constantly. Currently, it sticks in park. Vehicle towed to the dealer. Noises coming from steering. Gear shift did not release, washers are inoperable, key sticks in ignition. Also the power steering rack and antenna were replaced.
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.
Other model years of the S90
- 2026
- 2025
- 2024
- 2023
- 2022
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 1998