AI Damage1998 Volvo 660: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Volvo 660 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 40% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Driveshaft became inoperable , unabling vehicle to move/ has come apart. Dealer has been notified.
While driving clutch cylinder will stick and or lock up, causing vehicle to disengage. Dealer has been notified; however, has no remedy for problem.
Air leveling valves malfunctioned, resulting in air bags losing air.dealer has been notified; however, was unable to remedy problem.
Steer shaft would lock up while driving and become inoperable. Dealer has been notified; however, has no remedy.
Axle:rear: u bolts failed, resulting in vehicle becoming inoperable. Dealer has been notified;however, was unable to find remedy for problem. There are 15 other vehicles with similar problems.*
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 660 has 6 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Volvo 660?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, steering. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Volvo 660?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Volvo 660 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.