Overview & Reviews

Volvo's 850 wagon gets a new name, new nose, body-color trim, stronger side-impact protection, more powerful turbo engines, redesigned interior and revised suspension. All-wheel-drive versions arrive to battle luxury SUVs.

• Front and side airbags. Excellent side-impact protection. Superb seats. Solid construction. More cargo volume than many sport-utilities. Available all-wheel drive.

• Oddly placed controls. No all-speed traction control system available.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 111.00

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  Keep the engine, ditch the car - 1998 Volvo V70
  By nancy c - July 30 - 1:10 pm

  The engine in this car has been pretty reliable. And the first five years of owning it were great. Since then its just been a money pit. The air conditioner has needed major repairs twice. There has seldom been a time when all four power windows functioned; fix one, another breaks. Same with the power locks. ABS very temperamental. Turns off for no reason. Now radio wont work. Inside trim on tailgate is falling off because the cheesy plastic tabs that hold it on broke. Too much money to fix. Every time it needs anything it seems like the bill is at least $1500. The 70,000 mile service was going to be close to $5000 so Im selling this car. Maybe a mechanic will buy it.

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  volvo not as good as they used to be - 1998 Volvo V70
  By coachgids - July 3 - 10:00 am

  Great car if you have a very good dealer to fix all the things that go wrong with it. Great to drive. Got very expensive after the warranty ran out. Two of our 3 dealers have been horrible to almost incompetent. The third was great and a pleasure to deal with. Volvo North America did little to police dealerships, even after repeated problems.

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  Rocky Start, Pretty Good Finish - 1998 Volvo V70
  By JD Rockefeller - November 23 - 1:56 am

  I love wagons, especially small reliable ones. I bought this used @45K miles, and the dealer did all the maint, but after 50K, I paid and it was killing me (a thousand plus / year). I was mad and ready to sell when I finally found a good local guy. Its been great ever since. Much of what the dealer "recommended" was just a waste - In three years: a Battery Tires Rotors Pads; thats about it, everything still works. This car has no pep, its ugly, I rarely wash it and change the oil filter every 10K, but it is super reliable, the most comfortable, gets decent gas milage, and still feels rock solid after well into 200K miles. Now I might buy another, but a little sports cars calling too ..

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  Mechanical Cascade Failure - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Plantiful - July 27 - 7:30 pm

  Bought this car, used, and it was fine until it was maintenance time. Once you need a clutch and/or timing belt replacement, it is downhill from there: Since April, we have replaced the braking system, a leaking drive boot/seal, heating core and 2 window motors (did myself), a seat belt that would not release, a power steering rack 2 weeks ago, and this week, we are featuring a mysterious motor-oil leak of some significance. Most of the interior plastic is broken, as it is some cheap junk Ford must have introduced, paint has been off of the bumpers for some time. After 120,000 miles, just say "No".

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  Never buying another Volvo - 1998 Volvo V70
  By dotk - December 29 - 5:16 pm

  I bought this car new thinking I would have it for 200,000 miles. Now that Ive reached 100,000, Im ready to give it up. Ive had the usual complaints that other people mentioned (lights, constantly needing new brakes, Check Engine Light that never goes off). I also spent over $1500 replacing the steering rack at a little over 60,000 miles. I cant tell you how many times the dealer has lied to us about repairs needed (they wanted to replace the A/C coil when it was only a leak). While safe, Im happy to be getting whatever little I will get as a trade-in and move on.

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  In the Shop Again!! - 1998 Volvo V70
  By JDR - November 4 - 10:00 am

  The Volvo XC AWD is a reliability nightmare! Mines in the shop today for the 3rd time in 11 months, and 8,000 miles for check engine light being on. This time, Im 19 days out of warranty and theyre replacing the carbon evaporation canister (the 2nd time in 2 years). The bill is $460.00 and Im hopping mad! Oh, lets not forget the stupid light bulb I need replaced this go-around too. The one bulb I wish would burn out (check engine) hasnt! Im seriously contemplating dumping this junky car and return to driving my old, reliable, 140,000 mile, 88 Honda Accord once again.

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  Money Pit - 1998 Volvo V70
  By lolasluck - January 15 - 10:00 am

  When I went out on a hunt to buy a reliable car, the first car that came to mind was a volvo. At the time my boyfriend had a 86 volvo 240 wagon and that baby never died on was once. In purchasing this car I thought I bought my work horse. A car that would last me 300k miles easy. Boy was I WRONG!! In the first week the check engine light came on. took the car to many mechanics, even volvo, costing me hundreds in diagnostics fees and still not fixing it. heater went out, that would cost 700 to fix. A/C failed $450 to fix. Timing belt (okay thats a given) water pump.. more and more sensors. one sensor was $350 to replace. door lock broke. the list is endless. DON"T BUY THIS CAR

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  disappointing experience - 1998 Volvo V70
  By peter - April 22 - 12:16 am

  this is 3rd volvo and maybe last.first 2 gave very good service with 200k miles on each with very minor problems.current vehicle is constant maintenance problem wth endless check engine lights, early tire and brake wearouts, abs problems, emission problems. everything expensive to fix, trade in value low for price of car.getting rid of this irritant, probably wont be back.they used to be great cars and distressing to hear overall poor support from volvo

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  It could have been a good experience - 1998 Volvo V70
  By Sven - March 29 - 6:56 am

  Replaced: entire rear suspension, two sets of front sway bar links, rear brakes (twice), front brakes, 02 sensor (twice), master window switch, IP lights, headlights (4!!! times), Lamda sensor...and the list goes on. Nothing ever rendered the car undriveable, and its a hoot to drive fast in the snow. Much better to drive than any SUV. Dealer is awful in every sense, and Volvo service doesnt couldnt care less. They could have had me "for life," but they blew it.

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  So Much for the Dream - 1998 Volvo V70
  By bewilderedbear - October 24 - 10:00 am

  We bought this car as a demo and have been plagued with the notorious CEL. Have put 1000s in repairs after warranty and still no resolve. Car sits useless in the driveway on the brink of repo (no great loss cant afford to fix any more) I dont think it would be much of a stretch to say most all fuel system has been replaced as well as emmissions to the tune of 1000s of $s. Dealerships are impossible and state that they or Volvo will DO NOTHING) This car is a lemon in every sense, eats brakes and tires and the owner up in service. So much for our dream car that we would have for 100k miles.