First time Volvo owner, I bought a 98 V70 (NA) for our kids. It's a nice, clean 90K car. Drove it 300 miles and enjoyed it all the way. One strange issue I noticed immediately...most of the ***** have a dirty looking gooey coating on them. I don't know if this is something inherent to Volvo plastics or some result of a particular cleaning solvent. Prev owner says it's been like that since year 2, and I have no reason not to believe him. Any insight would be appreciated.

 

I have a 97 V70 and so does my son and ours are not that way. Soundsl like somebody used something on them. Don't know what to do to fix. Maybe find somebody parting one out and buy the *****.

 

It is something between the oil from peoples body through thier hands and the rubber stuff used on the *****.
I have seen alot of cars in perfect condition and others like that after one year.

The keys on the 1999 and up cars do the same thing.

 

Ive just bought a 97 model and it too has the GOOEY *****, The previous owner used the car to transport two large dogs that had free reign to slobber all over the car so they cleaned the car quite often ( but not very well as it took me 4 days to get it really clean) I think its detergents and oils that make the controls go this way. I would check the local breakers yards for replacement controls to cure it or you can remove all the soft touch coating back to the black plastic beneath, but rather you than me !

 

Yeah i'll second or third that...both my keys look they are 30 years old...
It pisses me off.

good luck
v70 2.4t

 

I have a 98 V70 that was the same way, especially when it is humid. I put Goo Gone cleaner (orange oil) on a cloth diaper and wiped them down, then wiped it off with a damp warm rag. I did it again a couple of months later and no problems since.