vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2001 Volvo S80: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

164 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

63,294 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 125 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 61 of 164 complaints (37.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation5634.1%
Steering behavior2314.0%
Braking behavior2213.4%
Transmission and shifting127.3%
Electrical and battery issues95.5%
Fuel system concerns53.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
61
Electrical System
30
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
11
Engine And Engine Cooling
10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
Fuel System, Gasoline
6
Unknown Or Other
6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control61
Electrical System30
Power Train:Automatic Transmission11
Engine And Engine Cooling10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine8
Fuel System, Gasoline6
Unknown Or Other6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System5

Vehicle Speed Control: 61; Electrical System: 30; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
21
50,000 to 74,999
56
75,000 to 99,999
28
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,99921
50,000 to 74,99956
75,000 to 99,99928
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 56; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 5

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (56). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
5
2002
9
2003
7
2004
8
2005
83
2006
14
2007
10
2008
2
2009
6
2010
7
2011
4
2012
3
2013
1
2017
3
2020
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20015
20029
20037
20048
200583
200614
200710
20082
20096
20107
20114
20123
20131
20173
20201
20211

2001: 5; 2002: 9; 2003: 7; 2004: 8; 2005: 83; 2006: 14; 2007: 10; 2008: 2; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2017: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002060 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED THE MAS AIR FLOW SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURED 2 MONTHS LATER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10008026 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)

LEAK IN GAS TANK OF 2001 VOLVO S-80. TOLD BY RAMSEY VOLVO THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A "ROAD HAZARD"-THAT WE MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING THAT CAUSED THE PUNCTURE TO THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK EVEN THOUGH WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM BOSTON TO NEW YORK AND WE WERE UNAWARE OF ANY INCIDENT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008026 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019322 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RELEASED WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE BUCKLE WITH HER ELBOW. *NLM *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019322 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024645 · 2003-06-17 (June 17, 2003)

FAILURE OF POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH LEAKED.. *MR *TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024645 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030298 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE ON 2001 VOLVO S80 FAILED AS I ATTEMPTED TO PASS SOMEONE. ENGINE WAS PROGRAMMED TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I WAS LEFT SPEEDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH WITHOUT STEERING!*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030298 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034188 · 2003-08-19 (August 19, 2003)

AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING AWAY FROM CURB AT 3 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. BRAKES WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL, AND VEHICLE SHOT THROUGH THREE INTERSECTIONS BEFORE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED. MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR WAS FAULTY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10047582 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)

SINCE BUYING MY 2001 VOLVO S80 2.9, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHIN A 16 MONTH PERIOD. THE FIRST TIME WAS JUNE 2002 AND THE SECOND TIME WAS NOVEMBER 2003. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 36,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047582 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069309 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEM MESSAGE DISPLAYED AT 29,500 MILES ...DEALER FOUND AND REPLACED CRACKED HOSES THAT CAUSED COOLANT LEAK. TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT MESSAGE CAME UP. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY PER VOLVO. TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN 36 HOURS LATER. NOW IN SHOP HAVING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 31000 MILES! TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURRED RIGHT AFTER 30,000 MILE SERVICE AT VOLVO AT COST OF $600. I ASKED VOLVO FOR DISCOUNT ON EXTENDED WARRANTEE... THEY REFUSED SAYING IF THEY DID IT FOR ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT FOR OTHERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069309 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

7 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

01V100000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 2001-03-26 (March 26, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS AND WAGONS. THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ANCHORAGE BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO THE CORRECT TORQUE LEVEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
04V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Reported: 2004-09-13 (September 13, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
06V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 2006-11-15 (November 15, 2006)

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Reported: 2009-12-18 (December 18, 2009)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.

Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V566000 · Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)

Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
20V681000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2020-11-04 (November 4, 2020)

Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.

Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V766000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-09-30 (September 30, 2021)

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.

NHTSA campaign record ↗