2005 Volvo S80 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 15 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 40.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 13.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 13.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 4 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10415427 · 2011-07-27 (July 27, 2011)
B+ BATTERY CABLE AT STARTER SOLENOID SHORTED TO STARTER CASE AND GROUNDED. CAUSING A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE WENT OFF, LIGHTS WENT OUT ALL IN AN INSTANT. EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE TERMINAL ON THE BATTERY LOCATED IN THE TRUNK, CAR TOWED TO DEALER, IN PROCESS OF REPA…
Owner-reported narrative. 104,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10510471 · 2013-05-03 (May 3, 2013)
WE OWN A BEAUTIFUL 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 TOP OF THE LINE (FULLY LOADED, TWIN TURBOS,18" RIMS, METALLIC GREEN PAINT & PARKING SENSORS) ONLY 80,300 MILES. IT'S A $46,000 CAR UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD AND IS A HAZARD TO ALL. IT CANNOT GO OVER SPEED BUMPS WITHOUT SHAKING EVERYONE INSIDE VIOLENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND STUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS MEANING WE CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC! THERE IS ALSO COOLANT LEAKING EVERYWHERE AND SPILLING TO STORM DRAINS AND SEWERS LIST OF DIAGNOSED PROBLEMS: -TRANSMISSION REBU…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722149 · 2015-05-29 (May 29, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TROUBLE CODE DETECTED A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. IN ADDITION, THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10991819 · 2017-05-26 (May 26, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACTS GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE WITH FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE ABS AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AT ONTARIO VOLVO AT PHONE NUMBER: [phone removed] AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187290 · 2007-04-08 (April 8, 2007)
ON 07/21/07 I PURCHASED A 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 FROM MOMENTUM VOLVO IN HOUSTON, TX. IT WAS DELIVERED ON 08/02/2005 BRAND NEW WITH 7 MILES ON IT. THE FOLLOWING ARE AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISSUES AND SAFETY HAZARDS THIS CAR HAS HAD WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND 24,000 MILES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS DAMAGE FROM TRANSIT - FRONT AND REAR BUMPER HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND PAINTED. THE SECOND ISSUE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 01/14/06. IT WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK. I ALSO COMPLAINED OF NO AM RECEPTION (FIXED) . THE THIRD ISSUE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 01…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501036 · 2013-03-02 (March 2, 2013)
FUEL LEAK AT TOP OF PUMP UNDER RECALL, INSPECTION AND REPAIR AT NO COST REFUSED BY VOLVO. MY VOLVO S80, 2005 WAS PURCHASED AS A USED VEHICLE IN SAN DIEGO CA FROM THE VOLVO DEALER ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE FUEL LEAK LOCATION WAS DIAGNOSED BY INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE PUMP WAS UNDER RECALL. THE INDEPENDENT SHOP RECOMMEND TAKING THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT AT NO CHARGE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL NOTICE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER NO INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED AND I WAS TOLD THE RECALL NOTICE DID NOT APPLY…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11446561 · 2022-01-07 (January 7, 2022)
Fuel smell in and around car. Previous recall on cracked fuel pump causing odor was completed by Powell Volvo in 2010. The same defect may have happened recently as the odor was noticed in December 2021 and is now stronger. Volvo may have extended the warranty.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446561 at NHTSA ↗