Volvo S80 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
951 owner complaints analyzed
27 distinct recall campaigns
74,380 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2016 model years. Data snapshot: . 658 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 214 of 951 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 197 | 20.7% |
| Braking behavior | 151 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 106 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 70 | 7.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 66 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 64 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 214 |
| Electrical System | 132 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 55 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 43 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 43 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 42 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 41 |
| Unknown Or Other | 39 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 214; Electrical System: 132; Engine And Engine Cooling: 55; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 43; Fuel/Propulsion System: 43; Fuel System, Gasoline: 42; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 41; Unknown Or Other: 39
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 86 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 190 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 139 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 144 |
| 150,000 and above | 44 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 86; 50,000 to 74,999: 190; 75,000 to 99,999: 139; 100,000 to 149,999: 144; 150,000 and above: 44
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (190). 293 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 33 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2002 | 40 |
| 2003 | 43 |
| 2004 | 58 |
| 2005 | 253 |
| 2006 | 70 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 45 |
| 2009 | 39 |
| 2010 | 45 |
| 2011 | 39 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 19 |
| 2015 | 26 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2000: 33; 2001: 24; 2002: 40; 2003: 43; 2004: 58; 2005: 253; 2006: 70; 2007: 31; 2008: 45; 2009: 39; 2010: 45; 2011: 39; 2012: 22; 2013: 20; 2014: 19; 2015: 26; 2016: 24; 2017: 23; 2018: 12; 2019: 12; 2020: 14; 2021: 18; 2022: 16; 2023: 11; 2024: 6; 2025: 5; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 197 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 151 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 106 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 10089590 · 2004-08-24 (August 24, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN WON'T START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED, A PIPE ON THE FUEL RAIL BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1200. CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL TANK/FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL RAIL WAS JUST ONE UNIT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130940 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING OF ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PULLED CAR SAFELY OFF ROAD. CAR RESTARTED. BROUGHT CAR TO VOLVO DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004281 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHEN BRAKING PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. PH...*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059235 · 2004-02-18 (February 18, 2004)
AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054194 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS. THE MECHANIC IS WAITING FOR A STEERING ROD. . NETMET VOLVO 153-20 HILLSIDE AVE. JAMAICA NEW YORK 11432 ***************[phone removed] TONY JOHNSON(SERVICE MANAGER). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059473 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
DEALERSHIP PERFORMED INSPECTION ON VEHICLE AND A NUMBER OF DEFECTS WAS SEEN. ONE PARTICULAR DEFECT WAS THE STEERING BOX. CONSUMER HAVE BEEN FROM ONE DEALER TO ANOTHER BUT NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE STEERING RACK TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023782 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 75,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023782 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056834 · 2004-02-09 (February 9, 2004)
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT OR PROVIDE ANY VEHICLE DECELERATION. RPM GOES TO 750 WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS BUT VEHICLE SPEED REMAINS SAME AND ONLY COASTS O SLOW DOWN
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088972 · 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: THE 1999 IS HARD TO START AND HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE IT STARTS, AND WE ALSO SMELL GAS WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR (BY THE FUEL FILLER).*AK I TOOK THE CAR TO UNION PARK SPENT $300. THINKING IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO UNION PARK AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE OFF THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP PRIMES THE LINE. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE THIS SUCKS IN A…
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145396 · 2005-12-15 (December 15, 2005)
VEHICLE STALLED AT 45 TO 50 MPH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET RESTARTED. REPLACED ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) AND IT FIXED THAT PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145396 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2000: 4; 2001: 7; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 5; 2006: 3; 2007: 5; 2008: 7; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2