Volvo S80 Problems by Year

We compared every Volvo S80 model year from 1999–2016 using 953 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 27 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2001, 2002, 2004, 2003 and 2008, which drew far more complaints than other S80 years at the same age. The best years are 2011, 2005 and 2012.

17model years
953complaints
27recalls
2001, 2002worst years
2011, 2005best years

Complaints by model year

’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’15’1619931816442265015122426162758876
Owner complaints per model year, Volvo S80. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
20166−36%2EngineAverage
20157−28%2EngineAverage
20138−28%3BodyAverage
20128−36%3Wheel & TireAverage
20115−60%4ElectricalGood
2010271.3×5Window & WiperAverage
200916−20%5Wheel & TireAverage
2008261.5×7Fuel SystemCaution
200724typical5BodyAverage
200612−28%3AccelerationAverage
200515−36%5Fuel SystemAverage
2004502.5×4Fuel SystemCaution
2003261.6×5Fuel SystemCaution
2002422.6×4Fuel SystemAvoid
200116414.3×7AccelerationAvoid
200031825.5×4AccelerationAvoid
199919915.0×4AccelerationAvoid

* Complaints compared with the median S80 year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Volvo S80 problems

Latest Volvo S80 recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-766 · Sep 30, 2021 · 259,383 vehicles

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.

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 20V-681 · Nov 4, 2020 · 54,124 vehicles

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.

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.

Seat belts › Front

NHTSA recall 20V-378 · Jun 30, 2020 · 308,260 vehicles

Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles.

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.

Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers

NHTSA recall 15V-555 · Sep 2, 2015 · 7,855 vehicles

Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting…

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015.

Electrical system

NHTSA recall 13V-377 · Aug 21, 2013 · 7,767 vehicles

Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on.

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the CEM software, free of charge. The recall began on October 3, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

All 27 Volvo S80 recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Volvo S80 should you avoid?

2001, 2002, 2004, 2003, 2008 and 2000 — these years have the most complaints relative to other S80 years at the same age, led by speed control & acceleration problems in the 2001.

What is the best year for the Volvo S80?

2011 has the fewest complaints compared with other S80 years at the same age, followed by 2005 and 2012. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Volvo S80 problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the speed control & acceleration (227), engine & cooling (180) and electrical system (165). Acceleration complaints peak in the 2000 model year.

How many recalls has the Volvo S80 had?

27 recalls across 1999–2016. The model year with the most is 2001. See all Volvo S80 recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.