Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Volvo S80 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo S80. While stationary, the vehicle leaked fuel onto the ground. Wallace Volvo in stuart, florida diagnosed the vehicle as having a mass air flow failure. The vehicle was repaired by don imports auto service in vero beach, florida. In addition, while driving 2 MPH, the vehicle caught fire underneath the driver's seat. A police report was filed. The contact extinguished the fire with the assistance of a neighbor. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to wallace Volvo in stuart, florida. The vehicle was not destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage and VIN were unknown.
Investigated gasoline odor in/around car. Resulting inspection found significant gas leak on top side of fuel tank - passenger side. Further inspection by repair shop revealed cracked fuel pump fitting that when powered sprayed fuel on underside of vehicle. Fuel spray / vapors were reaching close to if not in contact with hot exhaust components. In addition to dangers (to vehicle occupants) related to inhalation of gas fumes this failure resulting in a critical and potentially catastrophic risk or fire/explosion. Repair involved replacement of fuel pump assembly, approximately $700. Bottom line - this is a completely unacceptable failure at any mileage and could have resulted in injury or loss of life. …
My 1999 vovlo S80 engine began surging when coming to a stop. The idle would bounce up and down by itself from 500 - 1500rpm. The car finaly set dheck engine codes that indicated that the mass air flow sensor had failed. Replacing maf corrected the issue, however the car has been showing signs of the same failure again. First maf unit was replaced on August 28, 2003 with 63,935 miles, now at 104,380 the same issues have begun to re-appear. It appears to me that the current design of the 1999 S80 maf has a design flaw that limits its useful life. I have never had to replace a maf sensor before now I am looking at a re-occurance on the same vehicle.
(1) on more than one occasion the Volvo S80 has had shuttering of the engine at idle. (2) on more than one occasion the Volvo S80 has placed the occupants at risk of bodily injury due to the loss of power and sudden acceleration in high traffic situations. (3) the Volvo S80 has been to the dealer on two occasions - the first occasion, I believe the throttle body components were cleaned and the warning light reset - the second and latest visit, on sept 21, I was informed that the throttle body needed to be replaced at an approximate cost of $850 and that my ABS brake module also needed to be replaced at an approximate cost of $830.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo S80. While driving approximately 60 MPH the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact stated the fuel gauge did not read empty at the time the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000. Updated 8/29/11 the consumer stated a recall was issued regarding defective fuel pumps. However, her vehicle was not included in the recall. The dealer was unable to determine what caused the vehicle to stall. Updated 09/28/11
My 1999 Volvo S80 simply decided to stall while I was merging into traffic. I was able to avoid an accident. A message came on the dash that stated that I needed an urgent service visit for my emission system. The Volvo dealership charged me $1,000 to replace the electronic throttle. A second defect of this car is a leaking fuel sender assembly which was a fire hazard. About $700 to repair. I emailed and called Volvo regarding both of these items. They have never responded.
Dealer advised car had a defective steering rack, which was replaced along with associated "o" rings. Eleven days after warranty work was completed, owner was driving vehicle when the car caught on fire. Fire was attributed to a "crimped" o-ring. Dealer replaced the o-ring and has been test driving vehicle since then. The o-ring has crimped again recreating the same scenario. Owner is now in the middle between dealer and Volvo pointing fingers at each other.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Volvo S80. While the vehicle was parked the contact smelled a strong fuel odor in the vehicle. The smell was coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated the fuel pump was fractured and had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
1999 Volvo S80 t6, sudden loss of speed when driving in highway traffic, with sudden partial and at times complete stall w/out warning. This has happened five times, twice I had to be towed. Extensive work has been done on the etm by two very good Volvo service departments, but the problem persists and is a mystery as to what to do about it. This is very frustrating - I need this car to work!!
Tl contact owned a 1999 Volvo S80. The contact stated that there was a fuel leaking into the air ventilation system. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired; however, there are no existing recalls or related warranties. The contact is responsible for the repair costs. There was also a problem with the throttle body. The failure mileage was 107,396.
Fuel System complaints in other S80 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1999 Volvo S80?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1999 Volvo S80, 15% of the model year's 199 complaints. The component named most often is delivery › fuel pump (6 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Volvo S80 fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 1999 Volvo S80, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Volvo S80 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.