Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Volvo S80 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I want to make you aware of a very serious car accident that my mother had on 9-5-18. She was driving her 2000 Volvo S80 when her car began to accelerate on its own. She was not able to control the car. My mom had her foot on the brake but that did not stop the vehicle. Unfortunately, at that point the car was out of control hitting and banging up all the cars around it. Then the car finally smashed into another car stopping the out of control car. My mom was seriously hurt and taken to the hospital. She had emergency surgery to repair her aorta that tore from the crash. She also broke her sternum. I am devastated by what happened to my mom. I feel that it is extremely important that you and Volvo are made aware of this tragic situation that occurred by this Volvo S80.
2000 Volvo S80 t6 on numerous occasions the vehicle would stall, even when driving at highway speeds. On several occasions while driving my children to school on the highway the vehicle stalled forcing me to cross 3-4 lanes of heavy traffic without the use of power steering or power brakes. The electronic throttle module was determined to be defective. This is a known defective part on 1999-2001 Volvo S80's. There are even documented reports that the etm will fail on over 90% of all Volvo S80's within this year range ('99-01). I have spent $900 to have this replaced. The state of california is filing a lawsuit against Volvo over this part. I live in ky; therefore I don't believe that lawsuit will help me. I am asking Volvo for full reimbursement to replace this part. It not only was a faulty design, but also potentially deadly part. …
I have been having problems with my 2000 Volvo S80 hesitating as if it's not getting any gas when first beginning to drive it everyday. I have complained about this problem since purchasing this vehicle but the Volvo repair shop have not been able to fix the problem and they say they do not know what the problem is. Also my check engine light, stc light, and ABS light keeps coming on. I have also noticed that when these lights come on my car becomes hard to steer sometimes. After checking into this problem I have found that many other Volvo S80 's built around the same time as mine are having the same problems. …
Over the course of ownership of a 2000 Volvo S80 (I.e., four years), I have the transmission overhauled at 67,000 miles;had the throttle replaced when my car choked ( luckily on a side street); had a bar on the sunroof drop off; engine mounts broken; wheel stops broken; and, most recently replaced an ABS panel. Not withstanding in any of these incidents is the cooling fan and ball joint replaced due to recall. Truly this car has been more expensive than any other known to be driven. Every trip to the dealership is easily $1000 plus. At the time of purchase, the research was scant in terms of problems. I have truly been dismayed by Volvo's commitment to its product and is design flaws and/or defects. After, the transmission was corrected at the dealership, I went to trade the car in---to purchase another car. …
In October 2001 while driving at night headlights went off. The following day while crossing the street the car stalled. Approximately ten minutes later was able to start the car, and at the same time headlights came on. Car was under warranty, and the mechanic repaired the throttle body & gasket. In June 2004 car stalled again. Replaced sway links and program down load $338.19. In December 2004, car staled on the road again. It was towed to the repair shop, they replaced the throttle body, mass air flow, mfi module- at cost of 2098.96. The contact did not take this car on any longer trip. Due to stalling on the road, frequent loss of headlights and numerous other mechanical problems the contact believed this car was unsafe to be on the road. 11-16 e-mail ; first time the car would not respond to the accelerator pedal. Stopped turn the car off and tried to restart it again. …
Driving in the city and when trying to stop on a traffic light the brakes became hard and engine was not running well. When I tried to drive off in the green light the speed control of the gas pedal was very chaotic. I got a message of engine system service required. I took the car to the local Volvo dealer and he diagnosed a faulty throttle etm asking 2000 $ to replace. After researching I found that there was already a recall on that by Volvo and when I asked the dealer he said that this was true but my car was more than 10 years old ( although he could have informed me about that in the first place). He informed me that a software service on the etm of my car was done in 2006 ( after the recall?) but this did not fix the problem as apparently the problem is with the etm design ( faltering potentiometer). …
While stopping or turning at low speeds the cars idle speed will fluctuate from a complete stop up to 1100 rpms. Most of the time between 500 & 1100 rpms ! When the car stops running while I am trying to turn a corner , the power steering of coarse does not work and its hard to steer it. I did take it to a Volvo dealer, & they said it needed a new throttle sensor & computer software change, & it would cost me $2400. I can't find out if any of the recalls have ever been done #r155, r146, NHTSA I.d. #626114 & I.d. #10018801. The previous owner had the car for three years & did not receive and recalls notices. Most of the time the car runs fine, I have driven it over 40,000 miles now with the check eng. Light on & off. The check engine light will stay on for a day or too & go off for three or four days at a time. …
I was driving my 2000 Volvo S80 on 5/19/10 and had exited I-405, onto hwy 169, heading home towards maple valley, when all of a sudden I heard a very loud bang, resulting in sudden steering loss, heard loud squealing, and saw lots of white smoke. The smoke was from the front passenger tire, which had turned outward, completely sideways at a 90 degree angle. The car is now in no condition to be driven. The wheel damaged the frame, warp/dented the quarter panel, broke off the molding, ripped out the cv drive or whatever that thing is that makes the wheel turn in a normal, forward direction, broke the lower control arm, messed up the brake line, struts, and who knows what else? I'm guessing that the repair costs are going to be towards the thousands, being that Volvo parts are so expensive.
SRS airbag failure and ABS brake warning lights and alerts posted on dashboard display. Turns out the problem was defective software and was resolved with a software update. This is a critical safety issue since the failure results in the disabling of the systems. The problem was diagnosed and fixed in about an hour. Volvo clearly new about this problems since the software upgrade (aka a fix) was already completed and available - Volvo had to pay someone to fix the software, why pay them if there was no defect. I believe this safety issue should be at least advised if not mandatory for all owners of these vehicles. It is a simple easy way to avoid a tragedy if these systems are disabled by defective software.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Volvo S80. The contact stated that the trans signal (alert to the ABS and speed sensor) would alter the ABS and all of the instrument panel lights would illuminate. He had not noticed any performance issues with the vehicle due to the failure. He took the vehicle to a repair shop for diagnostic testing. The results produced six codes and indicated that the speed sensor was also a part of the failure. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 06V441000. The current mileage was 122,944 and failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
Brake complaints in other S80 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2000 Volvo S80?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the brakes of the 2000 Volvo S80, 8% of the model year's 318 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Volvo S80 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2000 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 2000 Volvo S80 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 120,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to brakes 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.