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 2000 Volvo S80 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Driving on freeway at night, experienced a sudden loss of power. Engine check light came on. Fortunately coasted to a stop on an exit ramp. Upon stopping observed smoke coming through the edges of the hood. Turned off the ignition and exited the car. Noticed a flame under the engine compartment. Within one minute the front end of the car burst into flames and burned in a bright yellow fireball estimated to be 20 feet high. It burned until the fire trucks arrived 20 minutes later. The heat was extremely intense. The hood vaporized, metal parts of the engine melted, tires exploded. Car had a full tank of gas and strongly suspect malfunction of fuel system. Had we been trapped in the car on the freeway, there could have been four fatalities.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Volvo S80. The contact noticed a fuel odor near the rear seat of the vehicle and the fuel gauge indicator drastically decreased. The contact discovered an excessive amount of fuel leaking on the ground near the rear side of the vehicle under the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump flange was cracked. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000. Update 01/15/16 ma updated 02/04/16. Updated 03/04/16 updated 03/14/16.
Vehicle has the smell of fuel. The 2001-2005 models have a recall for this same issue because of the plastic on the fuel pump flange cracking. Many owners of the 2000 models are reporting this issue. The fuel pump is the same used on the 2000 year model as the 2001-2005 so the 2000 should be part of the recall also. The smell of fuel is not just unpleasant but dangerous. I have a 11 month old son who rides in my car and it would be tragic if something happened to my family or someone else. You can search google and see many other owners reporting issues in the 2000 model Volvo S80. Please do something about this. Thank you!
On May 9, 2005 my husband and I were traveling north on the new jersey turnpike near east rutherford, nj when our 2000 Volvo S80 sedan lost acceleration. As the vehicle slowed from 60 MPH in traffic to 15 MPH, the message window read, "performance reduced." as my husband negotiated the failing vehicle from the center lane, surrounded by 60 MPH traffic, to the shoulder, I phoned our Volvo dealership in pa for roadside assistance. They informed me to get the vehicle off the road and to take it to the nearest Volvo dealership. As we inched along the shoulder at 15 MPH, a nj state trooper spotted us and recognized that we were in trouble. He pulled along side us and then offered to follow us, with lights flashing, into the nearest rest area, which was 8 miles north. …
I want to add my documentation about the failure of the throttle module and subsequent lack of appropriate action. The unit in the 2000 Volvo S80 failed to bring the car to a complete halt in traffic in December 2004. Subsequent repairs to solve the problem were $845. If Volvo sent out a notice for etm repair refunds last winter, I did not receive it despite living at the same address as when I purchased the vehicle in dec 1999. I also want to call your attention to the increasing problem with the dstc system as evidence by activity in the chat rooms. Our vehicle shows a persistent dstc service message that the dealer claims can not be adequately diagnosed without first replacing the yaw sensor for $668. Others with this problem have turned to buying and self installing rebuilt ABS units which the NHTSA should be proactively seeking to understand. The cause of the ABS unit failure? …
Last month I entered my garage to an extreme smell of gasoline. I drove the car to a service shop and they found a cracked fuel pump, which I had replaced. Last week, I received a recall letter for my wife's 2004 Volvo xc70, describing the exact problem I experienced on my 2000 S80. In this letter, they were also recalling 2001-2004 s80s for this problem. I sent this letter along with the bill for the fuel pump on my 2000 S80 to Volvo and asked them to reimburse me. They denied. I telephoned them and asked them to reconsider, as the 2000 S80 was the first year of that model and the problem they were describing in their recall of years 2001-2004 was identical to the problem I experienced. My wife's 2004 car, which they did recall, also had this problem. Both cars, leaking gas fumes in our garage, with the gas hot water tank in the garage...very dangerous. …
My wife and I noticed that the NHTSA is investigating power loss complaints regarding the s-80 model of the 2000 Volvo. We had a quick and complete loss of power on the interstate on October 24, 2003. We were able to drive off the interstate and get to a parking lot. The engine stopped and could not be restarted. We had the car towed to the crown Volvo dealership in greensboro, nc (tel: [phone]). Crown Volvo replaced the electronic throttle module and downloaded new software. The repair cost us $899.48. The mileage on the car was 79,089 miles. In February 2003, the car was stalling repeatedly. When restarted, the engine revved and stalled again. The car was towed to Volvo Saab of charlotte (tel: [phone]) and a repair was made. The mass air flow sensor was replaced at a cost $443.23. The odometer at the time of the repair was 68,066 miles. …
Component: fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump there is a strong smell of raw gasoline both inside and outside the vehicle. Gasoline is dripping from the fuel system directly below the position of the fuel pump. The vehicle is registered in sarasota, florida, a warm weather climate. All indications point to recall number r220. This recall begins with the 2001 Volvo s-80 and therefore does not include my 2000 model year. I contend that the recall should be expanded to include 2000 model year volvos. V483000 vehicles in warm weather climates May develop a fuel leak car recalls Volvo S80 recall 09V483000 vehicles in warm weather climates May develop a fuel leak engine, January 15, 2010 repairpal expert overview our quick take: vehicles operated in certain warm weather climates May develop a fuel smell and/or leak. …
3 independent issues: throttle module - vehicle suddenly and unpredictably surges forward, particularly during idle or low speeds while in forward or reverse either stopped or moving, causing potential safety problems. Transmission module - vehicle suddenly and unpredictably looses power, presenting the driving performance of a "slipping" transmission, causing unpredictable responsiveness to changing traffic conditions, and potential safety problems. Front suspension - "knocking" noise from front suspension component(s), causing lack of driving confidence and concerns of driving safety and performance. All 3 of these problems are widely reported as chronic design, performance, safety and reliability issues for the same model years by other Volvo owners. …
I purchased a used 2000 Volvo S80 today. Previous owner purchased car in 2002 and had all factory service done up to the 75000 check up (car has 85000 miles now). Car manifests all symptoms covered by NHTSA action number : pe05041. Surges and if you don't hold the brake hard at stop, car will lurch forward into traffic. While cruising, car surges forward and if you're not careful, the surging will cause the car to get out of control. Called the nearest dealer in jacksonville. They indicate that etm May need replacing ($1200) but my cars 10 year warranty in pe05041 expired in May. Car had problems before and dealer downloaded software but problem not corrected and etm was never mentioned to be replaced. Is there a way for me to be covered under the pe05041 warranty since prior dealer never took care of this and now my local dealer says it is just past the 10 year mark? …
Fuel System complaints in other S80 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2000 Volvo S80?
NHTSA has 41 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2000 Volvo S80, 13% of the model year's 318 complaints. The component named most often is delivery (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Volvo S80 fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system 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 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 3 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.