Most common 2005 Volvo S80 problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S80 complaints by model year
Best S80 years: 2011, 2005, 2012. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2003, 2008. Compare all years →
2005 Volvo S80 recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units May overheat.
Remedy: Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable GPS device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 xc90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new Mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina,…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the label denoting the tire and loading pressure information is incorrect.
Remedy: Dealers will mail the correct labels free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Electrical system › Starter assembly › Solenoid
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, due to an error in the factory assembly instruction, the b+terminal May be in conflict with the starter motor solenoid. If this occurs, the conflict between the b+terminal and the starter motor solenoid May develop into a short circuit of the battery cable to ground.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and increase distance between the b+terminal and the starter motor solenoid by adjusting the terminal. The recall began on January 31, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2005 Volvo S80 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
Fuel smell in and around car. Previous recall on cracked fuel pump causing odor was completed by Powell Volvo in 2010. The same defect may have happened recently as the odor was noticed in December 2021 and is now stronger. Volvo may have extended the warranty.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S80. While driving 70 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle began to decelerate. The contact stated that the check engine, ABS, and brake failure, stop safely warning indicators illuminated. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was taken to multiple independent mechanics for diagnostic testing and the fuel system faulty code was found. The vehicle was taken to autobahn Volvo fort worth (located at 2910 white settlement rd, fort worth, tx 76107, [phone]), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle started to rattle and smoke was emitting from the front of the vehicle without warning. The contact tried to merge over to the slower lane and discovered that the brake pedal had become inoperable. The vehicle coasted to a stop and shortly after the vehicle exploded. A police report was filed but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
B+ battery cable at starter solenoid shorted to starter case and grounded. Causing a fire in engine compartment. Car shut down without warning. Engine went off, lights went out all in an instant. Emergency flashers were inoperative. Pulled off to the side of the road and stopped using the emergency brake. Smoke was coming from under the hood. Opened the hood and found the front of the engine on fire. Extinguished the flames. Disconnected the negative terminal on the battery located in the trunk, car towed to dealer, in process of repair.
Electrical system
B+ battery cable at starter solenoid shorted to starter case and grounded. Causing a fire in engine compartment. Car shut down without warning. Engine went off, lights went out all in an instant. Emergency flashers were inoperative. Pulled off to the side of the road and stopped using the emergency brake. Smoke was coming from under the hood. Opened the hood and found the front of the engine on fire. Extinguished the flames. Disconnected the negative terminal on the battery located in the trunk, car towed to dealer, in process of repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Volvo S80. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle's speed reduced and "reduced engine performance" appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle sputtered. The contact stated that the vehicle was not able to be driven two years ago. The failure recurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, who diagnosed that the etm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact notified the manufacturer. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000. The VIN was unavailable.
2005 Volvo S80 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Volvo S80 a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 S80 rates average: 36% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S80 at the same age. It is one of the best S80 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Volvo S80?
The fuel & propulsion system — 5 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 2005 Volvo S80 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2005 Volvo S80, the most recent from September 30, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S80?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2005 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2003 and 2008. See the full Volvo S80 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Volvo S80 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 102,000 miles; 18% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.