Most common 2006 Volvo S80 problems
Share of the 12 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 →
2006 Volvo S80 recalls (3)
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.
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.
What 2006 Volvo S80 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
When driving the transmission shift slams / bucks for 2nd to 3rd gear at the 20 to 30 miles per hour. The transmission revs and then bang?s into the next gear. This also happens when slowing down and coming to a stop, you can feel it bucking / jolt (as if it was slipping) as I apply the brake. I had reported this to the Volvo dealer several times and they said that nothing came up on the codes or diagnostic equipment. I had the transmission overhauled too in April 2013 and it ran good for about 12 months and that back to same symptoms / issues. I also brought it back again around August/September 2014 time frame to have the software updated and explained the transmission shifting problem and again no fault codes. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer in binghamton, new york, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that accelerator sensor-digital sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 06V441000 (vehicle speed control) as a possible cause of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
Electrical system
Without preceding event, the electrical systems monitoring the car-check engine lights, gas gauge, vehicle range, tire pressure etc have ceased to function. The car was stationary at the time this occurred.
First the high beam headlights could not be dimmed and constantly remained on creating problems for oncoming drivers. Next the high beams could not be turned on creating visibility issues when driving the car. The component that failed is the central electronic module ( cem ) . When the cem failed it also burned out the turn signal board. Both the cem and the turn signal board needed to be replaced with new units.
Engine & cooling
2006 Volvo S80. Consumer states unexplained engine behavior. The consumer stated the engine suddenly stalled. An engine immobilized message appeared on the dashboard. The dealer was unable to find any irregularities. The dealer stated it was probably electronic interference.
2006 Volvo S80 . Consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory vehicle repairs and customer service at dealership. The front brakes, pads and shock absorbers were replaced. Also, the vehicle had air bag problems and it over heated.
2006 Volvo S80 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Volvo S80 a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 S80 rates average: 28% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S80 at the same age. 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 2006 Volvo S80?
The speed control & acceleration — 3 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2006 Volvo S80 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Volvo S80 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 61,000 miles; 43% 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.