Most common 2009 Volvo S80 problems
Share of the 16 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 →
2009 Volvo S80 recalls (5)
Seat belts › Front
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo 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.
Tires › Pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 s80 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the tire and loading information label and a page in the owner's manual contain incorrect maximum permissible inflation pressure and the tire…
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicles with a new tire and loading information label, owner's manual label and TPMS software. This service will be performed free of charge.
Electrical system › Software
Volvo is recalling my 2008-2010 s80, model year 2009-2010 xc70 and model year 2010 xc60 vehicles. Under certain conditions the software within the central electronic module (cem) May not send a signal to the fuel pump electronic module (pem). This missing signal to the pem inhibits the start of the fuel pump.
Remedy: Dealers will download software to the vehicles' cem free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2009. Vehicles in dealer's inventory will be repaired prior to delivery. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
Volvo is recalling 17,614 my 2008-2009 s80, v70, and xc70 vehicles. The engine cooling fan May stop working due to a software programming error in the fan control module (fcm). Depending on driving conditions, the customer May experience reduced air conditioning performance, and/or rapid increase in engine coolant temperature.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fan control module free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2009. Owners May contact Volvo customer care center at 1-800-458-1552.
What 2009 Volvo S80 owners say
Wheels & tires
During the spring of 2013, my 2009 cpo Volvo S80 experienced two flat tires within one week due to faulty hex nuts (I.e., hex nuts broke off causing sudden loss of air pressure) that hold the tire valve stem to the wheel (Volvo incident #130404-000103). Volvo recognized the problem by replacing the tire and all fours hex nuts as a third hex nut was visibly cracked and the next likely culprit of a future flat tire. However, on July 25, 2015 almost two years later, I found myself once again driving on the interstate, when the TPMS light came on again stating, tire needs air now. I immediately pulled the car over on the shoulder and inspected the tires when I noticed the left rear tire was flat due to a broken hex nut. While I appreciate the overall safety features Volvo cars provide, they are fully negated by the faulty hex nut. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volvo S80. While driving at 35 MPH, the TPMS warning light illuminated even though there was pressure in the tires based on the tire and loading information label. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was aware of NHTSA campaign number: 10V335000 (wheels); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 22,500.
Body & structure
My car is extremely clean and well taken care of. But just like every single Volvo S80, specifically the v8 model there is a rust hole in the subframe. This is because Volvo put the exhaust too close to the subframe and the heat from the v8 eats away the paint and causes it to rust.
The subframe/engine cradle has a large rot hole which is increasing in size at a high rate. The car is only a 2009 with less than 100K miles on it (and was maintained very well its whole life) but this still occurred. I've met a lot of people with S80 v8s who have this same issue. It seems that the design on the car is flawed where the exhaust is too close to the subframe, so the heat eventually wears down the paint and then rust starts. This is a major structural component which also makes the car very dangerous to drive at the moment. Additionally, Volvo has a 12-year, unlimited mile corrosion warranty, yet they won't honor this. Volvo first said the warranty was only good toward sheet metal. When told that the subframe was made of stamped sheet metal, they then said only painted components. …
2009 Volvo S80 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 23 / 18 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Volvo S80 a good car?
Based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 S80 rates average: 20% 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 2009 Volvo S80?
The wheels & tires — 5 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Next are the body & structure (4) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2009 Volvo S80 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2009 Volvo S80, the most recent from June 30, 2020 (front). 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 2009 Volvo S80 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 70,000 miles; 15% 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.