Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The air bag warning randomly popped up on my screen. They will not deploy if I get into a wreck. Non working air bag. I also have issues that come and go with the electrical component. Sometimes my door won't open, sometimes my seats won't move, and my license plate light is out due to something electrical. My gas tank spits gas back at me and makes weird noises sometimes.
Tl* the contact owned a 2010 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while dirving 30 MPH, she attempted to avoid a deer and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was involved in a crash with three electrical poles as a result. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was deemed destroyed. The contact and a passenger suffered concussions from the crash. The contact then noticed the recall associated with NHTSA campaign id number: 10V489000 (air bags: frontal), but was informed by the manufacturer that the vehicle was not included. The contact was informed by the manufacturer that an engineer will examine the vehicle. The failure and current mileages were 13,700.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Volvo S80. While driving 15-20 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear passenger side door of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts did not engage. As a result, the driver struck his head on the windshield and suffered head and neck injuries. A police report was filed. As of February 20, 2008, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 37,000. Updated 3/25/08
On 11/17/2020 was driving to pick up decal for my car and I got a message that read a check airbags I didn't have any reading on my gages turn signal for right turn stay lit up not brinking just on , when I stopped and went in building to get decal came back to car started it my gages came back which was glad they were working but still had message about airbags
The contact owns a 2003 Volvo S80. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V766000 (Air Bags). The dealer had been notified about the recall and an appointment was made for the recall repair. The contact then received a call that the appointment was cancelled due to parts not yet being available. The manufacturer was also notified of the recall and also stated that parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V681000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
My son was driving a 2002 Volvo S80 with no passengers when he was hit in the left front by another car. He was forced to the right and struck a light pole at approximately 30 MPH. The light pole impact was maybe 2" right of dead center. The car was a total loss. Only the passenger airbag deployed from the dash. None of the other seven airbags deployed. The fact that none of the drivers airbags deployed appears to be a fault. The fact that there was no passenger and the passenger airbag did deploy also appears to be a fault.
Volvo s-80 airbag failure in a severe crash. 2000 Volvo s-80 involved in a single car accident (driver was the only occupant). Went off road at 55+MPH, spun into a ditch hit the side of a mountain, tossed back across the road and landed in the median. Totaled the car. Although the side curtain, side impact (in driver side seat) and passenger front airbags deployed, the main driver airbag in the steering wheel did not deploy. Multiple minor injuries; unknown if any will turn out to be serious.
Related 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Air bags › Frontal
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 s80, xc70, model year 2011 xc60 and model year 2010 v70 vehicles. There May be an intermittent fault in the driver's airbag clockspring wiring connector for the supplemental restraint system.
Remedy: Dealers will install a metal shim in the driver's air bag clockspring wiring connector. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 20, 2010.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S80 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (19) and 1999 (10) model years. Airbag complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Volvo S80 airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 21V-766 (inflator module, Sep 30, 2021); 20V-681 (inflator module, Nov 4, 2020); 10V-489 (frontal, Oct 13, 2010). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo S80 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (12 mentions), followed by the side/window (4).
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.