Volvo S80 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 954 owner complaints and 27 safety recalls on file for the Volvo S80, across 18 model years (1999–2016). The 2000 model year has the most complaints (318). The most reported problem area overall is vehicle speed control.
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Volvo S80 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S80 year: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 S80: 318 complaints, 4 recalls
- 1999 S80: 199 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2001 S80: 164 complaints, 7 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volvo S80 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 227 | 12 | 13 |
| Electrical System problems | 165 | 14 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 143 | 9 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 92 | 11 | 2 |
| Power Train | 83 | 13 | 1 |
| Suspension | 80 | 13 | 5 |
| Steering | 53 | 9 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 52 | 13 | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 43 | 10 | 2 |
| Engine | 37 | 14 | 0 |
| Visibility | 36 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 35 | 11 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 26 | 9 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 25 | 10 | 4 |
| Tires | 18 | 10 | 1 |
| Wheels | 14 | 7 | 2 |
| Equipment | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 5 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| Seats | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Volvo S80 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2001: vehicle speed control (64)
- 2000: vehicle speed control (93) · engine and engine cooling (68) · electrical system (54)
- 1999: vehicle speed control (53)
All Volvo S80 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 S80 | 6 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2015 S80 | 7 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2014 S80 | 1 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2013 S80 | 8 | 3 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 S80 | 8 | 3 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2011 S80 | 5 | 4 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2010 S80 | 27 | 5 | — | Visibility/wiper | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 S80 | 16 | 5 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 S80 | 26 | 7 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 S80 | 24 | 5 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 S80 | 12 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 S80 | 15 | 5 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 S80 | 50 | 4 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 S80 | 26 | 5 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 S80 | 42 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 S80 | 164 | 7 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 S80 | 318 | 4 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 S80 | 199 | 4 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Volvo: all Volvo models · Volvo VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S80 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1999 (199), 2000 (318), 2001 (164), 2002 (42), 2004 (50) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S80 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volvo S80?
Vehicle Speed Control, with 227 complaints across 12 model years.
How many recalls does the Volvo S80 have?
27 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.