2009 Volvo S80 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 17, 2025 · 16 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other S80 years
Fewer complaints than other years 10th of 18 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Volvo S80. That ranks 10th out of 18 S80 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (4 complaints, 25%), typically at around 111,000 miles. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.

Volvo S80
Volvo S80 (TS) Washington DC, USA. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: OWS Photography, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2009 Volvo S80 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Structure4 · ~111,000 mi
Wheels4 · ~51,000 mi
Tires3 · ~51,000 mi
Electrical System2 · ~54,000 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~188,000 mi
Engine1 · ~85,000 mi
Exterior Lighting1
Fuel System, Gasoline1 · ~54,000 mi
Lane Departure1
Seats1 · ~43,764 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Structure425%111,000——
Wheels425%51,000——
Tires319%51,000——
Electrical System213%54,000——
Seat Belts213%188,000——
Engine16%85,000——
Exterior Lighting16%———
Fuel System, Gasoline16%54,000——
Lane Departure16%———
Seats16%43,764——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2015, with 3 complaints
2012: 1201212013: 2201322015: 3201532016: 1201612017: 1201712019: 1201912020: 2202022021: 1202112022: 2202222023: 1202312025: 120251

n = 16 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2009 Volvo S80 recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Seat belts:frontJun 30, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V378000 · 308,260 vehicles

Problem: 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. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)Nov 8, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles

Problem: Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.

Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.

Fix: 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. The unit's battery will be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.

Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systemsJul 22, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V335000 · 3,635 vehicles

Problem: 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 pressure monitoring system (tpms) software has an incorrect trigger level.

Risk: These vehicles do not meet the required safety standards.

Fix: 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. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about august 27, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or [email protected] .

Electrical system:softwareSep 1, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V343000 · 11,993 vehicles

Problem: 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. The driver may be able to start the engine in spite of the fuel pump not being activated due to residual pressure in the fuel system. In some cases, the driver may be able to drive the vehicle a short distance at idle but then the engine may stall.

Risk: If the vehicle stalls in certain conditions, a crash could occur.

Fix: 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:fanJun 12, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V218000 · 17,614 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: This situation may result in loss of cooling system function and engine failure. The driver may not have sufficient time to react to the warning light(s) or the text message in the instrument panel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The headlight system malfunctioned. It is available for inspection upon request. The low beam failure error occurred, which led to an inspection of the headlight system. The wiring inside the headlight assembly failed. The insulation on bulb wires is crumbling everywhere and causing short circuits…

Electrical System · received Aug 17, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11681205

For the last several years I’ve been complaining about my TPMS ALWAYS reflecting a “Low Tire Pressure “ response. Recently I went in for a oil change but indicated the my tire pressure light was on again. I take the Volvo to a shop I trust. Global AutoWorks in GrandHaven. They took care of my…

Seat Belts · received May 2, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11520072

At night, when a direct strong light (headlight) from behind shines on the car, the BLIS system stop working. The only way to reset the system is to stop and restart the car, instead of turning the system button OFF and then back ON. This is unsafe since when you are on the highway, it is unsafe to…

Lane Departure · received Jun 23, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11470743

The contact owns a 2009 Volvo S80. The contact stated that the seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the seat belt assembly to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon…

Seat Belts · received May 3, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11463236

Severe subframe rust due to the exhaust on volvo s80 v8 being too close and melting the paint off. Car is very clean and we'll taken care of. Appears to be a very common problem on the v8 s80s.

Structure · received Apr 10, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11407345

Other Volvo S80 years

← 2008 S80 · 2010 S80 →

See all Volvo S80 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volvo S80?

Owners most often report structure, wheels, tires problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Volvo S80?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2009 Volvo S80 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S80 model years, the 2009 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.