Volvo S80 Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Volvo S80 across 14 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (54). The words owners use most often: “electronic throttle” (19% of reports).
- 165electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- $1,700typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Electronic throttle: mentioned in 31 of 165 complaints (19%)
- Control module: mentioned in 16 of 165 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Volvo S80 at $1,700, and half of them between $1,500 and $2,450.
Based on 19 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 165 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 12 a fire.
Volvo S80 electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 S80 | 1 | 17% | — |
| 2011 S80 | 2 | 40% | 39,000 |
| 2010 S80 | 3 | 11% | — |
| 2009 S80 | 2 | 13% | 54,000 |
| 2008 S80 | 5 | 19% | 65,000 |
| 2007 S80 | 4 | 17% | 40,000 |
| 2006 S80 | 3 | 25% | 70,250 |
| 2005 S80 | 4 | 27% | 81,000 |
| 2004 S80 | 5 | 10% | 125,000 |
| 2003 S80 | 4 | 15% | 144,077 |
| 2002 S80 | 4 | 10% | 125,000 |
| 2001 S80 | 39 | 24% | 63,009 |
| 2000 S80 | 54 | 17% | 81,561 |
| 1999 S80 | 35 | 18% | 70,565 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (6)
Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers
Model years: 2016
Problem: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting when necessary.
Risk: If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visiting http://volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is R39574.
Electrical system
Model years: 2015
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on. Also, the turn signals, high beams, and headlight switch might not work.
Risk: Malfunctioning head lamps and/or turn signals increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the CEM software, free of charge. The recall began on October 3, 2013. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Electrical system:wiring
Model years: 2012
Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2012 s60, xc60, s80 and xc70 vehicles manufactured from may 16, 2011, through october 6, 2011. In these vehicles, the wire harness under the front seats may have not been attached properly to the seat frame. As a result, when the seats are moved to adjust the seating position, the wire harness may get pulled, causing it to disconnect.
Risk: In the event of crash, the front and/or side impact air bags may deploy improperly or not at all, increasing the risk of injury. Also, the lap belt pretensioner may not deploy.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, secure the seat wire harness. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on april 12, 2012. Owners may contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
Electrical system:software
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010
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.
Electrical system:software
Model years: 2007, 2008
Problem: Volvo is recalling 12,303 my 2007-2008 s80 and v70 vehicles. The diagnostic software in the central electronic module (cem) may cause a malfunction of the windshield wiper functionality. If this condition occurs, the windshield wipers may not operate when activated; or in certain cases the windshield wipers may activate when not switched on.
Risk: Operating a motor vehicle during inclement weather conditions without functioning windshield wipers can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the cem and upgrade the software free of charge. The recall began on may 15, 2009. Owners may contact volvo customer care center at 1-800-458-1552, or [email protected].
Electrical system:starter assembly:solenoid
Model years: 2005
Problem: On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, due to an error in the factory assembly instruction, the b+terminal may be in conflict with the starter motor solenoid. If this occurs, the conflict between the b+terminal and the starter motor solenoid may develop into a short circuit of the battery cable to ground.
Risk: Smoke may appear from under the hood and it may be impossible to start the car. If the short circuit happens during driving, electrical power could be lost resulting in the warning lamps being deactivated. An electrical short could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and increase distance between the b+terminal and the starter motor solenoid by adjusting the terminal. The recall began on january 31, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2008 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The…
On [XXX] I was driving from Opelika, AL to Birmingham, AL. About 20 miles from home while driving on [XXX] in the left lane, my car would not accelerate. I pushe9 it down to the floor and there was no gas, so I had to get over to the right lane while rolling to get out of danger of the traffic and…
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…
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…
The warning, charging failure service urgent is displayed the service engine light comes on. Several mechanics have not be able to repair. The front passenger seat belt is not stable to fasten properly. The TMPS has yet another warning, inoperable
Frequently asked questions
Do all Volvo S80s have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 165 owner complaints about electrical system for the Volvo S80. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Volvo S80 electrical system?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Volvo S80?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,700 (half paid between $1,500 and $2,450), from 19 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Volvo S80?
The most frequent phrase is “electronic throttle”, in 31 of 165 complaints, followed by “control module” (16).
Other Volvo S80 problems
See all Volvo S80 problems.