IllustrationFUEL PUMP CRACK CAUSING GAS TO BE SPRAYED ON UNDERSIDE OF AUTO WHEN IGNITION IS ON. GAS FUMES IN GARAGE FOLLOWING PARKING OF AUTO. MAJOR RISK OF FIRE/EXPLOSION POSSIBLE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP. AUTO IS FIVE + YEARS OLD WITH 37,100 MILES. VOLVO DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT CHARGE OF $592. *JB
1999 Volvo S80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S80 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Volvo S80 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S80 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
925–50K
3350–75K
2775–100K
36100–150K
8150K+
120 reports with mileage · 79 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
199 reportsCHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THER…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 7 MONTHS TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE GAS CAP.(WHICH IT WAS NOT) THE LAST TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER 9-26-04 AND JUST OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD THEY SAY IT IS NOW A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH A REPAIR EST OF 950.00. THROTTLE BODYS DO NOT GO BAD IS THERE INFORMATION THAT THE DEALER DOSE NOT HAVE ON THE REPAIR (CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE BODY) *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB
AIR BAG DEPLOYED AFTER RUNNING OVER MANHOLE COVER ON RTE 4 WEST ON MONDAY SEP 20, 2004 APPROXIMATELY 7:20 AM EST. ROADWORK IN PROCESS ON RTE 4 TRAVELLING APPROX 15-20 MILES PER HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC, AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: THE 1999 IS HARD TO START AND HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE IT STARTS, AND WE ALSO SMELL GAS WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR (BY THE FUEL FILLER).*AK I TOOK THE CAR TO UNION PARK SPENT $300. THINKING IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO U…
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MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEMS AND POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: THE 1999 IS HARD TO START AND HAS TO BE CRANKED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE BEFORE IT STARTS, AND WE ALSO SMELL GAS WHEN WE STOPPED THE CAR (BY THE FUEL FILLER).*AK I TOOK THE CAR TO UNION PARK SPENT $300. THINKING IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. STILL THE PROBLEM EXISTS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO UNION PARK AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROBLEM IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE OFF THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP PRIMES THE LINE. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS A LEAK IN THE VENT TUBE THIS SUCKS IN AIR AND PREVENTS THE GAS FROM GOING TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, THEN THE FUMES EXIT OUT THE VENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE VENT TUBE IS NOT A REPLACEABLE PART AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW GAS TANK WITH VENT TUBE AT THE COST OF $1,081.30. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY VOLVO. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE THIS AS A TWO PIECE UNIT AND THE TUBE CAN BE REPLACED AT A LOWER EXPENSE, LESS THAN $150.00. I ALSO FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM; IF SOME ONE WAS SMOKING NEAR THE REAR OF THE CAR A FIRE COULD START. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE NATIONAL DOT SAFETY BOARD. FRONT END PARTS, STEARING I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END PARTS, BALL JOINTS REPLACED, UPPER STRUT BUSHING REPLACED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THE SWAY BAR LINKS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $192.04, I FEEL THAT THIS CAR IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE SPENT $3000. TO FIX ITEMS WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN WITH NORMAL DRIVING USAGE. I ALWAYS BOUGHT VOLVO'S BECAUSE THEY WERE RELIABLE.THIS CAR IS A MAJOR HEADACHE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER. THE DOOR LOCKS NEED FIXING OR REPLACEMENT FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL VALVE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM AND A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. SINCE FORD TOOK OVER VOLVO, THE CAR HAS GONE FROM AN EXTREMELY SAFE AND RELIABLE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO A CONSTANT WORRY ABOUT SAFETY AND MAINTENANCE AND A MONEY PIT.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, AND THEN WON'T START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED, A PIPE ON THE FUEL RAIL BROKE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE OF $1200. CONSUMER INDICATED THE FUEL TANK/FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL RAIL WAS JUST ONE UNIT. *AK
REPLACE MAIN COMPUTER AFTER COMPUTER REGISTERED "URGENT, BRAKE FAILURE" CODE AND VOLVO DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY CODE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHILE UP SHIFTING...GETTING EXTREMELY BAD. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION (AT 80,000M) FAILED BECAUS…
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REPLACE MAIN COMPUTER AFTER COMPUTER REGISTERED "URGENT, BRAKE FAILURE" CODE AND VOLVO DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY CODE. THREE MONTHS LATER, I HAD TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE WHILE UP SHIFTING...GETTING EXTREMELY BAD. HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION (AT 80,000M) FAILED BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER SERVICED PROPERLY. I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECEIPTS...ALL DONE AT VOLVO DEALERSHIPS THROUGH 50K WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID, MY GM TRANSMISSION, UNLIKE EARLIER VOLVO TRANSMISSION NEEDS MORE SERVICING THAN A VOLVO TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID THAT MY "TRANSMISSION FILTER HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED!!!!"*AK CONTACTED VOLVO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY BASICALLY LAUGHED AT ME. I AM THINKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR 2K THE COST OF MY REBUILT TRANSMISSION. PRESIDENT OF CARS SUGGESTED THAT WAS A VIABLE OPTION. *TR
AFTER THE DEFECTIVE DIP STICK WAS REPAIRED, CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *PH DURING A 65K MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A MALFUNCTIONING DIP STICK WHICH SPLATTERED OIL. THE PART WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR COVERED IN OIL. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TEMPORAR…
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AFTER THE DEFECTIVE DIP STICK WAS REPAIRED, CONSUMER NOTICED OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. *PH DURING A 65K MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A MALFUNCTIONING DIP STICK WHICH SPLATTERED OIL. THE PART WAS REPLACED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE GARAGE FLOOR COVERED IN OIL. THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE TEMPORARY DIPSTICK REPAIR FAILED. *SC *JB
VEHICLE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYES: ABS SYSTEM FAILURE/SERVICING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE POWER STEERING SERVICE EMISSIONS CONTROL SERVICE ALSO, THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT/FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INOP HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT COM…
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VEHICLE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYES: ABS SYSTEM FAILURE/SERVICING TRANSMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE POWER STEERING SERVICE EMISSIONS CONTROL SERVICE ALSO, THERE IS AN ENGINE OIL LEAK AND A TIE ROD REPLACEMENT/FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS REQUIRED CRUISE CONTROL IS INTERMITTENT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL INOP HEADLIGHTS COME ON WHEN NOT COMMANDED ETC. INCIDENT DATE--THROUGHOUT OWNERSHIP . *AK
DEALERSHIP PERFORMED INSPECTION ON VEHICLE AND A NUMBER OF DEFECTS WAS SEEN. ONE PARTICULAR DEFECT WAS THE STEERING BOX. CONSUMER HAVE BEEN FROM ONE DEALER TO ANOTHER BUT NO REPLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. *LA THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING FOR THE STEERING RACK TO BE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE.*JB
Official recalls
406V441000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Nov 15, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING, AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CURRENT SOFTWARE UPGRADE ONTO THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
04V451000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Sep 13, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, SOME ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MAY OVERHEAT POTENTIALLY CAUSING HEAT DAMAGE AND, IN RARE INSTANCES, A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
02V096000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Apr 7, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN ELECTRIC COOLING FANS COULD BE INADEQUATE IN A HOT CLIMATE. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN COMPONENTS COULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE MELTING OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
00V238000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
Aug 24, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. OVER TIME, THE BALL JOINT BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL KING PIN AND THE SUSPENSION LINK ARM, CAN EXPERIENCE INCREASED LOOSENESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD AFFECT THE BALL JOINT'S DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA05021 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Dec 6, 2005 · Closed Dec 12, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.