IllustrationAFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
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 reportsCOMPLAINT ABOUT VOLVO'S ATTITUDE AND REFUSAL TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR A FAULTY DIPSTICK AND THE REFUSAL TO REIMBURSE THE $50.00 DOLLARS DEDUCTIBLE FOR THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR VEHICLE. *PH *MR
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT OR PROVIDE ANY VEHICLE DECELERATION. RPM GOES TO 750 WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS BUT VEHICLE SPEED REMAINS SAME AND ONLY COASTS O SLOW DOWN
THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST WEEK AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR AND THE REPUTATION OF VOLVO, THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS EARLY POINT IN THE CAR'S LIFE. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ANY CONSIDERATION IN THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED WI…
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THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST WEEK AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR AND THE REPUTATION OF VOLVO, THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THIS EARLY POINT IN THE CAR'S LIFE. THEY ARE TOTALLY UNWILLING TO DISCUSS ANY CONSIDERATION IN THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS WORKED WITH US A BIT, BUT NOT THE DISTRIBUTORS. PEOPLE I HAVE CHATTED WITH ARE AMAZED THAT VOLVO HAS BEEN SO UNRESPONSIVE. MY HUSBAND IS READY TO SELL IT AND BUY A BMW!
I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET O…
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I PURCHASED THIS VOLVO S 80 CAR AS A SECOND OWNER WHEN IT HAD 35,500 MILES WITH 19,500 MILES REMAINING ON THE 50,000 NEW CAR WARRENTY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FAITHFULLY. AT 57,00 MILES THE SERPENTINE BELT FAILED AND THE CAR QUIT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BYERS VOLVO,COLUMBUS,OH. THE SERPENTINE BELT CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO GET OUT OF TIME WHICH CAUSED ALL THE INTAKE VALVES TO BE BE BENT. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES AND THAT SINCE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THAT I SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO OF AMERICA. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BELT WAS NOT DUE TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 60,000 MILES , THE CAR WAS STILL OUT OF WARRANTY AND SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE IT FROM THE VOLVO DEALER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE AND HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. I AGAIN CONTACTED VOLVO AND RECEIVED THE SAME RESPONSE. I FEEL THAT SINCE THE BELT THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED FOR ANOTHER 30000 MILES THAT THERE WAS AN IMPLIED WARRENTY AND VOLVO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.
CAR DIES WITHOUT WARNING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND LOW SPEEDS, APPARENTLY VOLVO KNOWS THAT THERE IS A BAD COMPUTER CHIP IN MANY OF THE CARS BUT DOES NOT ADMIT TO IT BECAUSE IT COSTS $800 TO REPLACE THE CHIP. I FOUND THIS OUT FROM ANOTHER VOLVO DRIVER!
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTH…
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WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND UNLOCKED THE STEERING. HE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE MONTHS. THE MECHANIC IS WAITING FOR A STEERING ROD. . NETMET VOLVO 153-20 HILLSIDE AVE. JAMAICA NEW YORK 11432 ***************718 523 5858 TONY JOHNSON(SERVICE MANAGER). *NM
MY 1999 VOLVO S-80 T-6 SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. SERVICING DOES NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT, SO I HAVE BEGUN TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE LIGHT. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS PROPERLY FOR 20,000 THEN BEGINS TO OSCILLATE UPAND…
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MY 1999 VOLVO S-80 T-6 SUFFERS FROM A DESIGN FLAW ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE LIGHT IS ON ALL OF THE TIME. SERVICING DOES NOT CLEAR THE LIGHT, SO I HAVE BEGUN TO SIMPLY IGNORE THE LIGHT. THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A PROBLEM WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS PROPERLY FOR 20,000 THEN BEGINS TO OSCILLATE UPAND DOWN BY 200-300 RMPS AT IDLE. THIS SEEMS MINOR, BUT IT ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AT A MAJOR INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SLOWED TO IDLE AND THEN SPED UP JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP. THE HIGHER RPM CAUSED THE CAR TO MOVE INTO THE INTERSECTION. IF ANOTHER CAR HAD BEEN APPROACHING, IT WOULD HAVE STRUCK MY CAR. I ASKED MY WIFE (THIS IS HER PRIMARY CAR)IF SHE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SHE SAID SHE HAD SEVERAL TIMES. I WENT ON THE WEB AND FOUND THAT MANY VOLVO OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME RPM AND ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEMS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME NEAR ACCIDENT I DID, BUT I MUST ASSUME THEY HAVE. HAVE YOU RECEIVED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS VOLVO BEEN NOTIFIED? I CONTACTED VOLVO AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEM. THE WORDS ON THE INTERNET TELL ME THEY ARE MISTAKEN. SOME ONE COULD GET KILLED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW. *AK
RACK AND PINION WENT OUT ON VEHICLE--VOLVO SAYS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE, PART IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. NO ONE AT VOLVO WILL GIVE ME REASONABLE RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. TOTALLY UNCOOPERATIVE.
THE FRONT, PASSENGER WINDOW ACTUATOR "BROKE" APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AGO. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT, DRIVER SIDE ACTUATOR IS NOW BROKEN. NEITHER OF THESE WINDOWS RECEIVED EXCESSIVE USE OR ABUSE. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR THEM TO JUST "BREAK" WITH NORMAL USAGE.*AK
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.