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 reports
101,000 miles · Jun 7, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND ATTAINING HIGHWAY SPEED MY 1999 VOVLO S80 LOST POWER AND HAD TO BE COASTED OFF THE RAMP. THE EMISSION SERVICE WARNING CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE COMPUTER CODES INDICATED THE THROTTLE MODULE HAD FAILED. AFTER HEARING THAT THEIR …
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JUST AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND ATTAINING HIGHWAY SPEED MY 1999 VOVLO S80 LOST POWER AND HAD TO BE COASTED OFF THE RAMP. THE EMISSION SERVICE WARNING CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING VERY ROUGH. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE COMPUTER CODES INDICATED THE THROTTLE MODULE HAD FAILED. AFTER HEARING THAT THEIR WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ISSUED I CHECKED THE WEBSITE AND LEARNED THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED TO OTHERS. FORTUNATELY THIS POWER FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE IN THE RT HAND ALOOWING THE VEHICLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE HWY WITHOUT INCIDENT. HAD THIS LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED IN IONE THE INTERIOR LANES THEN THIS INCIDENT WOULD'VE ENDED IN A COLLISION AND MOST LIKELY RESULTED IN INJURIES TO MY FAMILY. THIS CONDITION WARRANTS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10159220
50,000 miles · Jun 5, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO S80 IN JUNE 2000. SINCE THAT TIME ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS WARNING MESSAGES HAVE CONSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE DASH DISPLAY, I.E. FUEL FILLER CAP LOOSE, EMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED, AND ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY VOLVO OF ANNAPOLIS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WERE INFORMED THAT TH…
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PURCHASED A 1999 VOLVO S80 IN JUNE 2000. SINCE THAT TIME ON DOZENS OF OCCASIONS WARNING MESSAGES HAVE CONSTANTLY APPEARED ON THE DASH DISPLAY, I.E. FUEL FILLER CAP LOOSE, EMISSION SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED, AND ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED BY VOLVO OF ANNAPOLIS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. SINCE THEN WE HAVE HAD THE S80 CHECKED BY A REPUTABLE AAA CERTIFIED AUTO SERVICE CENTER WHO INFORMED US THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT VOLVO HAD TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY COMMON. WHEN THE ERROR MESSAGE ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE URGENT APPEARS THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTS AND WILL NOT RE-ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE SURGES AND IS A CONSTANT WORRY FOR MY SPOUSE WHO PRIMARILY OPERATES THE VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10158975
75,000 miles · May 22, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE GOING TO 700 RPMS WHEN GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS. THE SOLENOID WENT OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 13000 MILES AGO. CURRENTLY I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ERROR COD…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE GOING TO 700 RPMS WHEN GOING 65 MPH. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY PROBLEMS. THE SOLENOID WENT OUT IN THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT 13000 MILES AGO. CURRENTLY I HAVE THREE DIFFERENT ERROR CODES "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT", LOW OIL PRESSURE STOP ENGINE ASAP", AND "EMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED". I HAVE READ MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. NM
NHTSA ODI #10158043
100,762 miles · May 1, 2006
EquipmentExterior Lighting
FRONT SIGNAL HOUSING /LENS COVER KEEPS FALLING OFF. REPAIRED BUT PLASTIC BREAKS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10156565
97,230 miles · Apr 10, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
1999 S80 LOSS POWER WHILE DRIVING, SERVICE URGENT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE.
NHTSA ODI #10156225
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2006
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING ON I95, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. I HAD TO GET ALL THE WAY TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND SHUT OFF MY CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND IT SEEMED TO BE FINE BUT ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT DID IT TO ME AGAIN AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER. I CALLED MY MOM AND TOLD HER ABOUT WHAT HA…
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I WAS DRIVING ON I95, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. I HAD TO GET ALL THE WAY TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE AND SHUT OFF MY CAR FOR A FEW MINUTES. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND IT SEEMED TO BE FINE BUT ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT DID IT TO ME AGAIN AND COMPLETELY LOST POWER. I CALLED MY MOM AND TOLD HER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER WHEN SHE WAS ON HER WAY HOME FROM WORK THE DAY BEFORE AND WHEN SHE WENT ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL. LUCKILY I WASN'T IN HEAVY TRAFFIC SO IT WAS EASY FOR ME TO GET INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE IF NOT I WOULD HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE LANE OR GOD FORBID GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP NEXT TO MY HOUSE AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR TUESDAY MORNING I TOLD HIM MY PROBLEM AND HE TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO BRING IN THE CAR FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I'M PRETTY SURE MY CAR WILL BE COVERED UNDER THAT NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS/200,000 MILES BUT I'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10154351
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train
1999 VOLVO S80 T6 3/08/06 REPLACED TRANSMISSION ( 75,000 MILES) ( $4,800) 08/05 REPLACE RADIATOR 08/05 REPLACED ETM 04 - REPLACED FRONT SUSPENSION / SWAY BARS / STRUTS/ ETC.. VOLVO UNDER ENGINEERED THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR AND IF YOU GO TO WEB BLOGS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY 1999 - 2000 S-80 VEHICLE... ITS DISGUSTING THAT …
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1999 VOLVO S80 T6 3/08/06 REPLACED TRANSMISSION ( 75,000 MILES) ( $4,800) 08/05 REPLACE RADIATOR 08/05 REPLACED ETM 04 - REPLACED FRONT SUSPENSION / SWAY BARS / STRUTS/ ETC.. VOLVO UNDER ENGINEERED THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR AND IF YOU GO TO WEB BLOGS IT IS IN ALMOST EVERY 1999 - 2000 S-80 VEHICLE... ITS DISGUSTING THAT THIS CAR IS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE OR FORD/ VOLVO ISN'T HELD LIABLE...*JB
NHTSA ODI #10152819
74,700 miles · Feb 24, 2006
Seat Belts
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IN MY 1999 VOLVO S80 STOPPED WORKING. THE BELT FROZE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BEING UNUSABLE. MY OUT OF POCKET COST TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WAS $433.45. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10151142
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
AFTER REPORTING SEVERAL PROBLEMS TRACED TO EMT MALFUNCTION I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET IN EXCESS OF $800.00 TO HAVE EMT REPLACED IN 11/2002. LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS LISTED ON PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, TO THE POINT WHERE I CONSIDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO LESS THAN 15-20 INCI…
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AFTER REPORTING SEVERAL PROBLEMS TRACED TO EMT MALFUNCTION I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET IN EXCESS OF $800.00 TO HAVE EMT REPLACED IN 11/2002. LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, I'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS LISTED ON PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, TO THE POINT WHERE I CONSIDER THE VEHICLE UNSAFE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED NO LESS THAN 15-20 INCIDENTS IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS ALONE. THE LAST ONE BEING JUST YESTERDAY WHERE THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STALLED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THEN BACK TO NORMAL SPEED SEVERAL TIMES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10150186
80,000 miles · Jan 28, 2006
Vehicle Speed Control
ENGINE SHUT DOWN ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO STEERING RESPONSE OR POWER BRAKES TO HELP TO STOP THE CAR. VERY DANGEROUS! THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) ON 1999 VOLVO S80 WAS REPLACED AT THE COST OF 843$. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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
2
EA05021 · 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.
1999 Volvo S80 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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