IllustrationVEHICLE STALL WITHOUT WARNING. ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND STATED THAT EVERY IS FINE. SEND ME BACK WITHOUT ANY WORK DONE. *NM
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 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS ACTIVATING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *NM
VEHICLE DEFECT MAKE: VOLVO YEAR: 1999 MODEL: S80 NATURE OF PROBLEM: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VOLVO TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSES THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE WHICH I FOUND LATER TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THE REPAIR TO BE $850 PLUS THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSIS (…
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VEHICLE DEFECT MAKE: VOLVO YEAR: 1999 MODEL: S80 NATURE OF PROBLEM: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VOLVO TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSES THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE WHICH I FOUND LATER TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS. THE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED THE REPAIR TO BE $850 PLUS THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSIS ($82.00). I REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR AND SOUGHT ALTERNATIVES. PRESENTLY, THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE CAR IDLES ROUGHLY AND SUFFERS FROM POOR GAS MILEAGE BUT CONTINUES TO START AND RUN. AS THIS IS AN APPARENT PROBLEM WITH VOLVOS AS I WAS TOLD BY OTHER MECHANICS, I FELT THAT THIS DEFECT SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF VOLVO RATHER THAN MYSELF. *JB
VEHICLE STALLED AT 45 TO 50 MPH. MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET RESTARTED. REPLACED ELECTRICAL THROTTLE MODULE (ETM) AND IT FIXED THAT PROBLEM. *AK
ETM (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE) FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING A NEAR MISS REAR END COLLISION. ETM REPLACED. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL, BUT OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE ENGINE SLOWLY RESUMED POWER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECT…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE DID NOT STALL, BUT OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE ENGINE SLOWLY RESUMED POWER AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. VOLVO OFFERED NO COST ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER HAD THE ETM REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005. *NM
DT: WHEN THE SURGING HAPPENS THERE ARE NO NECESSARILY WARNING MESSAGES. THE FIRST TIME THE THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED THERE WERE SOME MESSAGES ON THE DASH, BUT FOR ITEMS NOT RELATED TO THE THROTTLE MODULE. THE SECOND TIME THERE WERE NOT ANY MESSAGES UNTIL THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START. THE THIRD TIME THE CAR STARTED TO SURG…
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DT: WHEN THE SURGING HAPPENS THERE ARE NO NECESSARILY WARNING MESSAGES. THE FIRST TIME THE THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED THERE WERE SOME MESSAGES ON THE DASH, BUT FOR ITEMS NOT RELATED TO THE THROTTLE MODULE. THE SECOND TIME THERE WERE NOT ANY MESSAGES UNTIL THE CAR DIED AND WOULD NOT START. THE THIRD TIME THE CAR STARTED TO SURGE , AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER BEFORE IT GOT TOO BAD. BASICALLY, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THROTTLE MODULE A FOURTH TIME. THE CONTACT ONLY HAD TO PAY FOR 1 REPLACEMENT, AND THEN IT WAS REPLACED 2 MORE TIMES BY THE DEALER AT NO COST. FROM THE TIME THE SURGING STARTED TO THE CAR STALLED. THE CLEANING OF THE THROTTLE MODULE WILL KEEP THE CAR RUNNING GOOD. IT SEEMED THAT THE CONTACT HAS TO CLEAN IT EVERY 6 MONTHS. IT STARTED TO SURGE. ABOUT 8000 - 10000 MILES. THE LAST TIME IT WAS REPLACED WAS 5/14/04 ,AND I THE CONTACT CLEANED IT TWICE SINCE THEN. VOLVO TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY IT ANY MORE BECAUSE THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THEM DO $1000 WORTH OF WORK THAT DID NOT NEED TO BE DONE. THE CONTACT ENDED UP DOING THE WORK HIMSELF, AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PARTS THEY SAID WERE BAD. *AK
DT:THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE05-041. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ,AND IT LOST POWER/STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, AND …
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DT:THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS MENTIONED IN NHTSA INVESTIGATION PE05-041. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH ,AND IT LOST POWER/STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY, AND WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE STATION. THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ETM BY THEIR COMPUTER ERROR NOTICE. HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACT, AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK
ENGINE MISS FIRING AND EMISSION LIGHT ON. LATER ENGINE RUNNING GOOD BUT CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK AND TEXT MESSAGE 'ENGINE SYSTEM FIX NEXT SERVICE' WITH ORANGE WARNING LIGHT ON. TOOK TO VOLVO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ETM FOR NO CHARGE. THEY KEPT THE OLD PART BECAUSE THEY HAD REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ONE. *NM
THE THROTTLE SURGES AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES NO POWER AND SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES OFF. DEALER SAYS ITS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY. STATED THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF THESE. *NM
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.