NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
29 reportsClear category filter48,000 miles · Mar 15, 2006
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80 HESITATING AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ANY GAS WHEN FIRST BEGINNING TO DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BUT THE VOLVO REPAIR SHOP HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO MY C…
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I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80 HESITATING AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ANY GAS WHEN FIRST BEGINNING TO DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BUT THE VOLVO REPAIR SHOP HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STC LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON MY CAR BECOMES HARD TO STEER SOMETIMES. AFTER CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER VOLVO S80 'S BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS MINE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MY CAR SUSPENSION MAKING WEIRD NOISES SINCE HAVING THIS VEHICLE AND THE VOLVO REPAIR SHOP SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG BUT WHEN ENQUIRING WITH OTHERS WHO OWN VOLVO S80'S, BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS MINE, MANY ARE SAYING THEY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THE BELOW INFORMATION ASKS FOR AN INCIDENT DATE BUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80 HESITATING AND BEING HARD TO STEER OCCUR OFTEN PROBABLY OVER 100 TIMES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10152747
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2006
SuspensionVehicle Speed ControlVisibility
CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED RECALL FOR ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM. *TS THE DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER BLADES. THE STRUT SPRING WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10153040
22,815 miles · Nov 16, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
IN OCTOBER 2001 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE CROSSING THE STREET THE CAR STALLED. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY & GASKET. IN JUNE 2004 CAR STALLED…
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IN OCTOBER 2001 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE CROSSING THE STREET THE CAR STALLED. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY & GASKET. IN JUNE 2004 CAR STALLED AGAIN. REPLACED SWAY LINKS AND PROGRAM DOWN LOAD $338.19. IN DECEMBER 2004, CAR STALED ON THE ROAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, MASS AIR FLOW, MFI MODULE- AT COST OF 2098.96. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THIS CAR ON ANY LONGER TRIP. DUE TO STALLING ON THE ROAD, FREQUENT LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS CAR WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. 11-16 E-MAIL ; FIRST TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. STOPPED TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AGAIN. AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. *AK THE RIGHT DOOR MIRROR FAILED AND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143211
135,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainSuspension
3 INDEPENDENT ISSUES: THROTTLE MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SURGES FORWARD, PARTICULARLY DURING IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY LOOSES POWER, PRESENTING THE DRIVING PERFORMANC…
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3 INDEPENDENT ISSUES: THROTTLE MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY SURGES FORWARD, PARTICULARLY DURING IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS WHILE IN FORWARD OR REVERSE EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING, CAUSING POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION MODULE - VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNPREDICTABLY LOOSES POWER, PRESENTING THE DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF A "SLIPPING" TRANSMISSION, CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, AND POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEMS. FRONT SUSPENSION - "KNOCKING" NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENT(S), CAUSING LACK OF DRIVING CONFIDENCE AND CONCERNS OF DRIVING SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE. ALL 3 OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE WIDELY REPORTED AS CHRONIC DESIGN, PERFORMANCE, SAFETY AND RELIABILITY ISSUES FOR THE SAME MODEL YEARS BY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. IN NEWER MODEL YEARS, VOLVO HAS MADE MANUFACTURING CHANGES TO ADDRESS THESE RECOGNIZED ISSUES, BUT HAS NOT AS YET SUCCESSFULLY ADDRESSED AND RESPONDED TO THESE SAFETY ISSUES. FURTHER, THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA BY OTHER VOLVO OWNERS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10138949
67,800 miles · Aug 19, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineSuspension
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING A VOLVO 80, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE PERIODICALLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. AFTER READING UP ON THIS, IT SOUNDED LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY SO I AM STUCK WITH A $40+K CAR THAT HAS A SIZABLE DEFECT. THE SURGING IS SO BAD THAT IF YOU DON'T HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD THE CA…
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SHORTLY AFTER BUYING A VOLVO 80, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SURGE PERIODICALLY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. AFTER READING UP ON THIS, IT SOUNDED LIKE A WASTE OF MONEY SO I AM STUCK WITH A $40+K CAR THAT HAS A SIZABLE DEFECT. THE SURGING IS SO BAD THAT IF YOU DON'T HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD THE CAR WILL SURGE FORWARD IE AT RED LIGHTS. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE A BALL JOINT ON THIS CAR AFTER A RECALLED BALL JOINT WAS INSTALLED AT MY COST. THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY A BOLT AND NOT THE WHOLE JOINT BUT I VERIFIED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD BOTH BALL JOINTS REPLACED VIA A VOLVO RECALL. I BELIEVE THE RECALLED JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE LIKE THE ORIGINAL ONE. NO ACCIDENTS OCCURED BUT IT PUT MY STEERING WAY OUT OF WHACK AND NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. (ALL AT MY COST)
NHTSA ODI #10133568
70,362 miles · Aug 9, 2005
SuspensionCrash
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR CAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. SHE HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED AND THE BALL JOINTS, WHICH HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE COLLAPSE, AND THE CV JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SOME OTHER BODY WORK AND REPAIRS HAD TO …
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR CAR AND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. SHE HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST. THE CONSEQUENCES WERE THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS DAMAGED AND THE BALL JOINTS, WHICH HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE COLLAPSE, AND THE CV JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACED AND SOME OTHER BODY WORK AND REPAIRS HAD TO BE DONE. THE BALL JOINTS WERE SUBJECT OF A RECALL IN 2001, THEN OUR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A SUBSEQUENT FAILURE AND NOW I AM TOLD THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS LOOSE AND THE BALL JOINTS NEED REPLACING AGAIN. SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THAT SYSTEM ON THE CAR. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132038
41,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Suspension
BALL JOINT SEPARATED CAUSING THE PASSENGER WEEL ASSEMBLY TO DISOLDGE AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SUDDEN STOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10056512
70,000 miles · May 13, 2003
Suspension
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH IT'S BALL JOINT AS STATED IN RECALL # 00 V 238 000. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019726
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2003
Suspension
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V23 8000. REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10014571
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Suspension
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V238000- BALL JOINTS, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING AN UNKNOWN RATTLE WITH POSSIBLE BALL JOINT FAILURE. VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE RECALL SCOPE THAT WAS ISSUED BY VOLVO.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8017948
Official recalls
4Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
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.
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.
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.
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