IllustrationDT: CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND STALLED. THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN, PE05041. *AK
2000 Volvo S80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S80 years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
90–25K
3125–50K
6750–75K
5875–100K
49100–150K
10150K+
224 reports with mileage · 94 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 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
16 crash reports8 fire reports8 injury reports
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
93 reportsDT: THGE CONTACT STATED THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER COMPUTER IS BAD ON 2000 VOLVO S-80. A . THE VEHICLE STALLS/DIES, AND LOSES POWER. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK *JB
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPHICLE STALLED/HESITATED, AND OPERATED AT REDUCED SPEED OF 20 MPH. THE THROTTLE MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE THROTTLE MODULE WAS REPLACED. *AK
DT: 2000 VOLVO S80. THE VEHICLE STALLED/ DIED AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. *AK .
DT: WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN AT ALL SPEEDS DUE TO THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE. IT WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2004, BUT CURRENTLY PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S80 2.9 SEDAN. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN IT SIMPLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP AND AVOID AND ACCIDENT (AT THE TIME I HAD A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR). THE INCIDENT OCCURRED CL…
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I HAVE A 2000 VOLVO S80 2.9 SEDAN. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGN IT SIMPLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP AND AVOID AND ACCIDENT (AT THE TIME I HAD A 4 YEAR OLD AND A 2 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR). THE INCIDENT OCCURRED CLOSE TO MY HOME, SO AFTER A BRIEF PERIOD, I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND GET IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY IT SEEMED FINE AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED AN ENGINE CLEANER ADDITIVE. ABOUT SIX MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AFTER AND SHE WAS ALSO ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. SHE WERE ABLE GET THE CAR STARTED AND GET IT HOME. AFTER THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO SURGE FROM TIME TO TIME. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS CALLED "SURGING" AND RECOMMENDED A $ 1,600.00 REPAIR JOB. I DECLINED. TODAY ONCE AGAIN, THE CAR, FOR NO REASON, STALLED. I BECAME AWARE THE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE MY CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE SAFE. *NM
THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN. WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP, THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD AS THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED. THIS RESULTED IN NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS OF ME HAVING TO STOP SUDDENLY BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, ALSO INCREASING T…
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THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IDLING PROPERLY. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE WOULD SPEED UP AND SLOW DOWN. WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP, THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD AS THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED. THIS RESULTED IN NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS OF ME HAVING TO STOP SUDDENLY BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, ALSO INCREASING THE CHANCE OF BEING HIT FROM BEHIND FROM CARS AS I STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE VOLVO DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE AS WELL AS THE MASS AIR SENSOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THE ETM ON THE VOLVO. *JB
DT: THE VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. *AK *NM
DT: 2000 VOLVO S80. VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THROTTLE BODY THREE TIMES. *AK *NM
Official recalls
410V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Nov 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.
06V441000 · 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.
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.