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
What owners actually said
318 reports
36,000 miles · Mar 8, 2004
Steering
I HAD A MAJOR LEAK IN MY 2000 VOLVO S80 POWER STEERING RACK AT 36000MILES. CALLED THE FACTORY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BACKORDER ON THE PART AND THEY WERE NOT SURE WHEN THEY COULD REPLACE THE PART. SEEMS THERE MUST BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM HERE AND I AM WONDERING IF A RECALL IS IN ORDER. VOLVO DECLINED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR/…
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I HAD A MAJOR LEAK IN MY 2000 VOLVO S80 POWER STEERING RACK AT 36000MILES. CALLED THE FACTORY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BACKORDER ON THE PART AND THEY WERE NOT SURE WHEN THEY COULD REPLACE THE PART. SEEMS THERE MUST BE A RECURRENT PROBLEM HERE AND I AM WONDERING IF A RECALL IS IN ORDER. VOLVO DECLINED TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10060758
Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Electrical System
VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM REPEATED OR UNEXPECTED SHUTDOWNS OF THE IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME INOPERABLE AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES. *LA (ATTORNEY RICHARD DAVIS ON BEHALF OF CLIENT). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10059486
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
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2004
Steering
TOOK MY CAR IN AND FOUND THAT RACK & PINION NEEDED REPLACING. WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT VOLVO DEALER TOLD THEM THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER ON THIS PART AND IT IS NOT AVAILABLE.*AK SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE RACK & PINION ON THE VOLVO S80 (MINE IS A 2000 MODEL YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #10056413
35,000 miles · Feb 3, 2004
Power Train
THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS HORRIBLY WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10056396
92,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
CONTINUOUS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR DIES ON ROAD. GET FIXED, THEN AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. RAN INTO A PERSON WHO VOLVO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON AND SHE WAS INJURED. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, CAR "DIED." I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP & I HAD TO RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. HA…
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CONTINUOUS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. CAR DIES ON ROAD. GET FIXED, THEN AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. RAN INTO A PERSON WHO VOLVO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON AND SHE WAS INJURED. AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, CAR "DIED." I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AS THE WHEEL STIFFENED UP & I HAD TO RELY ON THE PARKING BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. HAD TO GET A "JUMP START" TO GET HOME. CAR IS UNSAFE. RETURNED TO VOLVO. ALSO HAD STEERING WHEEL THAT SHAKES AT HIGWAY SPEEDS, ALARM THAT WENT OFF WHILE DRIVING, & WOULDN'T START, REMOTE DOOR OPENER DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FLICKERED ON & OFF -- SAID IT WAS AN EMISSIONS PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10049801
Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10048671
59,800 miles · Nov 11, 2003
Air BagsVisibility
FAILED CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT DRIVING TO WORK. AIR BAG SYSTEM SEVICE URGENT (IN INFO. BOX) CAME ON AND STILL ON. EAT BELT TIGHTEN FOR NO REASON.*AK
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.
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.
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.
2000 Volvo S80 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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