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
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Electrical System
ALL ELECTRICAL POWER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF TO VEHICLE ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE ENTERING A RIGHT TURN LANE AT A SLOW SPEED. ALL POWER EQUIPMENT FAILED...NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, ETC. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF (WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTR…
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ALL ELECTRICAL POWER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF TO VEHICLE ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHILE ENTERING A RIGHT TURN LANE AT A SLOW SPEED. ALL POWER EQUIPMENT FAILED...NO POWER BRAKES, NO POWER STEERING, ETC. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF (WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL) AND STARTING IN A NORMAL FASHION. THIS FAILURE MODE AND RESOLUTION IS TYPICAL. THE SECOND TIME, I WAS TURNING LEFT ACROSS A FAIRLY BUSY INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO CONTINUE WITHOUT BEING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE THIRD TIME WAS IN AN ENCLOSED PARKING LOT AS I MADE A SLOW RIGHT TURN TO GO UP A RAMP. THE FOURTH TIME, AND THIS ONE WAS UNUSUAL, I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ALL THE FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON FOR ABOUT 1 SEC. FORTUNATELY, THE POWER CAME ON BY ITSELF. IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES OF A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AT 40+ MPH IN TRAFFIC...NO POWER TO THE BRAKES OR STEERING. TS
NHTSA ODI #767986
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WILL BE HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO START AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8019073
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
AIR INTAKE TUBE PROTRUDES BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND COMES IN CONTACT WITH HIGH SPOT IN THE ROAD. LEADS TO ABRASION AND FAILURE OF DRIVE BELT WITH SUBSEQUENT DESTRUCTION OF THE TIMING BELT AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER UNDER NUMEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD EASILY LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDEN…
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AIR INTAKE TUBE PROTRUDES BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND COMES IN CONTACT WITH HIGH SPOT IN THE ROAD. LEADS TO ABRASION AND FAILURE OF DRIVE BELT WITH SUBSEQUENT DESTRUCTION OF THE TIMING BELT AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE ENGINE. LOSS OF ENGINE POWER UNDER NUMEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD EASILY LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. VOLVO REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, RECTIFY IT OR REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS. VOLVO HAS REDESIGNED ON LATER MODELS WITHOUT ADMISSION OF GUILT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #767298
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
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Suspension
IN THE YEAR 2000 CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL (00V238000), HOWEVER ON AUG 12, 2002 WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT …
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IN THE YEAR 2000 CONSUMER STATED THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL (00V238000), HOWEVER ON AUG 12, 2002 WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, ALSO WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION, THE DEALER INSTALLED O-RINGS AND BOLTS TO THE SUBFRAME.*JB
NHTSA ODI #567205
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2002
Steering
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AS I WAS GOING OVER THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK, I YANKED ON IT AS HARD AS I COULD UNTIL IT MOVED. I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY IMMEDIATELY AND PULLED OVER. I WAS SCARED AND CRYING, I SAT THERE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 15 MINUTES. I C…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL AS I WAS GOING OVER THE FREEWAY OVERPASS THE STEERING WHEEL STUCK, I YANKED ON IT AS HARD AS I COULD UNTIL IT MOVED. I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY IMMEDIATELY AND PULLED OVER. I WAS SCARED AND CRYING, I SAT THERE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 15 MINUTES. I CONTINUED VERY SLOW TO WORK APPROX. ANOTHER 10 MILES MAKING SURE THAT WHEN I HAD TO TURN I DID IT VERY SLOWLY. I CALLED EXCLUSIVELY VOLVO INFORMED THEM OF WHAT HAD OCCURRED AND I WANTED MY CAR TOWED IN TO BE CHECKED. I CONTACTED MY HUSBAND INFORMED HIM OF WHAT HAPPENED AND HE DECIDED THAR INSTEAD OF TOWING THE CAR HE WOULD COME AND GET THE CAR SINCE THE DEALER WASN'T THAT FAR. LATER THAT MORNING THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND SAID " THE BOLT CAME OFF THE AIR BAG" AND INFORMED ME OF THE APPROX. COST. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME ANYTHING, IT WAS NOTHING THAT I DID TO CAUSE THE BOLT TO COME LOOSE. FRED HAD NO ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED, HE DID AGREE THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT OF HAPPENED YET HE WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY OR THE PUBLICS SAFETY. I TOLD HIM TO FIX MY CAR AND SAVE ALL AND ANY PARTS NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL. I CONTACTED MR. ROJAS THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE SERVICE DEPT. AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO HIM, HE HAD NO ANSWERS AS TO WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED AND HE AS FRED OFFERED NO INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD TAKE ANY MEASURES TO TRY AND FIND OUT. WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR I ASKED FRED EXACTLY WHAT WAS DONE AND WHERE WAS THE PARTS, HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY SCREWED THE SAME BOLT BACK ON AND DUSTED OFF THE AIR BAG. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE BOLT CAME OFF FOR A REASON, ALL THE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE AIR BAG SHOULD OF BEEN CHANGED AND THE SITUATION LOOKED INTO, FRED'S RESPONSE WAS, "IT'S JUST LIKE IF THE BOLT CAME OFF YOUR LICENSE PLATE WE WOULD PUT IT BACK ON." I RESPONDED, MY ENTIRE LICENSE PLATE CAN FALL OFF AND IT WOULD NOT ENDANGER MY LIFE OR THE PUBLICS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762754
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Air BagsCrash
WHILE SLOWING DOWN ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE,AND CONSUMER BUMPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8009247
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
UPPER ENGINE MOUNT BROKE, CAUSING COOLANT RACK TO MALFUNCTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8008844
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2002
Suspension
SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #759599
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
VOLVO USA INVOLVED OVER 18 MONTHS WITHOUT RESULT. CAR EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WILL SOMETIMES REFUSE TO ACCELERATE ON TURNS. WIFE PREGNANT. *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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