IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITH NO POWER TO MANEUVER OUT OF TRAFFIC.*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
What owners actually said
318 reportsWHEN FULL THROTTLE IS APPLIED TO THE VEHICLE IN A STATIONARY POSITION, THE CALL PULLS BADLY TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS TORQUE STEER PROBLEM, WHICH COULD BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS, THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE TRAIN IS UNABLE TO EVENLY DISTRIBUTE THE POWER PRODUCED BY THE TURBO SYSTEM. *YD
THE RIGHT FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UNEXPETDLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN GOING OVER A BUMP, AROUND A CORNER OR ON LEVEL ROAD. WHEN THIS HAPPEMS IT USUALLY WILL NOT RELEASE REQUIRING THE SEATBELT TO BE REMOVED, ALLOWED TO RETRACT AND REFASTENED IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE NORMAL SLACK AND PLAY ASSOCIATED WITH MODERN SEAT BELT SYSTEMS. VO…
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THE RIGHT FRONT SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UNEXPETDLY. THIS CAN HAPPEN GOING OVER A BUMP, AROUND A CORNER OR ON LEVEL ROAD. WHEN THIS HAPPEMS IT USUALLY WILL NOT RELEASE REQUIRING THE SEATBELT TO BE REMOVED, ALLOWED TO RETRACT AND REFASTENED IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE NORMAL SLACK AND PLAY ASSOCIATED WITH MODERN SEAT BELT SYSTEMS. VOLVO HAS REPLACED THE SEATBELT ONCE BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVR THE PROBLEM. IN A CALL TODAY TO VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO ADRESS THIS ISSUE AND THE COMPANY COULD NOT. THE DEALER ALREADY TRIED BUT FAILED.*AK
THE GAS FILLER WAS PUSHED INTO THE BODY OF THE CAR. IT IS NOT ANCHORED BY ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE RUBBER FLANGE AT THE FENDER LEVEL( JUST UNDER). WHEN PUSHED THRU AS HAPPENED IT COULD CAUSE THE TANK CONTENTS TO EMPTY AND BURN OR EXPLODE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE SETUP ON AN OTHERWISE SAFE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS PUT ON RECORD. *AK
CAR HAS HAS MANY RETURNS TO DEALER IN FIRST 20,000 MILES FOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SIDE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25-30MPH AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THIS ACCIDENT. AND I FEEL AFTER MY DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY LEFT FENDER AND THE STRUT WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE OPENED. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CA…
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I WAS HIT ON THE DRIVERS DOOR SIDE AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 25-30MPH AND MY AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I SUSTAINED INJURIES IN THIS ACCIDENT. AND I FEEL AFTER MY DOOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO MY LEFT FENDER AND THE STRUT WAS BENT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I FEEL THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE OPENED. I FEEL UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. PLEASE ADVISE.
AFTER FIRST YEAR CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING HOME ALL POWER WAS LOST. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. VEHICLE CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ENGINE AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON 2 OCCASIONS (4/13/01 AND 7/27/01). MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED INITIAL INSTANCE AND SOFTWARE UPDAED. IGNITION ND FUEL INJECTION FAULT TRACING. UNABLE TO ISOLATE CAUSE SECOND INSTANCE. INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION FAULT AT ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. REFUS…
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ENGINE AND CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON 2 OCCASIONS (4/13/01 AND 7/27/01). MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED INITIAL INSTANCE AND SOFTWARE UPDAED. IGNITION ND FUEL INJECTION FAULT TRACING. UNABLE TO ISOLATE CAUSE SECOND INSTANCE. INTERMITTENT COMMUNICATION FAULT AT ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. REFUSE PICK-UP OF THE CAR AT ROYAL VOLVO SINCE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES. HAVE NOTIFIED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICES TWICE, VOLVO DEALERSHIP, NHTSA, OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL. THOROUGH LETTER BEING SENT TO NHTSA, CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, AND OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ON 8/6/01. PLEASE THOROUGHLY REVIEW THE CONTENT. MAJOR CONCERNS----HAVE FOUND AT LEAST 6 OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. WILL SEND ALL DOCUMENTATION IN THE EXPRESS LETTER BEING SENT. CALL IF ANY QUESTIONS AND LEAVE AN 800 NUMBER FOR RESPONSES. URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE....THIS ISSUE IS BROADER THAN MY OWN.*AK
THE CAR WAS NOT ALINGED AND I WORE MY TIRES. I HAD TO PAY 1000.00 FOR A NEW SET. THE CAR STEREO HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, CD WONT EJECT, POOR AUDIO QUALITY, LOTS OF CRACKLING. I STILL GET LOTS OF CLUNKING FROM THE FRONT END. THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH WHAT I PAYED. *AK
THERE IS AN OVERALL PROBLEM WITH THE S80 CARS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS FOR OTHER REPAIRS SUCH AS THE ROOF TOP COVER, BRAKE LIGHTS...BECAUSE OF THE BALL JOINTS AND THE ON AND OFF HUMING NOISE, I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR BEYOND THE AREA. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. WE ONLY REQUESTED …
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THERE IS AN OVERALL PROBLEM WITH THE S80 CARS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON MANY OCCASIONS FOR OTHER REPAIRS SUCH AS THE ROOF TOP COVER, BRAKE LIGHTS...BECAUSE OF THE BALL JOINTS AND THE ON AND OFF HUMING NOISE, I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR BEYOND THE AREA. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. WE ONLY REQUESTED THE OTPIONS OF EITHER CANCELLING THE LEASE OR ANOTHER CAR SINCE MINE IS A LEMON...I WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL WHICH MADE ME WONDER IF THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND OTHERS ARE COMING FORWARD. I FELT THE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS TO THE NTSB TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND GET DATA ACCROSS THE COUNTRY.*AK
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.