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2003 Volvo S80

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Volvo S80 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

Limited mileage data: 16 of 26 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports
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144,077 miles · Jan 19, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TAKATA RECALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. WITHOUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CAN NOT SEE HOW MANY MPH I AM GOING, AND CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. ALSO AT NIGHT, IT IS COMPLETELY BLACK IN THE DASHBOARD AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS DA…

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TAKATA RECALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO. WITHOUT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CAN NOT SEE HOW MANY MPH I AM GOING, AND CAN'T TELL HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. ALSO AT NIGHT, IT IS COMPLETELY BLACK IN THE DASHBOARD AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS DAY AND NIGHT. IT HAPPENED AS SOON AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT. I CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. I PURCHASED THE CAR AT MICHELE MOTORS, LOCATED ON RT.88, BRICK, NJ.

NHTSA ODI #10820957

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2009
Exterior Lighting

I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO AND TWICE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LENS ON THE HEAD :LIGHT REPLACED, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED BY AN ACCIDENT BUT BECAUSE WHEN WATER HITS IT THE LENS CRACKS ( IT HAPPENS WHEN THE AUTO HAS BEEN RUNNING OR SITTING OUT OUTSIDE ) I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE LENS . THIS IS NOT A CHEAP EX…

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I HAVE A 2003 VOLVO AND TWICE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LENS ON THE HEAD :LIGHT REPLACED, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS DAMAGED BY AN ACCIDENT BUT BECAUSE WHEN WATER HITS IT THE LENS CRACKS ( IT HAPPENS WHEN THE AUTO HAS BEEN RUNNING OR SITTING OUT OUTSIDE ) I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME KIND OF DEFECT IN THE LENS . THIS IS NOT A CHEAP EXPENSE, I HAVE PAID OVER $500.00 EACH TIME I HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE VOLVO DEALER I GO TO DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE TO INVESTIGATE THIS, BUT I AM GETTING TIRED OF PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT MY FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276822

6,000 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Exterior Lighting

I BOUGHT A VOLVO S80 IN JANUARY 2003. BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHT GLASS ASSEMBLIES HAVE CRACKED FROM NO APPARENT IMPACT. THE FIRST WAS IN APRIL, AND THE SECOND IN AUGUST. I BELEIVE THERE IS A HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DEFECT. I LIVE IN A VERY HOT CLIMATE, AND THE HEAT MAY CRACK THE GLASS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037000

Official recalls

5

21V766000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Sep 30, 2021

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.

20V681000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Nov 4, 2020

Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.

10V566000 · 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.

09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2009

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.