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2005 Volvo S80

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 11 of 15 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/propulsion System. 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 →
  • Suspension. 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 reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

2 reports
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80,435 miles · May 3, 2013
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

WE OWN A BEAUTIFUL 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 TOP OF THE LINE (FULLY LOADED, TWIN TURBOS,18" RIMS, METALLIC GREEN PAINT & PARKING SENSORS) ONLY 80,300 MILES. IT'S A $46,000 CAR UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD AND IS A HAZARD TO ALL. IT CANNOT GO OVER SPEED BUMPS WITHOUT SHAKING EVERYONE INSIDE VIOLENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR TH…

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WE OWN A BEAUTIFUL 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 TOP OF THE LINE (FULLY LOADED, TWIN TURBOS,18" RIMS, METALLIC GREEN PAINT & PARKING SENSORS) ONLY 80,300 MILES. IT'S A $46,000 CAR UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD AND IS A HAZARD TO ALL. IT CANNOT GO OVER SPEED BUMPS WITHOUT SHAKING EVERYONE INSIDE VIOLENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND STUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS MEANING WE CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC! THERE IS ALSO COOLANT LEAKING EVERYWHERE AND SPILLING TO STORM DRAINS AND SEWERS LIST OF DIAGNOSED PROBLEMS: -TRANSMISSION REBUILD NEED (EVEN AFTER PAID $150 FOR TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE) -LEFT SIDE WINDOW COMES UP AND GOES DOWN -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES -WATER PUMP HAS LEAK -CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS CLOGGED. -CAR CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT AND VEERS OFF -CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS ARE BAD CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT A SMALL SWEDE SHOP & VOLVO SANTA ANA FREQUENTLY AND BABIED. IT HAS NEW FRONT STRUTS, NEW BELTS, NEW BRAKES, NEW REAR TIRES, NEW CABIN FILTER, ETC. SPENT MORE THAN $2.5K IN THE LAST YEAR ALREADY. VOLVO CORPORATE DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE AND SAID THERE WERE 800 FIXES MADE IN THE MODEL YEAR 2004. OBVIOUSLY THE CAR IS FLAWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510471

25 miles · Apr 8, 2007
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

ON 07/21/07 I PURCHASED A 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 FROM MOMENTUM VOLVO IN HOUSTON, TX. IT WAS DELIVERED ON 08/02/2005 BRAND NEW WITH 7 MILES ON IT. THE FOLLOWING ARE AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISSUES AND SAFETY HAZARDS THIS CAR HAS HAD WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND 24,000 MILES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS DAMAGE FROM TRANSIT - FRONT AND REAR BUMPE…

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ON 07/21/07 I PURCHASED A 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 FROM MOMENTUM VOLVO IN HOUSTON, TX. IT WAS DELIVERED ON 08/02/2005 BRAND NEW WITH 7 MILES ON IT. THE FOLLOWING ARE AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISSUES AND SAFETY HAZARDS THIS CAR HAS HAD WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS AND 24,000 MILES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS DAMAGE FROM TRANSIT - FRONT AND REAR BUMPER HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND PAINTED. THE SECOND ISSUE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 01/14/06. IT WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK. I ALSO COMPLAINED OF NO AM RECEPTION (FIXED) . THE THIRD ISSUE - CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON 01/30/06. THIS TIME IT WAS A FAULTY LEAKAGE DETECTION PUMPED IN THE EXHAUST THAT WAS REPLACED. I COMPLAINED AGAIN OF NO AM RECEPTION. THE FOURTH ISSUE - CAR WAS IN SHOP FOR RECALL WORK FOR AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE STARTER SOLENOID AND THE BATTERY CABLES. I INFORMED THEM THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT THERE WAS NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT. MOMENTUM BLAMED IT ON THE TIRES NEEDING REPLACED ON A CAR THAT HAD 14,913 MILES ON IT - NO WORK DONE. COMPLAINED OF NO AM RECEPTION. THE FIFTH ISSUE - CAR WAS AT MOMENTUM FROM 01/30/07 - 02/08/07 BECAUSE POPPING NOISE UNDER HOOD AND CLICKING NOISE CAR MADE WHEN TURNING SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. EXPLANATION - POPPING NOISE WAS BECAUSE STRUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED ORIGINALLY. THE CLICKING NOISE WAS NOT FOUND, BUT THEY DID FIND THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING AND REPLACED THE POWER STEERING AND REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND STEERING SHAFT. RESOLVED AM ISSUE. THE SIXTH ISSUE - CAR WENT BACK TO SHOP ON 02/09/07 - 02/17/07 BECAUSE OF NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT. EXPLANATION - FRAME NOT BEING TIGHTENED. CORRECTED. THE SEVENTH ISSUE THAT THEY DID NOT FIX THE SIXTH ISSUE. I DROVE RIGHT BACK TO MOMENTUM. EXPLANATION - FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT WHERE TWO WIRES WERE BEING GROUND OUT. *AK THE EIGHTH ISSUE WAS ON APRIL 8, 2007 - AUTOMOBILE HAS POPPING SOUND UNDER HOOD AGAIN THERE IS A METAL GRINDING METAL FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR NEAR BACK WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10187290

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.

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.

06V375000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 3, 2006

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE LABEL DENOTING THE TIRE AND LOADING PRESSURE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A MISPRINTED LABEL WOULD LEAD TO IMPROPER VEHICLE LOADING SPECIFICATIONS OR TIRE INFLATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE FAILURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL THE CORRECT LABELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

05V529000 · Electrical System:starter Assembly:solenoid

Nov 17, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID MAY DEVELOP INTO A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO GROUND.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SMOKE MAY APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING, ELECTRICAL POWER COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN THE WARNING LAMPS BEING DEACTIVATED. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY 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.