IllustrationThe ETM is acting up for no reason available
1999 Volvo S80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most S80 years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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
70–25K
925–50K
3350–75K
2775–100K
36100–150K
8150K+
120 reports with mileage · 79 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 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
199 reportsTHERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTIN…
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THERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTING OFF WORK, I HIT FULL GAS AND IT ONLY GAVE ME 3 MPH AND ALSO WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONE NIGHT FROM WORK I FEEL THE WHEEL FEEL LIKE ITS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE OR LOOSENING I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS ROUGH
WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER
ECM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A MASS AIR FLOW FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DON IMPORTS AUTO SERVICE IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A MASS AIR FLOW FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DON IMPORTS AUTO SERVICE IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEIGHBOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED…
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WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND A SWEET ODOR FROM THE VENTS WAS NOTICED WITH A SMOKE . WE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT SUCCESS . ALSO NOTICED AN NO OIL PRESSURE READ ON DASH ONLY WHEN WE WERE NOT IN ACCELERATION. THIS DISAPPEAR WHEN UPON ACCELERATION AND RETURNED WHEN IDLING. WE SERVICED THE OIL FILTER THE FLUIDS PERFORMED A MOTOR FLUSH FIRST AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS AND CONTINUE OF THE CODE RETURNS AFTER PERFORMING A DRIVE CYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. WE ARE CONVINCED THIS IS CAUSED BY THE RECALL #R155. THANK YOU FOR HELP IN REPAIRING THIS ISSUE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL#06V441000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I L…
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I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I LOSE BRAKE CONTROL! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED, A STRONG BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO CIRCULATE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED, A STRONG BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO CIRCULATE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED FLAMES EMITTING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT THEN EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED FOUR TIMES PRIOR TO THE RECENT FIRE FOR A SEVERE OIL LEAK. THE TURBO OIL TRAP PCV WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT ALSO REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Official recalls
406V441000 · 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.
02V096000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan
Apr 7, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, CERTAIN ELECTRIC COOLING FANS COULD BE INADEQUATE IN A HOT CLIMATE. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCESSIVE HEAT COULD BE GENERATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE ENGINE COOLING FAN COMPONENTS COULD OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE MELTING OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND ADJACENT COMPONENTS, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO 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.