IllustrationETM FAILED ON MY 2000, VOLVO S80 IN THE SUMMER OF 2002. LOST POWER ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN FLORIDA. I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED SAFELY TO THE TAMPA AIRPORT PARKING LOT, RENTED A CAR TO GET HOME. NEXT DAY HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER NEAR THE AIRPORT, ETM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NO RECURRING PROBLEM,TRADED THE CAR IN FEB 2003. *NM
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
93 reportsDT: 2000 VOLVO . VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/LOST POWER. THROTTLE BODY MODULE WAS REPLACED. *AK *NM
DT: CONTACT STATED VEHICLE STALLED/DIED AND LOST POWER. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. *AK *NM
DT: 2000 VOLVO S80. VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE. *AK
1. WIFE AND CHILD DRIVING VEHICLE ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF FREEWAY AT APPROX 60 MPH. 2. VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED ABRUPTLY CAUSING WIFE TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES AND EVENTUALLY EXIT FREEWAY VIA OFF RAMP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN AT "LIMP HOME"MODE (APPROX. 20 MPH) OFF OFF RAMP, ONTO FREEWAY FEEDER, AT IDLE, AND THEN FOR ANOTHER…
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1. WIFE AND CHILD DRIVING VEHICLE ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF FREEWAY AT APPROX 60 MPH. 2. VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED ABRUPTLY CAUSING WIFE TO QUICKLY CHANGE LANES AND EVENTUALLY EXIT FREEWAY VIA OFF RAMP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN AT "LIMP HOME"MODE (APPROX. 20 MPH) OFF OFF RAMP, ONTO FREEWAY FEEDER, AT IDLE, AND THEN FOR ANOTHER APPROX 20 MILES ON FREEWAY FEEDER ROADS AND CITY ROADS TO RESIDENCE. 3. VEHICLE TOWED TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. OLD PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. *NM *AK 11/02/05 *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AN DLOST CONTROL ON AUGUST 11, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH. *AK
IN JULY, 2005 I TOOK MY 2000 S80 IN FOR SERVICE COMPLAINING OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS INCLUDING SURGING WHEN STOPPED, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. SOMETIMES I SAW THE TACHOMETER JUMPING DURING THE SURGE ACTIVITY. RED BANK VOLVO, MY REGULAR SERVICE FACILITY, ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPGRADES …
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IN JULY, 2005 I TOOK MY 2000 S80 IN FOR SERVICE COMPLAINING OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS INCLUDING SURGING WHEN STOPPED, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING. SOMETIMES I SAW THE TACHOMETER JUMPING DURING THE SURGE ACTIVITY. RED BANK VOLVO, MY REGULAR SERVICE FACILITY, ADVISED ME THAT THE PROBLEM REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPGRADES FOR ECM AND ETM, AND IF IT PERSISTED THAT MY ALTERNATOR WOULD NEED CLEANING. THEY NEVER MENTIONED AN ETM DEFECT. BASED UPON THE ETM COMPLAINTS LISTED ON NHTSA'S WEBSITE, MY EARLY PROBLEMS SEEM SIMILAR. *NM
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000, VOLVO S80. VEHICLE STALLED/DIED, AND LOST POWER THREE TIME WHILE DRIVING. DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK
I OWNED A 2000 VOLVO S-80 SEDAN THAT HAD A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE ON 08/13/03 WHILE TRAVELING ON I-35 IN IOWA. THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAD 53,487 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT VOLVO THROTTLE BODY FAILURES AND THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED. I CONSIDERED THE CAR TO D…
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I OWNED A 2000 VOLVO S-80 SEDAN THAT HAD A THROTTLE BODY FAILURE ON 08/13/03 WHILE TRAVELING ON I-35 IN IOWA. THE ENGINE STALLED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR HAD 53,487 MILES ON IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT VOLVO THROTTLE BODY FAILURES AND THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE INFORMED. I CONSIDERED THE CAR TO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND SOLD IT WITHIN A MONTH OF THE INCIDENT. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED WITH A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND ACCESSORIES AT BETTS AUTO CAMPUS IN DES MOINES, IOWA AT A COST OF $895.50. *NM
DT:THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN APRIL AT STOP LIGHT. THE OWNER STATED THE CAR BEGAN TO REV. OWNER NOTICED THE RPMS RISING. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CAR STALLED IN APRIL. THE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED. THE WIFE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED AND SO SHE REALLY CAN'T GIVE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE ST…
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DT:THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN APRIL AT STOP LIGHT. THE OWNER STATED THE CAR BEGAN TO REV. OWNER NOTICED THE RPMS RISING. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE ANY ENGINE LIGHTS ON. THE CAR STALLED IN APRIL. THE HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED. THE WIFE HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVING WHEN IT STALLED AND SO SHE REALLY CAN'T GIVE FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE STALLING. THE OWNER WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN D.C. WHEN IT STALLED COMPLETELY OUT. THEN SHE TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ETM ON MAY 20. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. THE OWNER DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR A REPAIR. VOLVO OF AMERICA AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART IF THE OWNER PAID FOR LABOR.SO THE WORK WAS DONE AT A COST OF ABOUT 700 DOLLARS TO OWNER. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE IT WAS REPAIRED.*AK A.CONSUMER''S E-MAIL ADDRESS IF THEY HAVE ONE SEE ONWER INFORMATION B.DID THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALL OUT AND DIE OR DID IT LOSE POWER AND OPERATE AT A REDUCED SPEED? THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED OUT AND RESTARTED. C.IF NO CRASHES OR INJURIES WERE THERE ANY ''NEAR-MISSES'' CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM? THERE WAS NO NEAR MISSES IN THIS CASE. D.HAS THE PERSON TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR, DID THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR OR DID VOLVO/THE DEALERSHIP ASSIST IN THE COST OF THE REPAIR? THE VOLVO DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR REPAIR, BUT VOLVO OF AMERICA AUTHORIZED PAYMENT OF THE PART IF OWNER PAID FOR LABOR. E.HAS THE SAME COMPONENT BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, OR HAVE THEY HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AFTER THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED? THE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED BUT NO SIMILAR PROBLEMS HAVE RETURNED.
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.