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
What owners actually said
318 reports2000 VOLVO S80 T6; FIVE TIMES NOW THE CAR HAS LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MPH. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WAS TURNING LEFT AND THE CAR LOST POWER HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN. *NM
DT: 2000 VOLVO . VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED/LOST POWER. THROTTLE BODY MODULE WAS REPLACED. *AK *NM
DT: WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED EVERY TIME TOOK FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND CAR STALLED. THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY SOMETIMES. THERE WAS STILL ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE CAR. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WHEN IT STALLED. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS…
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DT: WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED EVERY TIME TOOK FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND CAR STALLED. THE CAR WOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY SOMETIMES. THERE WAS STILL ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE CAR. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES WHEN IT STALLED. THE CAR WOULD START BACK UP RIGHT AWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A CODE SHOWING WHEN THE CAR STARTED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR MASS SENSOR. THIS SENSOR WAS REPLACED. ON APRIL 18 2004 WHILE OWNER'S WIFE WAS TRAVELING AND TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THERE WAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE "CHECK ENGINE EMERGENCY." THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THEN THE WIFE HAD JUST ENOUGH POWER TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND A TOW TRUCK BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON . *AK *JB
THROTTLE CONTROL CAR WOULD SURGE UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD SOMETIMES STALL THE CAR OUT AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO RESTART THE CAR I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM INSTALL AND NEW THROTTLE BODY AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED (65-75 MPH), THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE VIOLENTLY, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WITHIN SECONDS, THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED, "STOP SAFELY AND RESTART ENGINE." AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, THE ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATED FROM 400-1000 RPM QUICKLY. SIMIL…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEED (65-75 MPH), THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE VIOLENTLY, FOR NO APPARENT REASON. WITHIN SECONDS, THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED, "STOP SAFELY AND RESTART ENGINE." AFTER PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER, THE ENGINE RPM FLUCTUATED FROM 400-1000 RPM QUICKLY. SIMILAR OR MORE SEVERE EVENTS OCCURRED THREE MORE TIMES THAT DAY. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER.*JB
2000 S80 VOLVO 2.9 IS DANGEROUS! SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING THROTTLE DIES, ACTED LIKE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THEN IT CAME BACK! THEN IT SURGED AT A RED LIGHT LAST WEEK, AND I HAD NO FOOT ON THE GAS! VOLVO SAID ETM(?) NEEDED CLEANING / REPLACING . IT WAS CLEANED , STILL SURGES, I AM AFRAID IT WILL DIE ON HIGHWAY WHILE GOING ON AN ON R…
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2000 S80 VOLVO 2.9 IS DANGEROUS! SUDDENLY WHEN DRIVING THROTTLE DIES, ACTED LIKE THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. THEN IT CAME BACK! THEN IT SURGED AT A RED LIGHT LAST WEEK, AND I HAD NO FOOT ON THE GAS! VOLVO SAID ETM(?) NEEDED CLEANING / REPLACING . IT WAS CLEANED , STILL SURGES, I AM AFRAID IT WILL DIE ON HIGHWAY WHILE GOING ON AN ON RAMP. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2000 VOLVO MODEL S80 CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 8-26-05. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE. HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. HE WAS DRIVING AT 25-50 MPH WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AN…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2000 VOLVO MODEL S80 CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 8-26-05. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. IT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ENGINE. HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS. HE WAS DRIVING AT 25-50 MPH WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER HE DID NOT KNOW IF ANYTHING WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT OWNER DID NOT REPORT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS, SUCH AS STALLINGOR SURGING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE POLICE DEPARTMENTINDICATED T THE FIRE WAS AN ELECTRICAL NATURE, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABSOLUTELY SURE.*AK
MY 200 VOLVO S80 STALLED INTERMITTENTLY IN 2003, SO I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY 2000 CLEANED AT 48,989 MILES WHEN MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A SERVICE ON APRIL 19, 2005 SHOWED "NO CODES" THOUGH MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING PERIODICALLY AGAIN SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR IN A VARIETY OF DANGEROUS SETTINGS: PULLING UP TO A CROWDED CUR…
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MY 200 VOLVO S80 STALLED INTERMITTENTLY IN 2003, SO I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY 2000 CLEANED AT 48,989 MILES WHEN MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. A SERVICE ON APRIL 19, 2005 SHOWED "NO CODES" THOUGH MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING PERIODICALLY AGAIN SINCE MARCH OF THIS YEAR IN A VARIETY OF DANGEROUS SETTINGS: PULLING UP TO A CROWDED CURB AT MY KIDS' SCHOOL, ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN IN A CROWDED INTERSECTION, DRIVING 40 MPH ON A BUSY STREET, DRIVING AROUND A TRAFFIC CIRCLE IN A MOUNTAIN TOWN, ETC. MY CAR HAS STALLED 10-15 TIMES SINCE MARCH. EACH TIME, IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER, TO BRAKE AND ATTEMPT TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT WHEN IT STALLED. ALMOST ALL OF THE TIMES IT STALLED, IT CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME, FOR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME AND FOR PEDESTRIANS. A VISIT TO THE SERVICE CENTER TODAY REVEALS THAT I NEED TO SPEND $1,150 TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. I UNDERSTAND THAT, IN TIME, THE NEW THROTTLE BODY WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE OLD ONE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION; I TRY TO AVOID DRIVING NEAR VOLVOS IF POSSIBLE. *JB
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
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.