IllustrationRIGHT TURN SIGNAL FAILURE. FOUND R/F SIGNAL LIGHT BULB BLOWN,MELTED HOUSING OF CORNER LAMP. THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT VOLVO REPAIR SHOP UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
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 reportsCAR LOST ALL POWER, SHUT DOWN DURING DRIVING, ALARM SERVICE CAME ON. CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE APRIL 18, APRIL 23 TO APRIL 27. NOT CLEAR IF CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *AK
PROBLEM NUMBER 1:ON 07/18/2000 FOUND TO HAVE NONE OF THE CONTROLS ON DRIVERS DOOR PANEL MASTER SWITCH WERE WORKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRING ON VOLVO STATION FROM 07/19/2000 TO 08/16/2000. MASTER SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED. IT TOOK ALMOST ONE MONTH TO FIX MY CAR.PROBLEM NUMBER 2ON 02/13/2001 DURING HIGH SIDE IM…
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PROBLEM NUMBER 1:ON 07/18/2000 FOUND TO HAVE NONE OF THE CONTROLS ON DRIVERS DOOR PANEL MASTER SWITCH WERE WORKING. MY CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRING ON VOLVO STATION FROM 07/19/2000 TO 08/16/2000. MASTER SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND SOFTWARE DOWNLOADED. IT TOOK ALMOST ONE MONTH TO FIX MY CAR.PROBLEM NUMBER 2ON 02/13/2001 DURING HIGH SIDE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER CAR NONE OF AIRBAGS AND NONE OF SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION SYSTEM WORKED. THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. IMPACT OCCURRED AT THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) T-BONE AND RIGHT FRONT FENDER. VOLVOCARS WAS CONTACTED. THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE THEIR TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF MY CAR. STATEMENT FROM VOLVO INFORMATION IS PROPRIETARY TO VOLVO AND WILL NOT BE RELEASED.PROBLEM NUMBER #3 04/13/2001*AK
THERE WAS A HUGE SIDE IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. *AK
MICHELIN PILOT HX TIRE P225/50R17 HAS DEVELOPED A BUBBLE IN SIDEWALL, DOT HB0A EC2X399, CAUSE OF BUBBLE IS UNKNOWN. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, ROAD WAS CLEAR, CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ANY WARNING SIGNS, AND VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CAME THROUGH GUARDRAIL. ON DECEMBER 10TH, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A CLUNKING NOISE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, DEALER PLACED VEHICLE ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND A CODE WOULD APPEAR STATING THE GAS CAP WAS NOT PUT ON TIGHT ENOUGH, DEALER HAS HAD TO RESET THE COMPUTER SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE LIGHT ILLUMINATING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LIGHT COMES ON 3 OR 4 DAYS AFTER FUELING. *SLC
WHILE SITTING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND TAKING FOOT OFF OF BRAKES TO GIVE VEHICLE SOME GAS, VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACK AND KEEP GOING BACK UNTIL DRIVER PUTS FOOT ON BRAKE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IF SOMEONE IS CROSSING BEHIND IT WOULD BE VERY EASILY TO RUN HIM/HER OVER.*AK *SLC
VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VOLVO HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
ENGINE REVS UP (100-300 RPM) WHEN COMING TO A STOP. YOU HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD SO THAT IT WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND COMPLAINT ABOUT IT BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE CAR REVS UP BUT THE RPM WILL NOT MAKE IT RUN. IT DOES AND I EVEN CALLED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET HELP BUT …
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ENGINE REVS UP (100-300 RPM) WHEN COMING TO A STOP. YOU HAVE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD SO THAT IT WILL NOT MOVE. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND COMPLAINT ABOUT IT BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE CAR REVS UP BUT THE RPM WILL NOT MAKE IT RUN. IT DOES AND I EVEN CALLED VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO GET HELP BUT GOT NOWHERE.THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY CANNOT CHANGE THE SENSOR BECAUSE THE COMPUTE DOES NOT LOD A CODE AND THEY WILL NOT BE REIMBURSE BY VOLVO.PLEASE HELP... I KNOW THE CAR IS DEFECTIVE BUT NOBODY IS HELPING ME TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I EVEN COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SUSPENSION BEING BAD AT THE SAME TIME THAT I BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE JERKING PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE. BROUGHT IT 4 TIMES AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SUSPENSION BUT NOTHING. LAST MONTH VOLVO HAD A RECALL ON THE BALLJOINTS AND THAT TELLS ME THAT I WAS RIGHT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SUSPENSION. THE CAR IS GETTING WORST. AT TIMES IT JUST MOVES IN A JERKING MOTION WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. NEED YOUR HELP AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED COMPLAINTS FROM THIS. I WOULD SINCERELY APPRECIATE HELP SINCE I HAVE THE CAR USED BY MY KIDS. RIGHT NOW I HAVE NOT USED IT FOR A MONTH BEC. OF THE PROBLEM. I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT IN NY WHEN I NUDGE A PEDESTRIAN DURING A STOP SINCE THE CAR JERKS AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEP ON THE BRAKES REALLY TO STOP IT FROM MOVING..THE PERSON WAS REALLY MAD AND ALL I HAD TO DO IS APOLOGIZE.*AK
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.