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2003 Volvo S80

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Volvo S80 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

Limited mileage data: 16 of 26 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 System, Gasoline. 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 →
  • Air Bags. 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 reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

5 reports
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101,500 miles · Jun 25, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY CAR SHOWS EXACT SYMPTOMS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN NHTSA RECALL # 09V483. RECALL INVOLVED CARS IN THE HOT WEATHER STATES OF US. AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL I HAVE RESIDED IN THE MASSACHUSETTS WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL RECALL. I HAVE MOVED TO ARIZONA IN THE SUMMER OF 2010 AND NOW MY CAR IS SMELLING GAS AS…

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MY CAR SHOWS EXACT SYMPTOMS OF THE VEHICLES INVOLVED IN NHTSA RECALL # 09V483. RECALL INVOLVED CARS IN THE HOT WEATHER STATES OF US. AT THE TIME OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL I HAVE RESIDED IN THE MASSACHUSETTS WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE INITIAL RECALL. I HAVE MOVED TO ARIZONA IN THE SUMMER OF 2010 AND NOW MY CAR IS SMELLING GAS AS RECALLED VEHICLES. TRIED TO CONTACT VOLVO DEALERS AND THY ARE STATING SINCE MY VIN IS NOT IN THE DATABASE OF RECALLED VEHICLES THEY WILL NOT PERFORM REPAIR ( UNLESS I WILL PAY FULL PRICE OF COURSE ). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521782

45,506 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

HI, JUST HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. COST AND PROBLEM FALL IN TO THE "UNREAL" CATEGORY. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A FUEL PUMP HAS EVOLVED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT APPARENTLY AS COMPLICATED AS SOMETHING THAT IS VITAL TO THE LAUNCH OF THE SHUTTLE. OH FOR TH…

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HI, JUST HAD TO HAVE MY FUEL PUMP REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF WELL OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. COST AND PROBLEM FALL IN TO THE "UNREAL" CATEGORY. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS A FUEL PUMP HAS EVOLVED INTO A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT APPARENTLY AS COMPLICATED AS SOMETHING THAT IS VITAL TO THE LAUNCH OF THE SHUTTLE. OH FOR THE DAYS WHEN A FUEL PUMP WAS ACTIVATED BY THE CAM SHAFT, HELD ON TO THE ENGINE WITH TWO BOLTS, COST FIVE DOLLARS, TOOK ABOUT TEN MINUTES TO REPLACE AND SELDOM FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE STEALERSHIP THAT DID MY WORK, IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP, THEY HAD TO REMOVE THE REAR SEAT TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP? I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO SURVEY THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THEY DID IN DOING THIS, BUT DO KNOW THAT THE HEADLINER AND STEERING WHEEL ARE COVERED WITH GREASY HAND PRINTS AND AFTER THREE DAYS THERE IS STILL A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN THE CAR. MY VOLVO IS AN 03 S80 WITH ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT. IS THIS TYPICAL OF VOLVO DEPENDABILITY AND EXCELLENCE? GUESS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO JAPANESE. COMMENTS PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230258

35,990 miles · Oct 24, 2007
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

AFTER PURCHASING A VOLVO S80 IN APRIL 2003 FROM VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE, MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THE CAR) BEGAN EXPERIENCING A FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS ROUTINELY SERVICED AT VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE, SHE COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR IT. AFTER TIRING OF THE DETERIORATING SERVICE QUALI…

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AFTER PURCHASING A VOLVO S80 IN APRIL 2003 FROM VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE, MY WIFE (WHO DRIVES THE CAR) BEGAN EXPERIENCING A FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS ROUTINELY SERVICED AT VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE, SHE COMPLAINED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER FAILED TO REPAIR IT. AFTER TIRING OF THE DETERIORATING SERVICE QUALITY AT VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE, MY WIFE BEGAN HAVING THE CAR SERVICED AT POWELL VOLVO, TO WHOM SHE CONTINUED TO COMPLAIN OF THE FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. THAT DEALER ALSO FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY WIFE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, SWEDISH AUTO WERKS, TO WHOM SHE ALSO COMPLAINED OF THE FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 35,990 MILES. BY THIS TIME, SHE WAS ALSO EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT SLOW/LONG CRANK STARTING THE CAR, WHICH WAS THOUGHT TO BE DUE TO A FAILING BATTERY. SHE COMPLAINED OF THIS ALSO TO SWEDISH AUTO WERKS. SWEDISH AUTO WERKS DIAGNOSED THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM AS NOT ONLY A FAILING BATTERY BUT ALSO A CRACKED FUEL PUMP HOSE NIPPLE. IN ADDITION TO A NEW BATTERY, IT INSTALLED A NEW FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $821.97. THE CAR NOW RUNS VERY WELL. IN A SUBSEQUENT CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER VOLVO OWNER, MY WIFE LEARNED AND HAS SINCE CONFIRMED THAT THIS FUEL PUMP PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECURRENT WITH THE VOLVO S SERIES SINCE AL LEAST 2002-03 AND THAT VOLVO KNOWS OF IT. MY WIFE ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE HAS BEEN A "SILENT RECALL" PROMPTED BY THIS PROBLEM--I.E., IF THE PROBLEM IS RECOGNIZED BY A VOLVO DEALER, VOLVO WILL FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. NEITHER VOLVO NORTH SCOTTSDALE NOR POWELL VOLVO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM DESPITE MY WIFE'S REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO THEM. BY OCTOBER 4, 2007 LETTER AND ATTACHED COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE TO VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE CENTER, I REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. IN REPLY, VOLVO DENIED MY REQUEST, STATING THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO RECALL. THE DATE BELOW IS WHEN THE REPAIR WAS MADE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206798

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineCrashInjury

RE: 2003, VOLVO S80. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY PRESCHOOL SON'S SCHOOL, I WENT TO SHIFT GEARS AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERTATION CAUSING ME TO BE WITHOUT CONTROL OF MY CAR FOR OVER 50 FEET, HITTING A TREE, 3 SHRUBS AND A 3000 LB. ROCK. MY PRESCHOOLER AND I SUSTAINED MINOR INJ…

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RE: 2003, VOLVO S80. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY PRESCHOOL SON'S SCHOOL, I WENT TO SHIFT GEARS AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERTATION CAUSING ME TO BE WITHOUT CONTROL OF MY CAR FOR OVER 50 FEET, HITTING A TREE, 3 SHRUBS AND A 3000 LB. ROCK. MY PRESCHOOLER AND I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES BUT MY CAR IS TOTALLED. MY CAR IS IN AN AUTO BODY SHOP AWAITING INSURANCE APPROVAL FOR A TOTALLED CAR. MY SON IS TRAUMATIZED AND I WAS SHAKEN UP FOR DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A MACHANICAL FAILURE BUT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK FROM VOLVO ABOUT AN INVESTIGATION. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10122130

834 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Fuel System, GasolineInjury

DEAR [XXX]. ,HIS IS TO NOTIFY ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE S80 ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DIFFICULTY WE ARE FACING WITH THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE CAR TO US. I, [XXX] HAS BOUGHT THE CAR WITH WIN # [XXX], FROM DARRELL WALTRIP VOLVO IN FRANKLIN TN ON 11/01/03. ON 11/26/03 THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE…

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DEAR [XXX]. ,HIS IS TO NOTIFY ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE S80 ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DIFFICULTY WE ARE FACING WITH THE DEALER THAT SOLD THE CAR TO US. I, [XXX] HAS BOUGHT THE CAR WITH WIN # [XXX], FROM DARRELL WALTRIP VOLVO IN FRANKLIN TN ON 11/01/03. ON 11/26/03 THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER A WEEK WE WERE TOLD THE GAS INDICATOR IS BROKEN. MY ATTEMPTS TO GET A WRITTEN REPORT ABOUT THE CAUSE FOR THE VEHICLE FAILURE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE EVENT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC TO MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. SHE WAS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT AND DUE TO DELIVER THE FOLLOWING WEEK. WITH THE SHOCK SHE HAS GONE THROUGH SHE IS SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE GENERAL MANAGER [XXX] RESPONSE WAS THAT " PEOPLE CAN HAVE SHOCK EVEN WITH A FLAT TYRE". WE APPRECIATE YOUR INTERVENTION AND RESPONSE IN THIS MATTER. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10051289

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.

20V681000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Nov 4, 2020

Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.

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.

03V284000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 1, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WAS NOT INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES AND, IN CERTAIN CASES, THE OWNER'S MANUAL ISOFIX INFORMATION IS INCORRECT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL RECEIVE A LETTER/PACKAGE CONSISTING OF THE SECOND ISOFIX GUIDE WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS, AND IN CERTAIN CASES, THE CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL MAY BE PROVIDED. IF THE OWNER WANTS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A VOLVO DEALER FOR INSTALLATION OF THE GUIDE, IT WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD 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.