FaultScore

Worst years for a Volvo S80

Owners have filed 1,321 complaints about the Volvo S80 with NHTSA across model years 1999 to 2016. More of them are about the acceleration & cruise control than anything else.

Avoid

2000 Volvo S80

442 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly acceleration & cruise control.

Cleanest on record

2009 Volvo S80

20 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Volvo S80 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2016 7 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2015 C 12 1 0 56,000 Engine & Cooling
2014 1 0 0 Transmission & Drivetrain
2013 8 0 0 51,000 Engine & Cooling
2012 C 11 3 0 51,281 Other & Unspecified
2011 8 2 1 29,500 Transmission & Drivetrain
2010 B 36 1 0 47,900 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
2009 A 20 0 0 54,000 Body & Structure
2008 C 38 9 0 59,185 Fuel & Propulsion
2007 A 32 0 0 90,000 Body & Structure
2006 A 22 1 0 60,500 Engine & Cooling
2005 C 26 2 4 80,717 Fuel & Propulsion
2004 C 63 6 0 99,500 Fuel & Propulsion
2003 C 30 1 1 50,753 Fuel & Propulsion
2002 B 59 1 3 100,000 Fuel & Propulsion
2001 D 218 10 2 63,155 Acceleration & Cruise Control
2000 D 442 21 11 80,000 Acceleration & Cruise Control
1999 D 288 7 8 76,000 Acceleration & Cruise Control

What breaks on a Volvo S80

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Worst in 2000

Engine & Cooling 185 14.0%

Worst in 2000

Electrical System 166 12.6%

Worst in 2000

Fuel & Propulsion 143 10.8%

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2000

Suspension 86 6.5%

Worst in 2000

Brakes 69 5.2%

Worst in 2000

Airbags 55 4.2%

Worst in 2000

Steering 55 4.2%

Worst in 1999

Worst in 2000

Worst in 2000

Worst in 1999

Lights 31 2.3%

Worst in 2000

Seat Belts 26 2.0%

Worst in 2000

Exactly what failed on a Volvo S80

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Engine 43 20.4%
Automatic Transmission 42 19.9%
Front 28 13.3%
Body 20 9.5%
Fuel Injection System 15 7.1%
Gasoline 14 6.6%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly 14 6.6%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 12 5.7%
Frontal 12 5.7%
Fuel Pump 11 5.2%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Volvo S80, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Oct 1999 peak 133 Aug 2026

Volvo S80 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Volvo S80

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.