89 of the
1,321 complaints filed about the Volvo S80
are about the transmission —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
89
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The lovely GM transmission suddenly decided to not shift while going uphill. Pushing the accelerator just made the RPMs go up and up while the car did nothing. Then a warning light. Transmission service Then limp mode. And all I could do literally was go 5 mph then. It occurred as I was turning at a light. I did call my local volvo dealer who kind of laughed about the price of a new transmission and told me that was all I could do.
NHTSA complaint #11486582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact stated that the instrument panel malfunctioned and failed to illuminate while driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of an electrical failure that affected the brakes and the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact also mentioned that she had received NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V681000 (Air Bags) however, the part was not yet available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11422659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STABILIZATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STARTED FLASHING. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND VEHICLE LOSS POWER. THE CHARGING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED PEDERSEN VOLVO CARS (4455 S MASON ST, FORT COLLINS, CO 80525, (970)223-8500) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE" WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD AN INCIDENT IN WHICH IT WOULD NOT POWER ON. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CHARGING FAILURE LIGHT CONTINUED FLASH. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONSUMER THEN EXPERIENCED A TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE WILE DRIVING. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS RETURNED. IT WAS DETERMINE VIA SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 2015 THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR LOST COMMUNICATION. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ANTI TAMPER UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER OFFERED A 15% DISCOUNT.
NHTSA complaint #11400219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS THE START/STOP FUNCTION. IT HAS A BUTTON TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE START/STOP SYSTEM BUT IT HAS TO BE PUSHED EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RESTARTED. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND DECIDED TO STOP AT A CONVENIENCE STORE TO GET A PEPSI. HE PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE HADN'T PRESSED THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND WHEN HE PARKED THE CAR, IT SHUT OFF. HE'D BEEN DRIVING IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND DIDN'T REALIZE THE START/STOP HAD STOPPED THE ENGINE. HE THOUGHT HE'D TURNED THE CAR OFF. WELL, HE OPENED THE DOOR AND WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD CAUSING IT TO JUMP THE CONCRETE PARKING BUMPER. FORTUNATELY THE ONLY DAMAGE IT CAUSED WAS TO THE PLASTIC BELLY PAN UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. BUT SOMEONE IN A 4X4 PICKUP HAD TO WINCH MY CAR BACKWARDS TO GET IT OFF THE PARKING BUMPER. THERE SHOULD BE AN OPTION IN THE CAR'S CONTROL CENTER TO PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATE THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO IT MANUALLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. ALL CARS WITH THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE NEED TO HAVE THE OPTION AVAILABLE. VOLVO TOLD ME IT CAN'T BE DONE. IT'S A COMPUTER, I'M SURE IT COULD BE REPROGRAMMED WITH THAT OPTION. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT AND LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN! IT'S EASY TO FORGET, ESPECIALLY IF A PERSON HAS A LOT ON HIS/HER MIND (AND WHO DOESN'T THESE DAYS?)
NHTSA complaint #11363143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE VEHICLE WARMS UP FROM START IT WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE IT STARTED AT LIKE 30 MILES AND I PARKED THE CAR TILL I COULD GET IT FIXED NOW WHEN THE CAR JUST WARMS UP (NOT GETS HOT) IT WILL NOT ENGAGE TRANS I HAVE ON MORE SENSER TO CHECK BUT THE CAR WILL MOVE WHEN YOU FIRST START IT BOTH FORWARD AND BACK BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP IT STOPS
NHTSA complaint #11145069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALMOST RAN OVER THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A FEATURE THAT IDLES THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE QUIET ENOUGH TO FOR THE DRIVER TO FORGET THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BREAK PEDAL AND WAS FLIPPED INTO THE STREET. THE CONSUMER'S KNEE WAS INJURED AND PANTS WERE TORN. UPDATED 12/5/2017
NHTSA complaint #10920531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED A 2004 VOLVO S80 IN "MINT CONDITION" FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP (GOOD REPUTATION).THREE (3) MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED THE FAMOUS VOLVO "SLIP, SLIDE, AWAY".. IT RIDES LIKE A ROCK, I FELL EVERY CRACK, GRAIN OF SAND IN THE ROAD. I REPLACED THE STRUTS, COIL SPRINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER SUSPENSIONS PARTS BUT TO NO AVAIL IMPROVED ITS CONDITION. EVERY WEEK OR SO I GET THE "STOP SAFELY COOLANT LEVEL LOW" WARNING ON MY DASH...KEEP IN MIND THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE ISSUES SINCE THE CONDITIONS DIDN'T APPEARED UNTIL 3 MONTHS/50000 MILES AFTER THE PURCHASE. STEERING HAS SOME PLAY AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY RECOVERING THE DIRECTIONAL PATH SLIGHTLY. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I INSTALLED ALL NEW TIRES (MICHELINS) PURCHASED A LIFETIME WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WHICH WAS DONE DURING NEW TIRE INSTALL AND RECENTLY RE-CHECKED. I DO 90% OF THE WORK MYSELF; I'M AN ENGINEER BY TRADE WITH 40 YEARS OF MECHANICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE. CHECKED THE RECALL DATABASE BY VIN (SAFERCAR.GOV) AND VARIOUS OTHER SITES AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE VOLVO SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING FOR SUCH A WELL-KNOWN EUROPEAN CAR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10896930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ORDERED MY S80 FROM AUTONATION VOLVO IRVINE APRIL 23, 2013. IT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JULY 4, 2013 AND I ACCEPTED DELIVERY AT THE VOLVO FACILITY IN GOTHENBURG. I IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE AUTO TO VOLVO FOR SHIPMENT TO THE US. I RECEIVED THE CAR ON OCT 11. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTONATION FOR SERVICE ON OCT 9, 2013, FEB 11, 2014, JULY 18, 2014, AUG 31, 2015, JUNE 9 AND JUNE JUNE 15, 2016. EACH TIME I TOLD THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF THE TRANSMISSION SURGING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT LOW SPEEDS SUCH AS WHEN STOPPING FOR A TRAFFIC SIGNAL.. ON JUNE 9 AND 15, 2016, I INFORMED THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V317200 DATED JULY 06, 2012 FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED IN 2011. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY 2014 AND THAT THEY FOUND NO INDICATION OF THE PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10874500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING TO A HIGH SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE TACHOMETER FLUCTUATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V317000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,800.
NHTSA complaint #10845524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA complaint #10819285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS BEEN HESITANT, SPUTTERING AND SURGING WHEN STOPPED OR INCREASING SPEED. WHEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE SURGES AND MOVES. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, AS WE CAN HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE ETM HAS BEEN CLEANED BY COLLINS AUTO IN SC. THEY TOLD US THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THERE IS BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THIS IS DUE TO THE OIL CHANGE INTERVAL (7500 MILES) WHICH IS RECOMMENDED BY VOLVO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A PART DEFECT WHICH VOLVO SHOULD FIX AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST.
NHTSA complaint #10712134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SLAMS / BUCKS FOR 2ND TO 3RD GEAR AT THE 20 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. THE TRANSMISSION REVS AND THEN BANG?S INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A STOP, YOU CAN FEEL IT BUCKING / JOLT (AS IF IT WAS SLIPPING) AS I APPLY THE BRAKE. I HAD REPORTED THIS TO THE VOLVO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAID THAT NOTHING CAME UP ON THE CODES OR DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED TOO IN APRIL 2013 AND IT RAN GOOD FOR ABOUT 12 MONTHS AND THAT BACK TO SAME SYMPTOMS / ISSUES. I ALSO BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AROUND AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014 TIME FRAME TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATED AND EXPLAINED THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEM AND AGAIN NO FAULT CODES. MY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT COULD BE A HAZARD IF TRYING TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY OR TRYING TO STOP QUICKLY AND IT DOES NOT RESPOND AS IT SHOULD AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, AND A POSSIBLE FATALITY COULD RESULT. I ALSO DID SPEAK WITH VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICES AND REGISTER A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THIS IS NOT MY FIRST VOLVO, I HAVE OWNED VOLVOS SINCE 1988. PLEASE ADVISE OF FINDINGS AND RESOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10705105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH ORANGE LOW LEVEL OIL LIGHT COMING ON BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, IN MY 2010 VOLVO S80, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. ON OCCASION, THE RED LIGHT HAS APPEARED AS WELL IF I DON'T ADD OIL FOR MY WIFE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE THAT NEITHER MY DEALER NOR CORPORATE HAVE BEEN HELPFUL WITH RESOLVING. I HAVE HAD THE "OIL CONSUMPTION TEST", BUT FRANKLY I AM TIRED OF THE RUN AROUND BECAUSE I LIVE TOO FAR TO KEEP HAVING TO PROVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND BEING TOLD BY THE SERVICE PERSON THAT IT IS WITHIN SPEC. THIS IS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. THE TIP ON MY EXHAUST CLEARLY GIVES AN INDICATION OF THE BURNING OF OIL. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THEM TO FIX THIS. I HAVE EVEN FOUND A TECHNICAL JOURNAL REF NO. 24643 (OIL CONSUMPTION) THAT SPEAKS ON MY EXACT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10694336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WAS TOLD BY VOLVO MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BROUGHT UP IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR CARS HORSE POWER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10631852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE OWN A BEAUTIFUL 2005 VOLVO S80 T6 TOP OF THE LINE (FULLY LOADED, TWIN TURBOS,18" RIMS, METALLIC GREEN PAINT & PARKING SENSORS) ONLY 80,300 MILES. IT'S A $46,000 CAR UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT SAFE FOR THE ROAD AND IS A HAZARD TO ALL. IT CANNOT GO OVER SPEED BUMPS WITHOUT SHAKING EVERYONE INSIDE VIOLENTLY. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP AND STUTTER AT LOW SPEEDS MEANING WE CANNOT MERGE INTO TRAFFIC! THERE IS ALSO COOLANT LEAKING EVERYWHERE AND SPILLING TO STORM DRAINS AND SEWERS LIST OF DIAGNOSED PROBLEMS: -TRANSMISSION REBUILD NEED (EVEN AFTER PAID $150 FOR TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE UPGRADE) -LEFT SIDE WINDOW COMES UP AND GOES DOWN -CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES -WATER PUMP HAS LEAK -CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM IS CLOGGED. -CAR CANNOT HOLD ALIGNMENT AND VEERS OFF -CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS ARE BAD CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT A SMALL SWEDE SHOP & VOLVO SANTA ANA FREQUENTLY AND BABIED. IT HAS NEW FRONT STRUTS, NEW BELTS, NEW BRAKES, NEW REAR TIRES, NEW CABIN FILTER, ETC. SPENT MORE THAN $2.5K IN THE LAST YEAR ALREADY. VOLVO CORPORATE DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE AND SAID THERE WERE 800 FIXES MADE IN THE MODEL YEAR 2004. OBVIOUSLY THE CAR IS FLAWED.
NHTSA complaint #10510471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2000 S80 T6 STALLS IN TRAFFIC AND LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. WHENEVER I STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I'LL HAVE TO STEP HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR IN ORDER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME FROM HITTING MY CAR.SOMETIMES IT JERKS SO BAD I FEEL THAT ENGINE MAY FALL OFF.THERE'S NO ENGINE LIGHT ON OR ANYTHING. I HAVE CALLED VOLVO AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS ETM BUT HAS BEEN REPLACED ON MY CAR ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TESTED OUT AND FIXED BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10449898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR SURGES AND HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS, IT SLOWS DOWN AND ACCELERATES RANDOMLY WHEN I PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS. IT STICKS AND WON'T LET ME CHANGE GEARS IN MANUAL MODE AND IT STRUGGLES TO CHANGE GEARS IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, IT WILL DECELERATE RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH WITH THE CRUISE ON AND OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10424583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION URGENT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,741. UPDATED 3/1/12
NHTSA complaint #10402587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 VOLVO S80 T6 TRANSMISSION WENT COMPLETELY OUT. WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACK. TOWED IN AND SAID TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO MECHANIC SAID THE CV SHAFT THAT CONNECTS THE TRANSMISSION TO THE SPINDLE NEEDED REPLACED AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10376279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.