Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1999. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2015.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 S80 | 6 | 2 |
| 2015 S80 | 7 | 2 |
| 2014 S80 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 S80 | 8 | 3 |
| 2012 S80 | 8 | 3 |
| 2011 S80 | 5 | 4 |
| 2010 S80 | 27 | 5 |
| 2009 S80 | 16 | 5 |
| 2008 S80 | 26 | 7 |
| 2007 S80 | 24 | 5 |
| 2006 S80 | 12 | 3 |
| 2005 S80 | 15 | 5 |
| 2004 S80 | 50 | 4 |
| 2003 S80 | 26 | 5 |
| 2002 S80 | 42 | 4 |
| 2001 S80Most complaints | 164 | 7 |
| 2000 S80Most complaints | 318 | 4 |
| 1999 S80Most complaints | 199 | 4 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Vehicle speed control227
- Electrical system165
- Engine and engine cooling143
- Fuel system, gasoline92
- Power train83
- Suspension80
- Steering53
- Air bags52
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 S80 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 24 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 | 2 |
| 2007 | 7 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 | 3 |
| 2000 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 6 model-year variants; not yet fully rated. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2016 Volvo S80 4 DR FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Volvo S80 4 DR AWD | — | 0.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 17 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 8.3–12.6 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | S80 T5 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.6 | 6.7 | 8.3 |
| 2015 | S80 T5 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.8 | 6.6 | 8.4 |
| 2014 | S80 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.1 | 10.2 |
| 2013 | S80 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.1 | 10.2 |
| 2012 | S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.2 | 10.2 |
| 2011 | S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 12.9 | 8.8 | 11.0 |
| 2010 | S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 13.7 | 9.0 | 11.6 |
| 2009 | S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 9.3 | 12.0 |
| 2008 | S80 3.2 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 9.8 | 12.6 |
| 2006 | S80 2.5T Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 12.6 | 8.7 | 10.8 |
| 2005 | S80 2.5T Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 12.8 | 8.7 | 10.9 |
| 2004 | S80 2.5T AWD Turbo · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.2 | 9.4 | 11.5 |
| 2003 | S80 2.9 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.4 | 9.3 | 11.5 |
| 2002 | S80/S80 Executive 2.9 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 10.2 | 12.1 |
| 2001 | S80/S80 Executive 2.9 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.6 | 9.6 | 11.8 |
| 2000 | S80 2.9 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 14.5 | 9.9 | 12.4 |
| 1999 | S80 · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 13.7 | 9.5 | 11.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
280 S80 cars are on the New Zealand register; 68% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 2010 | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| 2009 | 18 | 12 | 5 |
| 2008 | 33 | 8 | 25 |
| 2007 | 88 | 23 | 63 |
| 2006 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 2004 | 15 | 6 | 9 |
| 2003 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 2002 | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| 2001 | 11 | 3 | 8 |
| 2000 | 24 | 7 | 16 |
| 1999 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
5,461 S80 cars are on Dutch roads; 18% arrived later as imports, and 493 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 103 | €55,084 |
| 2014 | 142 | €54,140 |
| 2013 | 131 | €51,935 |
| 2012 | 208 | €53,265 |
| 2011 | 229 | €50,734 |
| 2010 | 304 | €51,850 |
| 2009 | 261 | €54,544 |
| 2008 | 419 | €60,457 |
| 2007 | 916 | €60,894 |
| 2006 | 474 | €58,089 |
| 2005 | 359 | €51,512 |
| 2004 | 371 | €60,940 |
| 2003 | 395 | €74,060 |
| 2002 | 314 | €46,316 |
| 2001 | 242 | — |
| 2000 | 275 | €54,360 |
| 1999 | 296 | — |
| 1998 | 22 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
8,787 S80 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 56% petrol, 43% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 52 | 246,000 km |
| 2015 | 168 | 256,000 km |
| 2014 | 261 | 288,000 km |
| 2013 | 231 | 280,000 km |
| 2012 | 261 | 293,000 km |
| 2011 | 310 | 317,000 km |
| 2010 | 358 | 331,000 km |
| 2009 | 350 | 347,000 km |
| 2008 | 632 | 350,000 km |
| 2007 | 1,024 | 324,000 km |
| 2006 | 866 | 323,000 km |
| 2005 | 705 | 337,000 km |
| 2004 | 597 | 348,000 km |
| 2003 | 622 | 354,000 km |
| 2002 | 532 | 362,000 km |
| 2001 | 531 | 355,000 km |
| 2000 | 549 | 358,000 km |
| 1999 | 688 | 365,000 km |
| 1998 | 50 | 309,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 121 S80 cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 2 of those collisions were fatal and 29 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 1 | 6 |
| 2024 | 24 | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 | 4 |
| 2022 | 32 | 0 | 5 |
| 2021 | 35 | 1 | 9 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
5,768 S80 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 164 | 2 |
| 2015 | 384 | 9 |
| 2014 | 367 | 9 |
| 2013 | 387 | 24 |
| 2012 | 332 | 31 |
| 2011 | 353 | 48 |
| 2010 | 514 | 64 |
| 2009 | 376 | 68 |
| 2008 | 518 | 149 |
| 2007 | 579 | 250 |
| 2006 | 293 | 142 |
| 2005 | 335 | 207 |
| 2004 | 308 | 247 |
| 2003 | 319 | 263 |
| 2002 | 231 | 365 |
| 2001 | 160 | 252 |
| 2000 | 83 | 212 |
| 1999 | 54 | 173 |
| 1998 | 11 | 40 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
7,799 S80 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 69% passed first time, against 61% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 174 | 86% |
| 2015 | 399 | 82% |
| 2014 | 395 | 79% |
| 2013 | 428 | 76% |
| 2012 | 359 | 77% |
| 2011 | 428 | 74% |
| 2010 | 612 | 72% |
| 2009 | 490 | 69% |
| 2008 | 714 | 71% |
| 2007 | 849 | 67% |
| 2006 | 434 | 63% |
| 2005 | 509 | 61% |
| 2004 | 514 | 61% |
| 2003 | 506 | 60% |
| 2002 | 443 | 60% |
| 2001 | 283 | 58% |
| 2000 | 151 | 67% |
| 1999 | 111 | 62% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | S80 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 15.2% | 17.8% |
| Brakes | 7.7% | 10.7% |
| Suspension | 7.6% | 14.7% |
| Tyres | 6.0% | 6.9% |
| Visibility | 4.7% | 6.4% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 3.6% | 6.6% |
| Steering | 3.5% | 3.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.9% | 5.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
23,600 new Volvo S80 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2021, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2021 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 7 | 141 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 832 | — |
| 2015 | 2,263 | — |
| 2014 | 2,886 | — |
| 2013 | 3,038 | — |
| 2012 | 3,949 | — |
| 2011 | 4,481 | — |
| 2010 | 6,143 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the S80 in at least 12 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The driver airbag may be defective. As a result, fragments of the inflator inside the airbag may project out when the driver airbag is activated, causing injuries to the car occupants. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulati…
The propellant used in the airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed,…
Air bubbles may remain in the engine cooling system when filling coolant. This can cause insufficient cooling and damage the engine, increasing the risk of fire in the engine compartment.
Air bubbles may remain in the engine's cooling system after filling with coolant.Consequently, the cooling of the engine might be impaired, causing the engine to overheat, leading to its damage or even to fire.
The tensile strength of the steel of the safety belt's fixing cable may decrease with time.Consequently, the protective/restraining effect of the safety belts could decrease, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
Excessive carbon deposits could build up in the intake system of the engine.Additionally, the intake valve could leak.Consequently, the temperature of the intake air could rise, causing the engine intake manifold to melt and deform. This could lead to the engi…
Excessive carbon deposits could build up in the intake system of the engine. Consequently, the temperature of the intake air could rise, causing the engine's intake manifold to melt and deform. This could lead to the engine to stop, increasing the risk of acci…
Cracks in the fuel hose may cause fuel to leak into the engine compartment. This may consequently lead to a fire.
The handbrake may under certain conditions release inadvertently.
Early wear on the belt tensioner may lead to the auxiliary belt slipping off the tensioner. Should this happen, it may lead, without any prior warning, to loss of drive resulting in immobility of the vehicle and loss of power steering assistance.
The wiper-arm mechanism may chafe against the brake booster vacuum line. If this occurs, it could lead to a gradual reduction of the power-assisted braking and more effort would need to be applied to the brake pedal than usual to slow the vehicle down. In the …
The wire harness under the driver and/or passenger seat may not have been properly affixed to the seat frame during vehicle assembly. As such, the harness may get caught by the audio and/or back-up camera amplifier (mounted under either of the front seats) whe…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
27 campaigns cover the S80; the latest 12 are below.
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.
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.
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting when necessary.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2014 S60, S80, XC60 and XC70 vehicles equipped with keyless ignition. In the affected vehicles, the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will not perform as intended. As a result, the front windshield wipers might run continuously when the ignition is on. Also, the turn signals, high beams, and headlight switch might not work.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2013 S80 and XC70 vehicles. A software error within the Central Electronic Module (CEM) will result in the "TPMS Service Required" message appearing after approximately 15 minutes of accumulated driving over 25 mph. The error will prevent the Tire Pressure Monitoring System from warning the driver that a tire needs air. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 S80 VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE ERROR MAY PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM DOWNSHIFTING SUCH AS SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR WHEN COASTING.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 S60, XC60, S80 AND XC70 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 16, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 6, 2011. IN THESE VEHICLES, THE WIRE HARNESS UNDER THE FRONT SEATS MAY HAVE NOT BEEN ATTACHED PROPERLY TO THE SEAT FRAME. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE SEATS ARE MOVED TO ADJUST THE SEATING POSITION, THE WIRE HARNESS MAY GET PULLED, CAUSING IT TO DISCONNECT.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 S80 PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 8, 2006, THROUGH MAY 16, 2007. THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR RETURN HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY ROUTED, WHICH CAN RESULT IN INCREASED PRESSURE IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE MAY BURST AT THE STEERING GEAR DUE TO THE INCREASED PRESSURE, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011, S80, S60, XC70 AND XC60 VEHICLES. THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION FOR THE FUEL CUT-OFF FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS TOO SENSITIVE.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 S80, XC70, MODEL YEAR 2011 XC60 AND MODEL YEAR 2010 V70 VEHICLES. THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
NHTSA recalls