2001 Volvo S80: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 164 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is vehicle speed control (33% of complaints); the 2002 and 2003 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 164 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2001 Volvo S80. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V766000 (Air Bags). The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was then notified and informed him that they were unaware of when the parts may have become available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnection.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2021
“On november 9th my wife was driving our 2001 volvo s80 to church. She parked the car but it began to move. It accelerated and she wound up driving into a tree to avoid hitting other cars. She was also worried that children from the school might be around. The car was in park. The engine was off. The emergency break was on. The steering wheel was tight, making it difficult to steer since the engine was off. The church secretary observed the incident. She saw smoke coming out of the back of the car which would indicate the emergency break was on. When she first reached the car with my wife in it she noted that the car was in park.”Owner report · Structure · Nov 2017
“Takata recall- the vehicle become non responsive when pushing the accelerator, the engine started running rough, the cruise control stopped working, the dstc (dynamic stability traction control) failed and the engine coolant temperature stopped reading. The vehicle started stalling everytime I come to a stop. All this started at the same time while I was driving the vehicle. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“I purchased vehicle 8 months ago I now have problems with the front and back suspension. The air turns on its own, the axle has broken, the sunroof opens when it wants to open, check engine light has turned on along with maintenance light, my doors will unlock themselves when I lock them and the alarm will engage, the left window does not work , sometimes I cant unlock the doors have to unlock with my hand. My cruise control does not work, the battery stops working often, the inside lights work sometimes. It is running terrible , idle up and down I know all has something to do with recall please help! *tr”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Dec 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo s80. The contact stated that the rpms began to fluctuate abnormally as the vehicle exhibited signs of possible stalling. The vehicle then activated in limp mode and stopped running. The contact referenced NHTSA recall campaign id number: 06v441000 (vehicle speed control) that dealt with the dirty throttle housing. The recall repair consisted of a software upgrade to correct the failure. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was included in the recall, but the vehicle exceeded the warranty stipulations. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 87,000.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo s80. The contact stated while driving 40 mph the vehicle shifted into limp mode and decelerated after the check engine lamp illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the electronic throttle module was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was previously repaired under recall NHTSA campaign id number: 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 170,200.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jan 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo s80. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v483000 (fuel system; gasoline; delivery; fuel pump) and was told that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall because it had been ten years since the vehicle was manufactured. The recall was issued december 7, 2009. The contact had not experienced a failure. The current mileage was 65,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Dec 2011
“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 *cn”Owner report · Power Train · May 2011
“2001 volvo s 80 t6 ex transmission failure. Based on personal research it appears that the 2001 volvos have a widespread problem with transmission failure. Transmissions were built by gm for volvo and transmission problems across the entire line for that year are extremely high. Is there or can there be an investigation of this problem. It appears to encompass the entire line for that year. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2010
“Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volvo s80. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate before responding to acceleration attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they advised that the throttle module had failed and needed to be cleaned and replaced. The throttle was cleaned but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure after the cleaning so the throttle was not replaced. The failure recurred within a few weeks. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. Updated 09/27/11 *bf updated 09/30/11”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
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.
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.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
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.
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.
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.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS AND WAGONS. THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ANCHORAGE BOLTS AND TIGHTEN TO THE CORRECT TORQUE LEVEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 7, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact S80 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Volvo S80 reliable?
NHTSA has 164 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Volvo S80. The most complained-about area is vehicle speed control (33% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Volvo S80 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 64,141 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Volvo S80 have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.