VehicleVerdict

2001 Volvo S80 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 218 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 7.8 times the median S80 year — the 2001 model ranks #3 of 18 S80 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

Speed Control leads the complaint categories with 64 reports (29% of the total).

218

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

2

Investigations

10

Crash-involved

2

Fires reported

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2001 compare to other S80 years?

See all S80 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2001 Volvo S80 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Speed Control6429%
Electrical System4018%
Engine2913%
Transmission209%
Fuel System178%
Other94%
Visibility & Wipers73%
Suspension73%
Brakes52%
Steering52%
Seat Belts42%
Lighting42%
Body & Structure21%
Tires & Wheels21%
Airbags21%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2001 Volvo S80 have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V766000AirbagsSeptember 30, 2021 · 259,383 units

Defect

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

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.

20V681000AirbagsNovember 4, 2020 · 54,124 units

Defect

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

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.

10V566000Electrical SystemNovember 8, 2010 · 416 units

Defect

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

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.

09V483000Fuel SystemDecember 18, 2009 · 158,733 units

Defect

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

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.

07E023000BrakesMarch 29, 2007 · 13,128 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

06V441000Speed ControlNovember 15, 2006 · 170,099 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF VEHICLES GOING INTO THE LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.

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.

04V451000EngineSeptember 13, 2004 · 149,799 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE COOLING FAN. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

01V100000Seat BeltsMarch 26, 2001 · 3,276 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS AND WAGONS. THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BOLTS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH, I APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP ABOUT 30-35 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND) AND LAUNCHED FORWARD AND STRUCK THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER AND RESULTED IN A LAWSUIT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · March 5, 2006 · crash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING AND SAW SMOKE. THE VEHICLE HAD NO ACCELERATION, POWER STEERING, OR BRAKE FUNCTION. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 3, 2007 · fire

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE EMISSION SERVICE LIGHT KEPT TURNING ON, THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF PAST PROBLEMS REGARDING THE BILL. THE CONTACT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 3, 2007 · crash

INITIALLY LACK OF ACCELERATION AND SPUTTERING ON ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND EMISSION SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE. CODES RESET. THEN PROBLEM RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER. DEALER PROVIDED ETM SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AFTER DOWNLOAD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, WEAK…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 7, 2006

I OWN A 2001 VOLVO S 80. IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. HAD IT TOWED TO VOLVO AND REPAIRED. NEED A NEW THROTTLE BODY AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND WAS TOLD OFF THE RECORD THAT THIS PART FAILURE HAS BEEN MUCH MORE COMMON THAN IT SHOULD BE. I AM…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · September 23, 2005

2001 Volvo S80 — common questions

Is the 2001 Volvo S80 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 218 complaints put the 2001 model at #3 of 18 S80 years. It is one of the S80 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2001 S80 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are speed control (64 complaints), electrical system (40 complaints), engine (29 complaints).

Does the 2001 Volvo S80 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2001 Volvo S80. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2001 Volvo S80 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 2 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Volvo S80 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the S80 years to avoid are 2000, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2002. The cleanest record among S80 years belongs to 2014.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.