4.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,902 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Volvo S80:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #4

Dec 132006

S80

  • miles
We began reporting problems with hesitation and surging in our 2001 S80 T6 several years ago to the service department at our nearest dealer, sill terhar motors in broomfield, Colorado. They tried replacing a turbo valve and a software upgrade that was available at the time, and we were told that using the highest octane fuel would be necessary in order to prevent the hesitation. The problem continued. Given the inconvenience of the dealers location and that they had not seemed to be able to correct the problem, we had the vehicle serviced for a while at an independent Volvo mechanic. Last fall the emissions and check engine warning lights turned on, and they replaced an oxygen sensor and/or mass air sensor. The warning lights turned on again, and they recommended that we go to the service department at the dealer. We learned of the "extended warranty" Volvo was beginning to offer as a result of the problems in the design of the electronic throttle module. In early December we left the vehicle with the service department at sill terhar, and they did the software upgrade. Within days the vehicle was running horribly and was stalling in intersections. Sill terhar had the vehicle towed and reported that the problem was due to a hose that had not been fastened securely. Due to travel during the holidays and the multiple snowstorms in Colorado in late December, we drove this vehicle in early January after having put only about 100 miles on the vehicle since the time that it was reportedly fully cleared of problems with regard to the ETM, the check engine warning light turned on again. We returned to sill terhar, and they said that the problem was due to a faulty right front oxygen sensor. They were certain that this was unrelated to the ETM problem. That most recent work cost us $400. We picked up the vehicle last Friday evening and, today, only a few days later, the check engine warning light has turned on yet again.

- Boulder, CO, USA

problem #3

Sep 062005

S80 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Well, well - let's see, I bought a 2001 Volvo S-80, T-6 in February 2005 to replace my 1996 740 il BMW - I thought I would get a more economical and safe car. Boy was I wrong! to my disgust I paid almost $20,000 for this used car and within weeks it started acting up. It turned out to be the mass airflow sensor and the throttle body. I finally - 9 months after purchasing the car - have had to get it fixed - over $1200. I, like another person who filed a complaint, was making a left hand turn on a very busy road, and the car died while in the middle of my turn. Luckily I was able to put it in neutral quick enough and restart it before I got hit. The car also surges dangerously at stops. If you don't have your foot on the brake 110%, the car would lurch forward and hit the car in front of it. I'm so disappointed in this car I will never buy another Volvo. So much for looking forward to "one day purchasing this safe car". now that I have dumped lots of money into this car, taken vacation time to pick it up and drop it off, it works okay. The throttle body was replaced about 2 weeks ago, but the car still feels like its not giving me 100% - but at least it isn't stalling or surging. I still have my BMW - thank goodness. I'll be getting rid of this Volvo. Ford bought Volvo and they are responsible for making this unreliable car. I also understand that there a class action lawsuit against Volvo (Ford) - it's time they do the right thing and reimburse customers who have been subjected to this dangerous and poorly designed fuel system.

- Bristow, VA, USA

problem #2

Oct 032005

S80 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,875 miles
Volvo S80 electronic throttle module (ETM) production defect not covered under warranty as the defect occurred just outside of warranty. Dealer cost to correct is outrageous given this is clearly a manufacturer engineering defect within the throttle body mechanism itself.

- York, ME, USA

problem #1

Apr 182005

S80 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,733 miles
Vehicle intermittently stalled/lost power. There were no accident. The mass air flow was replaced.

- Parkesburg, PA, USA