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ProblemsByVin File / 2005-VOLVO-S80
2005 · Volvo

Volvo S80 problems

2 safety recalls. 15 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
8.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
2
Severe
0
Moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2005 S80 · airbags
When I was closing the passenger door, it did not close tight. So I opened it again and shut it a bit harder. When I shut it harder, the passenger side seat airbag and the top passenger side airbag deployed. If I had been sitting inside the car at the time, I could have been…
10/08/2021 · NHTSA ODI #11436095.0
2005 S80 · suspension Crash
1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: PURCHASED NEW VOLVO S80 CAR ON 9/3/2005 WITH 813 MILES, DROVE IT HOME. NO INFORMATION WAS GIVEN ON THE 813 MILES ALREADY ON THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY THERE WERE OIL PUDDLES UNDERNEATH CAR AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME UNDERNEATH…
09/27/2005 · NHTSA ODI #10137856.0
2005 S80 · cruise control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN VEHICLE WAS PARK THE ENGINE ACCELERATED OWN ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE…
08/06/2014 · NHTSA ODI #10619365.0
2005 S80 · engine Fire
B+ BATTERY CABLE AT STARTER SOLENOID SHORTED TO STARTER CASE AND GROUNDED. CAUSING A FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. ENGINE WENT OFF, LIGHTS WENT OUT ALL IN AN INSTANT. EMERGENCY FLASHERS WERE INOPERATIVE. PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND…
07/27/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10415427.0

Active recalls showing 2 of 2

severe NHTSA 09V483000 18/12/2009

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

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.

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 05V529000 17/11/2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID

SMOKE MAY APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING, ELECTRICAL POWER COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN THE WARNING LAMPS BEING DEACTIVATED. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Common questions

Is the 2005 Volvo S80 reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Volvo S80 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2005 Volvo S80?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

How do I check if my Volvo S80 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2005 Volvo S80?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 15 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 20 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Volvo. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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