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ProblemsByVinFile / 2005-VOLVO-S80NHTSA data synced 5 days ago
Volvo
2005 Volvo S80 problems
The 2005 Volvo S80 has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 15 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2005 Volvo S80 has 15 NHTSA owner complaints and 6 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
1
Critical
5
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2005 S80?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average
6 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
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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…
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…
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…
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…
Had a problem with your 2005 Volvo S80?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat
An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Fix: 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.
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.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 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.
Should you avoid the 2005 Volvo S80?
The 2005 Volvo S80 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 6 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2005 Volvo S80?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2005 Volvo S80 to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2005 Volvo S80 a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 15 owner complaints. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
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 are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Volvo/S80.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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