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Light NHTSA footprint — 16 owner complaints and 5 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2009 Volvo S80 has 16 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is body at 4 complaints, typically surfacing around 116,900 miles (~$1,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 S80 | 12 | 4 |
| 2007 S80 | 24 | 5 |
| 2008 S80 | 25 | 7 |
| 2009 S80 (this page) | 16 | 5 |
| 2010 S80 | 27 | 5 |
| 2011 S80 | 5 | 4 |
| 2012 S80 | 8 | 3 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
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.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
Run the VIN from the listing — 5 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is body (~$1,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
My car is extremely clean and well taken care of. But just like every single Volvo s80, specifically the v8 model there is a rust hole in the subframe. This is because Volvo put the exhaust too close to the subframe and the heat from the v8 eats away the paint and causes it to…
The headlight system malfunctioned. It is available for inspection upon request. The low beam failure error occurred, which led to an inspection of the headlight system. The wiring inside the headlight assembly failed. The insulation on bulb wires is crumbling everywhere and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Volvo s80. The contact stated that the cooling fan failed and the engine overheating message displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the cooling fan was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that…
During the spring of 2013, my 2009 cpo Volvo s80 experienced two flat tires within one week due to faulty hex nuts (I.e., hex nuts broke off causing sudden loss of air pressure) that hold the tire valve stem to the wheel (Volvo incident #130404-000103). Volvo recognized the…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
If the vehicle stalls in certain conditions, a crash could occur.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 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.
The 2009 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 7.8/10 — above the segment average; 5 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the body first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 4 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 116,900 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 16 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is body. Typical failure occurs around 116,900 miles. 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.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 4 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 116,900 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 116,900 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
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.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 16 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, 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.