Total Complaints
288 filings
VOLVO S80 · model year
1999 VOLVO S80
288 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999VOLVOS80 carries 288 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 8 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 S80 is vehicle speed control with 49 filings, followed by electrical system (25) and engine and engine cooling (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 1999 S80. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
288
Complaints
7
Crashes
8
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 49 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 25 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 17 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 8 |
| STEERING | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 4 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 4 |
Recent Complaints
20210731ENGINE
The ETM is acting up for no reason available
20201109SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER
Mileage: 128,855
20201109VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER
Mileage: 128,855
20201109WHEELS
WHEN IM DRIVING AND HAVE TO COME TO A SLOW STOP IM HEARING THE MASTER CYLINDER SOUND LIKE ITS RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING LOUDLY EVEN WITH THE APPROPRIATE BRAKE FLUID AND MEASURE IS FILLED WITHIN IT, ALSO THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS HOT AIR DURING THE SUMMER CAUSING THE CAR TO FAIL DURING HOT WEATHER
Mileage: 128,855
20201109AIR BAGS
THERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTING OFF WORK, I HIT FULL GAS AND IT ONLY GAVE ME 3 MPH AND ALSO WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONE NIGHT FROM WORK I FEEL THE WHEEL FEEL LIKE ITS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE OR LOOSENING I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS ROUGH
Mileage: 128,855
20201109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTING OFF WORK, I HIT FULL GAS AND IT ONLY GAVE ME 3 MPH AND ALSO WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONE NIGHT FROM WORK I FEEL THE WHEEL FEEL LIKE ITS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE OR LOOSENING I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS ROUGH
Mileage: 128,855
20201109STEERING
THERES A RECENT RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OF THE 1999 S80 VOLVO THAT WE NEED OUR AIRBAGS REPLACED BECAUSE ITS A HAZARD THAT CAN LEAD UP TO DEATH. ALSO THE ELECTRICITY KEEPS ZAPPING DOWN FROM THE CAR CREATING NO STARTS OR VERY POOR DRIVING, I ALMOST WAS STRANDED BECAUSE THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT DOWN ONE NIGHT I WAS GETTING OFF WORK, I HIT FULL GAS AND IT ONLY GAVE ME 3 MPH AND ALSO WHEN I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONE NIGHT FROM WORK I FEEL THE WHEEL FEEL LIKE ITS COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE OR LOOSENING I DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS BUT IT FEELS AND SOUNDS ROUGH
Mileage: 128,855
20180412ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ECM
20180412VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ECM
20180412SUSPENSION
ECM
20171018FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A MASS AIR FLOW FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DON IMPORTS AUTO SERVICE IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEIGHBOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
20171018FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL ONTO THE GROUND. WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS HAVING A MASS AIR FLOW FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY DON IMPORTS AUTO SERVICE IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A NEIGHBOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WALLACE VOLVO IN STUART, FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
20160131ENGINE
WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND A SWEET ODOR FROM THE VENTS WAS NOTICED WITH A SMOKE . WE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT SUCCESS . ALSO NOTICED AN NO OIL PRESSURE READ ON DASH ONLY WHEN WE WERE NOT IN ACCELERATION. THIS DISAPPEAR WHEN UPON ACCELERATION AND RETURNED WHEN IDLING. WE SERVICED THE OIL FILTER THE FLUIDS PERFORMED A MOTOR FLUSH FIRST AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS AND CONTINUE OF THE CODE RETURNS AFTER PERFORMING A DRIVE CYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. WE ARE CONVINCED THIS IS CAUSED BY THE RECALL #R155. THANK YOU FOR HELP IN REPAIRING THIS ISSUE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL#06V441000. *TR
Mileage: 143,000
20160131VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE WE WERE TRY I G TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE WE WERE TEST DRIVING IT A D CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOPLIGHT SIGNAL AND COULD NOT DOWNSHIFT VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR FROM A STOP AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE. CAUSING IT TO GO I TO A LIMP HOME MODE. SO WHILE WE WERE DRIVING WE NOTICED THAT THE FLOOR WAS SATURATED WITH ANTIFREEZE AND A SWEET ODOR FROM THE VENTS WAS NOTICED WITH A SMOKE . WE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT SUCCESS . ALSO NOTICED AN NO OIL PRESSURE READ ON DASH ONLY WHEN WE WERE NOT IN ACCELERATION. THIS DISAPPEAR WHEN UPON ACCELERATION AND RETURNED WHEN IDLING. WE SERVICED THE OIL FILTER THE FLUIDS PERFORMED A MOTOR FLUSH FIRST AND REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH. WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REPAIRS AND CONTINUE OF THE CODE RETURNS AFTER PERFORMING A DRIVE CYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. WE ARE CONVINCED THIS IS CAUSED BY THE RECALL #R155. THANK YOU FOR HELP IN REPAIRING THIS ISSUE UNDER THE NHTSA RECALL#06V441000. *TR
Mileage: 143,000
20160114VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
20160114ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE ROUGHLY AND THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V441000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED EIGHT YEARS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
20140715STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.
Mileage: 153,000
20140107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I LOSE BRAKE CONTROL! *TR
Mileage: 97,000
20140107ENGINE
I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I LOSE BRAKE CONTROL! *TR
Mileage: 97,000
20140107SERVICE BRAKES
I'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MONTHS NOW. THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND WON'T RESTART! I BEEN TAKING OFF THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT SIT OVER NIGHT, THEN PUTTING CABLES BACK ON TO GET IT TO RESTART! TODAY I DROVE IT FOR A MILE AND PARKED IT AND WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN! MOST OF THE TIME IT SHUTS DOWN WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I LOSE BRAKE CONTROL! *TR
Mileage: 97,000
Compare 1999VOLVOS80 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 VOLVO S80 have?▼
The 1999 VOLVO S80 has 288 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 8 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 VOLVO S80?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 VOLVO S80 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 49 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1999 VOLVO S80 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.