Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Volvo S80 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD IDLE HIGH AND THEN LOW. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AS WELL. WHEN HE RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH INSTEAD OF GAIN SPEED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH VACUUM IN THE SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES. IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000, BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS TEN YEARS OLD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,348 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THE ABS AND ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TROLLIS SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THAT THE CENTRAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000. UPDATED 1/8/09 *CN THE BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE HEATING SYSTEM, THROTTLE SYSTEMS, ENGINE COOLING FAN AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ALL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE STEERING MADE A NOISE WHEN IT WAS TURNED. THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE STEERING. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN O2 SENSOR. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE INNER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. 01/14/09. *JB
BRAKE BOOSTER LEAKING VACUUM CAUSING THE CAR TO MIS FIRE AND RUN ERRATIC AND DIE IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE BOOSTER QUITS WORKING WHICH MAKE IT A DEATH TRAP AND HARD TO STOP. LOSE OF POWER BRAKES. *TR
1999 S80 STALLED/SURGED AT 20,000 MILES AT THE TIME. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED WHENEVER THE STALLING OCCURRED, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD GO OUT, AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ENGINE WOULD START TO RUN IN AN UNEVEN/HESITATION MODE. THE PROBLEM WAS MUCH WORSE AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE DEALER INSTALLED TWO SOFTWARE UPDATES AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHICH DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. FINALLY, THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED WHEN THE AIRFLOW SENSOR AND THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS REPLACED. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS (15-75 MPH) ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND AFTER AN EXTENDED RIDE FROM 45 TO 90 MINUTES, ALL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED BY IT SELF AND THE ENGINE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, WHO PERFORMED A NHTSA RECALL #06V41000 WHICH ENTAILED UPGRADING THE CURRENT SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED EITHER TIME, THE LURCH/STALL PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER COINCIDED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR FLOW CONTROL AND THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE VEHICLE'S EXTENDED WARRANTY, EVENTHOUGH THOSE REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THE RECALL DID NOT SOLVE THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - *NM
THE INFORMATION PANEL GIVES THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS: BRAKE FAILURE STOP SAFELY ASAP (T2 GOES TO ------) STC SERVICE REQUIRED' WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. WE HAVE CALLED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. HE SAYS TO BRING THE CAR IN WHEN THE MESSAGE IS SHOWING. THE MESSAGE COMES AND GOES AND ISN'T CONSISTENT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHEN IT IS ON. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES SHOULD WORK WITHOUT THE ABS FEATURE. THE DEALER HAS MOVED TO 45 MILES FROM OUR HOUSE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A FALSE WARNING. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING, POWER STEERING WARNING, CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE WARNING MESSAGES ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS WORN OUT AND SENDING A FALSE SIGNAL TO THE WARNING MESSAGE READOUT. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, CHECK ENGINE, AND TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THERE IS A NOISE THAT SOUNDS AS IF THE ABS IS ACTIVATING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY THE DEALERSHIP OR AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *NM
MY 1999 S-80 VOLVO LOST POWER TEMPORARILY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. SEVERAL OF THE CARS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE REQUIRED AND BRAKE SERVICE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY TYPE MESSAGES. THE VOLVO DEALER JUST REPLACE THE ABS MODULE AND SEVERAL COIL PACKETS AND SPARK PLUGS. A COUPLE OF OLD PARTS WERE LEFT IN THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT THE PARTS ARE. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE OWNS A 1999 VOLVO S80. SHE SAYS THAT SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER VOLVO MANUFACTURER. VOLVO SAID THAT BECAUSE SHE BOUGHT IT USED FROM A INDEPENDENT DEALER AND OUT OF WARRANTY THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VEHICLE. SHE SAYS THAT HER ABS BRAKES KEEP FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES WORK AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT. SHE ALSO SAID THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING HOSE BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD LOCK UP. THE PRIOR OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD TOLD THE INDEPENDENT DEALER THAT HE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHILE HE OWNED IT. *TT
AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT OR SIGN WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKES VEHICLE JUMPED FORWARD SEVERAL FEET. ALSO, WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE DECELERATED INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK
WHEN BRAKING PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND SAID THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. PH...*AK
THE LEFT REAR BUSHINGS FAILED CAUSING A RUBBING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP. NLM
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, BRAKES WERE PULSATING, AFTER APPLYING BRAKES AGAIN NOTICED BRAKES WERE FADING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED ROTORS WERE RED HOT. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS.*AK THE GAS TANK HAD A DEFECT THAT WOULD CAUSE A VACUUM LEAK. THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAKES A CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING DUE TO BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE GEAR SHIFTER SWITCH MAKES LOUD CLICKING NOISE. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPAGE AND SHUDDER WHILE UP SHIFTING, CREATING A VEHICLE LOSS OF CONTROL. PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BACKREST CUSHION MAKES NOISE DUE TO LOOSE CLIPS. THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DEVELOPED A WIND NOISE DUE TO DEFECTIVE WINDOW SEALS. DUE TO DESIGN FAULT, THE UPPER TORQUE MOUNT BUSHING CRACKED. THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS BROKE. THE CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR A FULL REFUND OF THE ACTUAL PRICE PAID FOR THE VEHICLE OR FOR IT TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW EQUALLY EQUIPPED VEHICLE. *YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING LIGHTING ON DASH/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND POWER WINDOWS TO BE INOPERABLE.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD BENT BRAKE CALIPERS FAILURE, HEAD LIGHT FAILURE, BROKEN MIRROR SWITCH. THE DOOR REMOTE FAILED. THE CONSUMER WANTS THE DEALER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK AT NO COST. *YH
THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCING CONTINUED FADING WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. *MJS
BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLOWLY GOING LOWER BEFORE BRAKING OCCURRED. ORIGINAL PROBLEM WAS "FIXED" BY SERVICE ON 8/22/00, BUT SERVICE MANAGER STATED CAR NEEDED A NEW MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY ORDERED. PROBLEM BEGAN TO RE-OCCUR ON 9/22/00, AND CAR WAS DELIVERED TO SERVICE ON 9/26/00. AS OF NOW, IT HAS BEEN THERE 3 DAYS TO INSTALL A NEW MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER, ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED AS A 1-HOUR PROCEDURE. SUPPOSEDLY THE REPLACEMENT INSTALLED YESTERDAY, ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AS OF NOW (AFTER 5 P.M., 9/28/00) THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE TO DEFINITELY STATE THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED - - AND THERE MAY BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH VOLVO MASTER BRAKE CYLINDERS (AND THEIR AVAILABILITY).
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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