2004 Volvo S80 Owner Complaints

Both of the key fobs I have are broken in that the key won't lock straight out or stay folded into the fob. The weight of the plastic fob alone frequently causes the key to twist backwards if the road is bumpy or uneven, which kills the engine and makes it extremely difficult to steer to safety without power steering. The first time this happened to me I was traveling at 55 mph on a crowded highway but fortunately I was in the rightmost lane, not in a curve, and was approaching an area where I could pull over to safety. I have had to duct tape both keys in the open position to prevent this. The situation is much worse if additional keys or other weight is added to the ring. It is possible to insert a broken key in a way that causes the weight of the fob to hang away from the driver but large road bumps or accidental interference from the driver or passengers can cause it to flip backwards anyway. These incidents are alarming and confusing for the driver, particularly the first time, and could easily cause an accident depending on the conditions. I am not the only person who has experienced this issue, and it will become even more common as these vehicles age.

NHTSA ID

11499690

Incident

Feb 8, 2022

ON 11/17/2020 WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP DECAL FOR MY CAR AND I GOT A MESSAGE THAT READ A CHECK AIRBAGS I DIDN'T HAVE ANY READING ON MY GAGES TURN SIGNAL FOR RIGHT TURN STAY LIT UP NOT BRINKING JUST ON , WHEN I STOPPED AND WENT IN BUILDING TO GET DECAL CAME BACK TO CAR STARTED IT MY GAGES CAME BACK WHICH WAS GLAD THEY WERE WORKING BUT STILL HAD MESSAGE ABOUT AIRBAGS

NHTSA ID

11375302

Incident

Nov 17, 2020

AFTER NOTICING A VERY ACUTE SMELL OF GAS I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISE THAT I HAD A FUEL LEAK IN MY 2004 VOLVO S 80 . THATS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11325903

Incident

May 23, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

STRONG ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE OF CAR. RECALL ON SIMILIAR CARS BUT NOT IN THIS AREA. KNOWN ISSUE BY VOLVO BUT WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO COST AS IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH CAR DOES NOT HAVE 150000 MILES ON. FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE FOR ALL CARS OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE BUT OFFER LITTLE IF ANY HELP.

NHTSA ID

11000604

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE GARAGE. UPON CHECKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A FUEL LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10979273

Incident

Mar 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10978737

Incident

Mar 23, 2017

Mileage

19,000 mi

THE CAR IS PUTTING FORTH A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BUT WAS PUT DOWN TO HAVING JUST FILLED THE TANK. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SMELL GAS 20 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR. WE ARE NOT ALLOWING OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT IS AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER S80 IN 2015 WHICH ALSO WASN'T COVERED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS NOT SOLD IN A "HOT CLIMATE". WITH THAT CAR THE FUEL PUMP (WITH DEFECTIVE FLANGE) WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT HEAT IS THE PROBLEM (RATHER THE DEFECTIVE FLANGE) THE TEMPERATURES IN OUR AREA RANGES FROM 15 IN WINTER TO LOW 100S IN THE SUMMER. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH VOLVO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND IT CLEARLY MAKES DRIVING THE CAR DANGEROUS IF NOT DEADLY. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM 09V483000 - VOLVO RECALL #R220.

NHTSA ID

10953649

Incident

Jan 28, 2017

Mileage

114,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE WAS HANGING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED TWO OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTROL ARM KEPT FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10903780

Incident

Sep 6, 2016

Mileage

157,000 mi

PURCHASED A 2004 VOLVO S80 IN "MINT CONDITION" FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP (GOOD REPUTATION).THREE (3) MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED THE FAMOUS VOLVO "SLIP, SLIDE, AWAY".. IT RIDES LIKE A ROCK, I FELL EVERY CRACK, GRAIN OF SAND IN THE ROAD. I REPLACED THE STRUTS, COIL SPRINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER SUSPENSIONS PARTS BUT TO NO AVAIL IMPROVED ITS CONDITION. EVERY WEEK OR SO I GET THE "STOP SAFELY COOLANT LEVEL LOW" WARNING ON MY DASH...KEEP IN MIND THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE ISSUES SINCE THE CONDITIONS DIDN'T APPEARED UNTIL 3 MONTHS/50000 MILES AFTER THE PURCHASE. STEERING HAS SOME PLAY AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY RECOVERING THE DIRECTIONAL PATH SLIGHTLY. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I INSTALLED ALL NEW TIRES (MICHELINS) PURCHASED A LIFETIME WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WHICH WAS DONE DURING NEW TIRE INSTALL AND RECENTLY RE-CHECKED. I DO 90% OF THE WORK MYSELF; I'M AN ENGINEER BY TRADE WITH 40 YEARS OF MECHANICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE. CHECKED THE RECALL DATABASE BY VIN (SAFERCAR.GOV) AND VARIOUS OTHER SITES AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE VOLVO SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING FOR SUCH A WELL-KNOWN EUROPEAN CAR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10896930

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

101,000 mi

SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA, I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE GAS CAP AND REPLACED IT. THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGER AND STRONGER, TO THE POINT I COULD NOT KEEP IT PARKED IN MY GARAGE IN MY TOWNHOME DUE TO THE SMELL OF GAS WHICH WOULD PERMEATE THE ENTIRE HOUSE. I ALSO NOTICED DURING THIS TIME A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN GAS MILEAGE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE AUTO SHOP FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND SHOWED ME THE BACK OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS COVERED IN GAS. DUE TO THE EXTREME RISK, THE AUTO SHOP STATED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A 300-MILE TRIP. THE SHOP DID FIND THE RECALL: 09V483000 AND CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I REQUESTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP BE GIVEN TO ME SO THAT I COULD REVIEW THE RECALL. I THEN REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ONLINE, SPECIFICALLY THE PICTURES OF THE PUMPS WHICH WERE COVERED VS. THE PUMP WHICH WAS BAD. MY PUMP MATCHES EXACTLY TO THE "BAD" PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS TO THE POINT OF COATING THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK INDICATES THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COVERED INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10888036

Incident

Dec 23, 2014

Mileage

98,635 mi

FUEL SMELL FROM REAR OF THE CAR, HARD TO START.

NHTSA ID

10837874

Incident

Dec 20, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

BACK IN 2010 UNDER THE RECALL ADV ,I TOOK MY CAR IN TO MY VOLVO DEALER FOR THE RECALL FOR FUEL SMELL AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK . THE CAR THEN HAD AROUND 90.000 MILES OR SO, NOW I TAKE MY CAR BACK WITH STRONG FUEL SMELL IN 2015 170.000 MILES AND I REPORTED TO VOLVO HEAD QUARTERS AND THEY TELL THEY WILL COVER THE PUMP ONLY AND NOT THE LABOR TO TUNE OF 550.00 BECAUSE THE CAR HAS OVER 150000 MILES ON IT AND IS PAST THE RECALL EXTENDED WARRINTY , BUT I THOUGHT UNDER RECALL P29075 THAT VOLVO IS LIA FOR FREE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN. VOLVO TOLD ME IT IS ABOUT 4 HRS LABOR WHEN THERE OWN RECALL CALLS FOR .09 HRS LABOR. SO IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. I WILL FIX IT MY SELF TO THE TUNE OF A PUMP (BOCSH PUMP 155.00 )AND MY OWN LABOR.THANKS FOR NOTHING VOLVO I GUESS IF I WOULD OF BURNT UP IN THIS CAR VOLVO WOULDN'T BE LIA ? MY ATT SURE THINKS THEY WOULD OF BEEN. NEVER WILL BUY A VOLVO AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10820834

Incident

Jan 10, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

BASED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V029000> THE CONTROL ARMS ARE GRINDING AS I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE LOST STABILIZATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS LED TO COMPLAINANTS AND PRESENTS A DANGER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

10806403

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

121,000 mi

THERE WAS A RECALL REGRDING FUEL SMELL/FUEL PUMP AND/OR FUEL SEAL PROBLEM IN 2010..MY CAR IS NOT REGERSTED IN THE DATA BASE FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP. HOW DO I GET A DEALER VOCHER TO TAKE OF THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10806349

Incident

Oct 5, 2015

Mileage

121,000 mi

CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AND EVENTUALLY OVERHEATED AND RUINED ENGINE LATER MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERMOSTAT WASNT WORKING PROPERLY SO NO INDICATION AS TO VEHICLE TEMPURATURE. CAR WAS ON FREEWAY AND STOPPED COMING OFF FREEWAY. HEAD GASKET BLEW ALSO AS WELL AS BAD TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ID

10789003

Incident

Oct 22, 2015

Mileage

125,000 mi

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. ...UPDATED 02/04/16 *B THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT FOR 3-4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT 03/15/18 *JB

NHTSA ID

10765198

Incident

Aug 2, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

VEHICLE HAS BEEN HESITANT, SPUTTERING AND SURGING WHEN STOPPED OR INCREASING SPEED. WHEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE SURGES AND MOVES. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, AS WE CAN HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE ETM HAS BEEN CLEANED BY COLLINS AUTO IN SC. THEY TOLD US THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THERE IS BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THIS IS DUE TO THE OIL CHANGE INTERVAL (7500 MILES) WHICH IS RECOMMENDED BY VOLVO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A PART DEFECT WHICH VOLVO SHOULD FIX AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712134

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

Mileage

123,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA ID

10692245

Incident

Aug 30, 2014

Mileage

122,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN THE CABIN AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING FAILURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE).THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10654536

Incident

Nov 10, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

BROKEN KEY CAN CAUSE VEHICLE KEY SWITCH TO TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING IS MY INTERACTION WITH VOLVO, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM SINCE MARCH. ADVISE HOW AND I WILL SEND YOU A PICTURE OF THIS CONDITION. CUSTOMERCARE WEB FORM - 3/19/2014 7:08 PM RESPONSE BY EMAIL ([XXX]) (03/20/2014 09:09 AM) DEAR DICK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL. YOUR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AND I FORWARDED TO OUR HEADQUARTERS IN SWEDEN. OF COURSE THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THIS INFORMATION, BUT I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE. [XXX] VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE 1-800-458-1552 X [XXX] AUTO-RESPONSE BY (ADMINISTRATOR) (03/19/2014 08:08 PM) THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. OUR TEAM IS LOOKING INTO YOUR EMAIL RIGHT NOW AND WILL RESPOND TO YOU WITHIN 24 HOURS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK TO A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CALL US DURING OUR REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS LISTED BELOW. PLEASE REFER TO THIS ID#140319-000156. THIS WILL HELP US QUICKLY LOCATE AND REVIEW YOUR CORRESPONDENCE. CUSTOMER BY CSS WEB ([XXX]) (03/19/2014 08:08 PM) AFTER THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ZIPPING ALONG THE INTERSTATE I RESOLVED TO FIGURE OUT WHY AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING CONDITION WOULD CAUSE IT TO DO SO. I HAVE A NUMBER OF KEYS ON THE KEYRING AND THE SPRING WHICH NORMALLY HOLDS THE KEY OUT STRAIGHT FROM ITS HOLDER IS BROKEN. WHEN THE KEY/HOLDER IS INSERTED BACK SIDE UP AND THEN ROTATED TO THE RUN POSITION THE BODY OF THE HOLDER EVENTUALLY FOLDS HALF WAY IN AGAINST THE COLUMN, WITH THE OTHER KEYS ON THE RING PULLING IT DOWNWARDS. AFTER ENOUGH BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE DOWNWARD FORCE ROTATES THE KEY OUT OF THE RUN POSITION. IF THE KEY/HOLDER IS INSERTED BUTTONS SIDE UP THIS DOES NOT OCCUR. THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SCENARIO BEFORE THE GM LITIGATORS GET WIND OF IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10639952

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

TRANSMISSION HAS ERRATIC SHIFTING DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN WAS TOLD BY VOLVO MECHANIC THAT TRANSMISSION WAS BROUGHT UP IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BECAUSE TRANSMISSION IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR CARS HORSE POWER. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631852

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

SWITCHBLADE/SMARTKEY DESIGN CONTINUALLY SHUTS OFF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC WHEN OTHER KEYS ARE ON THE RING. UNSAFE! *JS

NHTSA ID

10608485

Incident

Jun 12, 2014

Mileage

112,002 mi

THIS MODEL VOLVO USES A SWITCHBLADE KEY, AND DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE KEY, IT DOES NOT LOCK IN THE EXTENDED POSITION WHEN THE KEY IS OPENED. THE LARGE PLASTIC KEY HANDLE DANGLES DOWN BELOW THE IGNITION WHEN DRIVING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THE DRIVER'S KNEE BUMPED THE KEY FOB AND TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS LOCAL ROAD. BOTH KEYS THAT WERE PROVIDED WITH THE CAR ARE AFFECTED THE SAME WAY. THIS IS EXCEEDINGLY DANGEROUS IN WHAT IS OTHERWISE A VERY SAFE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596869

Incident

Nov 15, 2013

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS SHE STOPPED DRIVING. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 5 MILES TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING FLANGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V483000 AND VOLVO'S SAFETY RECALL NUMBER R220. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10564777

Incident

Feb 14, 2014

THE FUEL PUMP IT CRACKS FROM THE TOP OFF THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE A GAS COMES FROM THE TOP OFF THE FUEL PUMP AND LEAK ALOT OFF GAS THE PUMP IS NOT DAMAGE JUST THE TOP OFF THE LANGE OFF THE PUMP IT CRACKS AND LEAKS GAS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10552751

Incident

Nov 13, 2013

Mileage

205,114 mi