RoadVitals

2008 Volvo S80

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
25
Latest Jul 3, 2025
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Latest Jun 30, 2020
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 25 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Volvo S80, most frequently naming the fuel system, electrical and visibility categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 243 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system721.9%
  • Electrical412.5%
  • Visibility412.5%
  • Seat belts412.5%
  • Engine39.4%
  • Body & structure39.4%
  • Airbags26.3%
  • Driver assistance26.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
20V378000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Jun 30, 2020
308,260 units potentially affected
The defect: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.
The risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.
Volvo Car USA LLCManufacturer number R10029View on NHTSA.gov
10V566000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Nov 8, 2010
416 units potentially affected
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The remedy: 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 CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R231View on NHTSA.gov
10V335000

TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

Jul 22, 2010
3,635 units potentially affected
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 S80 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL AND A PAGE IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL CONTAIN INCORRECT MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE INFLATION PRESSURE AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) SOFTWARE HAS AN INCORRECT TRIGGER LEVEL.
The risk: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIRED SAFETY STANDARDS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE VEHICLES WITH A NEW TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL, OWNER'S MANUAL LABEL AND TPMS SOFTWARE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552 OR [email protected] .
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R228View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 25
AirbagsFuel systemSeat belts
Filed Jul 3, 2025

I bought this car from elderly people. After I bought it and drove, there's lots of thing not according to safety standard? I asked them (seller) but they don't have any answer, due to their age. So, since last Tuesday, I am driving as it is. Hardly I put 250 miles so far. There's belt sign, Air bag sign, and Low tire air sign. All signs are showing in my dashboard and stays as long as car is on. So, I am scared to death to drive this car, car itself in a mint condition and it's got only 131K miles. Still there's is more life left on this car. I am also senior citizen and retired person. So, I need help to get these fixed asap please.

NHTSA ID
11671194
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Body & structure
Filed Apr 14, 2022

Front subframe has multiple holes due to excessive engine heat. The front subframe rots prematurely and causes paint to flake off so rust forms.

NHTSA ID
11460775
Incident
Apr 14, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Mar 1, 2022

Sub frame cracking due to rust.

NHTSA ID
11454606
Incident
Mar 1, 2022
Suspension
Filed Oct 14, 2021

The subframe is rotting prematurely and this issue is only present on the v8 equipped models. Cars in very good shape but the subframe is almost rotted totally through above the exhaust. Due to the poor layout of the exhaust which causes the paint on the welds to flake off and then the subframe begins to rust from the inside out.

NHTSA ID
11436848
Incident
Oct 14, 2021
Filed Jul 9, 2021

The front windshield is leaking, such that the driver's side front and rear floors flood, even with a light rain. Enough water comes in that the padding, carpet, floor mat and rubber floors mat are all under water. When it rains, we see water droplets and water trails on the inside of the windshield. The windshield is original and has never been replaced. We've never had a car that leaked like this and don't expect that cars should turn into small swimming pools inside when it rains.

NHTSA ID
11424126
Incident
May 1, 2021
Filed Oct 23, 2020

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CLOSED SUNROOF SHATTERED. NO DEBRIS CAME FROM VEHICLES AHEAD. THE VEHICLES WERE MORE THAN 500 FEET AHEAD, AND I WAS LOOKING AHEAD ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT SHATTERED. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11365977
Incident
Oct 19, 2020
Mileage
91,689 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 5, 2018

AFTER STARTING MY CAR I TRIED TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT BUT IT WOULD NOT EXTEND OUT SO I COULD NOT PUT IT ON. THIS HAPPENED LAST NIGHT AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS TODAY.

NHTSA ID
11099971
Incident
Jun 4, 2018
Mileage
69,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 16, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO S80. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN EXTREMELY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL EMITTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION AND PASSED THE INSPECTION, BUT THE MECHANIC ALSO INDICATED TO CHECK THE FUEL SYSTEM DUE TO A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE SERVICED BY A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE), BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11063128
Incident
Jan 13, 2018

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

35526.1.8

ENGINE

This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure
 Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.

37809.1.1

This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval.
 Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section

19245

This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.

8501

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session:
 •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V.
 •Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a VOE (Volvo OBD to Ethernet) adapter and perform a NEW vehicle readout.

S10303

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle.
 The corrective action is to download SP Software.
 S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.

S10303

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle.
 The corrective action is to download SP Software.
 S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo S80 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016620—
2015720—
2014110—
2013830—
2012830—
2011540—
2010275052.9
2009165048.9
2008Viewing257054.2
2007245040.7
2006124046.2
2005156053.5
2004505048.0
2003266051.1
2002425047.9
20011648256.3
20003185257.7
19991995256.3
1993000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.