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Volvo S80Model year report

2001 Volvo S80 Problems

Complaints
164filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
63,294miles, 125 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
20 mpgcombined, 2.9L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Volvo S80 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Most complaints about this model year center on the electronic throttle module (ETM), which owners describe as failing suddenly and leaving the car with little or no acceleration, often with a "Reduced Performance" message. A second common theme is transmission trouble and, less often, engine stalling traced to sensors or software. Reports span a wide mileage range, from well under 30,000 miles to over 150,000.

  1. Vehicle speed control

    Electronic throttle module failure / loss of power

    • 97 complaints (59%)
    • median 63,008 mi at 4.8 yrs old (84 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 31 quotes)
    • filed 2003–2020

    Owners describe the car losing acceleration with little warning, sometimes at highway speed, and an instrument message reading reduced performance. Some report surging or lurching at idle and at stoplights, and a few describe the engine shutting off entirely. Dealers commonly replaced the electronic throttle module, in some cases after cleaning the throttle body or reloading software first, and owners often paid for the work themselves once the warranty had expired. Mostly reported between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with some as low as 13,000 miles.

    Recall 06V441000

    What to check: Ask whether the throttle module has been replaced or updated and whether any software update was applied. On a test drive, watch for uneven idle, hesitation, or a reduced-performance message.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I purchased my Volvo S80 not even 1 year ago and I am experiencing problems with my car losing acceleration in traffic and idling wildly. The problem has become so severe that at one point at a complete stop, my car surged forward and hit the car in front of me! Thank goodness there was no damage or injuries to myself or to the car involved. I took the vehicle to the dealership and was informed the problem lies with the throttle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10175988, filed 2006-12, 50,000 miles

    “The throttle control module on my 2001 Volvo S80 went bad and the car immediately powered down and was not drivable. I was going up a hill on a road without a shoulder and with a blind curve and had to sit there for several minutes before I could start the car again and proceed. This placed my wife and myself in a very dangerous position. My understanding from the dealer is that this could have happened on the interstate and would have left the car powerless as well. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10088622, filed 2004-08, 53,850 miles
  2. Electrical system

    Engine stalling and no-restart

    • 84 complaints (51%)
    • median 63,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (71 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $951 (median of 25 quotes)
    • filed 2002–2020

    Complaints describe the engine cutting out while driving or while coming to a stop, sometimes with no warning lights and sometimes with a check engine light. Owners report a dealer replacing the electronic throttle module, mass airflow sensor, or engine control module, and in some cases a software download was done first. Several describe the problem returning after a repair. Reported from about 30,000 to 100,000 miles, often in traffic or at stops.

    Recall 06V4410002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records showing any throttle, airflow sensor, or control module work. Note whether the car restarts reliably after a stall and whether any warning lamps stay on.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I experienced a sudden loss of engine power while driving on the interstate. At approximately 60 MPH, my Volvo 2001 S80 sedan experienced a sudden loss of power with an instrument indication of reduced power . The problem recurred twice before I was forced to take the car to a Volvo dealer for diagnosis and repair. The dealership advised me that the auto required a major repair, for which I incurred a bill of $1142.68. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10134858, filed 2005-08, 64,281 miles

    “Nhtsa action number : pe05041 while driving through a busy intersection of a local highway the car died. I pushed the car off into a local oil change/ lube garage. They manage to get it started although it was idling roughly. I brought it to Volvo of fort washington to have the etm replaced at a charge of over $600. Volvo of north america said that they don't believe they are responsible although many have had the same issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10140275, filed 2005-10, 59,500 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission failure and harsh shifting

    • 10 complaints (6%)
    • median 78,936 mi at 5.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2003–2011

    Owners report transmission failure, sometimes with the transmission warning lamp on and the car refusing to shift into gear, and in some cases a full replacement. Others describe slipping or hesitation on shifts alongside engine surging. Repair estimates reported by owners ranged from a solenoid and transmission replacement to a complete unit swap. Reported from around 36,000 miles up to roughly 186,000 miles, with several cases near 60,000 to 80,000 miles.

    What to check: Check the transmission fluid condition and history, and drive through several gear changes including a cold start. Ask whether the transmission has been replaced or serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since buying my 2001 Volvo S80 2.9, I have had to have the transmission replaced two times within a 16 month period. The first time was june 2002 and the second time was november 2003.”

    NHTSA complaint #10047582, filed 2003-11, 36,900 miles

    “Bought this Volvo brand new, have kept up with all service work. At 64,000 the transmission failed without any warning. Cost $4,000 to replace. The Volvo dealership where I purchased this car refused to respond in anyway. The warranty had expired at 50,000. I felt that the dealer should have responded in some way. They told me they went to the Volvo rep., but I have no way of knowing whether they did or not. This is my fifth Volvo, purchased four from this dealer. This will be my last. They were uncooperative and unresponsive. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10091074, filed 2004-09, 64,282 miles

Buying note. Service history matters more than mileage here: ask specifically about throttle module, airflow sensor, and transmission work, and check for any open air bag inflator recall by VIN. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the throttle response, transmission shifts, and cooling system is worthwhile on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 164 consumer complaints for the 2001 Volvo S80. 125 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 63,294 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 174 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Equipment (3), Seat belts (3), Air bags (2), Engine (2), Body and structure (2), Tires (2), Electronic stability control (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “Takata recall- the vehicle become non responsive when pushing the accelerator, the engine started running rough, the cruise control stopped working, the dstc (dynamic stability traction control) failed and the engine coolant temperature stopped reading. The vehicle started stalling everytime I come to a stop. All this started at the same time while I was driving the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10939138, filed 2017-01, 143,000 miles

Electrical system: “Takata recall frist I called Volvo to inquire about recalls referening to the cooling system and the fuel pump the first lady I spoke with informed me this problem was under recalls and to take my car to get it serviced at the nearest dealer after taking my car to the dealer at 7:15am 4hours later after I called them first they now are saying that there isn't anything they can do with my car and they do not know who told me that false information. …”

NHTSA complaint #11034522, filed 2017-10, 150 miles

Engine cooling: “I was driving my vlolvo S80 on 07/10/2005 on the highway when it suddenly lost power. I could barely operate it over 30 miles an hour. I got stopped by a state policeman and got ticket for operating under 30 miles/hour and negligent operation. I'm schefuled for an appeal hearing. Throttle was replaced by a dealesrhip, nut they said that it can happen again, since it's the same design part.”

NHTSA complaint #10133744, filed 2005-08, 52,000 miles

Fuel system: “I own a 2001 Volvo s 80. It died on the highway in the middle of busy rush hour traffic. Had it towed to Volvo and repaired. Need a new throttle body and mass air flow sensor. Very expensive repair and was told off the record that this part failure has been much more common than it should be. I am notifying you so that you will look into manner. Seems this should be a recall item. Thank you.”

NHTSA complaint #10137697, filed 2005-09, 57,642 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

21% of the 125 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 52,000 and 81,067 miles.

2%0–102%10–2517%25–5045%50–7522%75–1008%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (125 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 63,294 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’02’0483’06’08’10’12’17’21
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Volvo S80. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
S80 · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 Volvo S80 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
S80/S80 Executive FWD2.8L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172419$4,350
S80/S80 Executive FWD2.9L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2001 Volvo S80 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 174 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 174 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo S80

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2016659,8002—29—Not enough data
2015736,0002—29—Not enough data
2013851,0003—22—Not enough data
2012851,2823—23—Not enough data
2011525,0004—22—Not enough data
20102747,9005—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
20091670,0005—20—Falling
20082667,2507—19Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20072490,0005—19—Falling
20061260,5003—22—Not enough data
200515102,0005—22—Falling
20045099,0004—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20032650,7535—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200242104,4454—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200116463,2947—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200031878,0004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199919981,6564—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Volvo S80 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volvo S80?

Most complaints about this model year center on the electronic throttle module (ETM), which owners describe as failing suddenly and leaving the car with little or no acceleration, often with a "Reduced Performance" message. The issues reported most often: Electronic throttle module failure / loss of power; Engine stalling and no-restart; Transmission failure and harsh shifting.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Volvo S80 have?

NHTSA recorded 164 consumer complaints for the 2001 Volvo S80 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Volvo S80 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 64 complaints (39% of the total), followed by electrical system with 39.

Has the 2001 Volvo S80 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 Volvo S80 get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Volvo S80 (S80/S80 Executive, 2.9L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Volvo S80 reported?

Among the 125 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 63,294 miles and the middle half falls between 52,000 and 81,067 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.