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Volvo S80Model year report

2008 Volvo S80 Problems

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,250miles, 18 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
19 mpgcombined, 3.2L 6-cyl FWD · 16 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Volvo S80 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2008 Volvo S80. The part named most often is fuel system, with 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and other or unknown (4). 18 of the complaints include a mileage, and 17% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,250 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 243 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the navigational system(global positioning system) and 73 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). 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: Engine cooling (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “While pulling into a parking space from the driving lane of a parking lot, my Volvo had a surge of power that could not be controlled/stopped by applying the brakes. I was barely in motion with my foot on the brake when we (my mother, sister, and I) heard the engine roar and the car surged forward. I applied more pressure to the brake but the car would not stop and went over a wheel stop so I then started pumping the brake. …”

NHTSA complaint #11062721, filed 2018-01, 58,421 miles

Electrical system: “1. In february 2017, while in motion on a city street, alternator failed, vehicle was towed to dealership, alternator was replaced 2. In august 2017, while in motion on city street, message displayed alerting on engine overheat -- slow down speed - then stop immediately. Vehicle was towed to dealership. On diagnostics, was established that only one fan was working on the cooling fan assembly causing overheat. 3. …”

NHTSA complaint #11018754, filed 2017-08, 104,000 miles

Other or unknown: “I was driving on the highway at approx 3pm. My 11 year old son was also a passenger in the vehicle. I was on wide open highway - no storms - no vehicles on the highway near me. All of a sudden, there was a loud noise, sounded like a bomb exploded. I felt sharp pieces of glass and saw glass in the compartment of the vehicle, looked up and the sunroof had shattered. I first attempted to slide the glass all the way back so that the glass would not continue to fall and cut us. Then I realized that was not a good idea so I closed the sunroof back and the closed the cloth roof covering. …”

NHTSA complaint #10748945, filed 2015-08, 80,000 miles

Seat belts: “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 complaint #11099971, filed 2018-06, 69,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

17% of the 18 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 58,000 and 98,000 miles.

0%0–1017%10–250%25–5044%50–7517%75–10022%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (18 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 67,250 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.

’08’10’13’15’174’20’22’26
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 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 AWD3.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic152318$4,550
S80 AWD3.2L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162419$4,350
S80 AWD4.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic152318$4,550
S80 FWD3.2L 6-cyl6-speed automatic162419$4,350

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 2008 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. 243 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 243 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

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Volvo S80 have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2008 Volvo S80 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Volvo S80 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2008 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 2008 Volvo S80 get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Volvo S80 (S80 FWD, 3.2L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Volvo S80 reported?

Among the 18 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,250 miles and the middle half falls between 58,000 and 98,000 miles; 17% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. 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.