Is the 2001 Volvo S80 a bad year?
164 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S80 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Volvo S80 are in line with other S80 years. Speed control stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 S80 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 67,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 64 (39%) | 54k–81k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 39 (24%) | 55k–78k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 21 (13%) | 50k–100k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 17 (10%) | 61k–121k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 17 (10%) | 61k–109k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 7 (4%) | 54k–111k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Equipment | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exhaust | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 67,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 164 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 2 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2021.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2001 Volvo S80: 8
The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed. Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
The batteries on those units may overheat. An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
When exposed to certain environmental conditions (Hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange. If the condition occurs vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes. This resulted in a high number of vehicles going into the limp home mode without need.
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, some electric cooling fans may overheat potentially causing heat damage and, in rare instances, a fire in the engine compartment. A fire in the engine compartment could occur.
Vehicle description: sedans and wagons. The rear outboard seat belt anchorage bolts may have been incorrectly tightened. In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volvo: 114
Repair instructions Volvo sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Volvo S80. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo
The Volvo Certified Pre-Owned (VCPO) warranty on all vehicles certified and retailed on or after 1/1/05…
VIDA will not support Windows 8.1 after June 30th 2017
Washer system layout for identifying leakage points REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ 25153 Technical Service PARTNER :…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Throttle control malfunction
Throttle control malfunction
Neighbouring years
2000 S80: 318 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2002 S80: 42 complaints, keep it.
Every Volvo S80 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · All S80 years side by side
Other Volvo models: Volvo C70 · Volvo S40 · Volvo S60 · Volvo S70 · Volvo V70 · Volvo V70XC · Volvo XC40 · Volvo XC60 · Volvo XC70 · Volvo XC90. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Volvo S80 a bad year?
164 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S80 years. At 67,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volvo S80?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: speed control (64), electrical system (39), engine (21), fuel system (17), transmission and drivetrain (17).
How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo S80 have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-766), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-681), Equipment (NHTSA 10V-566), Fuel system (NHTSA 09V-483) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.