Volvo S80 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

WHILE DRIVING ALONE IN THE RAIN FROM SPOTSYLVANIA, VA TO CLEMSON, SC TO ATTEND MY DAUGHTER'S NURSING WHITE COAT CEREMONY, OUR 2016 S80 SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED ON I-85 SOUTH NEAR KANNAPOLIS, NC FOR NO REASON. THE TIME OF INCIDENT WAS AROUND 11:15AM. IT HAD BEEN RAINING AND TRAFFIC WAS STOP AND GO ON I-85 WITH SPEEDS ABOUT 30-35MPH WHEN THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED, SENDING PIECES OF THE SHATTERED GLASS FLYING OFF BEHIND MY CAR WITH SMALLER SHARDS OF GLASS COMING DOWN THROUGH THE INSIDE SUNROOF RETRACTABLE VENT WITH DROPS OF RAIN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO THE FAR RIGHT LANE TO GET OFF HWY TO ACCESS THE DAMAGE AND FIND SOME COVER AS IT WAS RAINING AND COMING INSIDE SUNROOF. I HAD NO IDEA WHERE I WAS OR WHAT STATE I WAS IN UNTIL I PULLED OFF THE EXIT AND IMMEDIATELY FOUND A SHELL GAS STATION WHICH ALSO HAD AMPLE ROOF COVER. I GOT OUT AND SAW THAT MORE THAN HALF OF OUR SUNROOF WAS MISSING AND THERE WERE TINY PIECES OF GLASS LAYING ON TOP OF THE INSIDE PART OF SUNROOF AND ALONG THE BACK PART OF THE ROOF AND TRUNK. I CALLED OUR AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA, AND THEY TOOK CAR OF THE REST.

Most concerning: Front driver door latch quit working while driving leaving door to swing open during traffic. This is a known issue that led to recalls of other Volvo models (2011 - 2017), but the S80 was excluded. It was a terrifying ordeal that has now happened twice (during freezing conditions here in Colorado). Less concerning to me but a problem: The blindspot monitoring system malfunctions and keeps on blinking even when there's nothing in the blindspot - which betrays the reason it exists.

Car has 110000 miles on it and is using a quart of oil every 1000 miles, car has been maintained to Volvo specifications it's entire life. This is excessive oil consumption. Oil level low warning cones in every 1000 miles and a quart is needed to satisfy it

MY CAR HAS THE START/STOP FUNCTION. IT HAS A BUTTON TO MANUALLY DEACTIVATE THE START/STOP SYSTEM BUT IT HAS TO BE PUSHED EVERY TIME THE CAR IS RESTARTED. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND DECIDED TO STOP AT A CONVENIENCE STORE TO GET A PEPSI. HE PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE. HE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE HADN'T PRESSED THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND WHEN HE PARKED THE CAR, IT SHUT OFF. HE'D BEEN DRIVING IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND DIDN'T REALIZE THE START/STOP HAD STOPPED THE ENGINE. HE THOUGHT HE'D TURNED THE CAR OFF. WELL, HE OPENED THE DOOR AND WHEN HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD CAUSING IT TO JUMP THE CONCRETE PARKING BUMPER. FORTUNATELY THE ONLY DAMAGE IT CAUSED WAS TO THE PLASTIC BELLY PAN UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE. BUT SOMEONE IN A 4X4 PICKUP HAD TO WINCH MY CAR BACKWARDS TO GET IT OFF THE PARKING BUMPER. THERE SHOULD BE AN OPTION IN THE CAR'S CONTROL CENTER TO PERMANENTLY DEACTIVATE THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO IT MANUALLY EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. ALL CARS WITH THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE NEED TO HAVE THE OPTION AVAILABLE. VOLVO TOLD ME IT CAN'T BE DONE. IT'S A COMPUTER, I'M SURE IT COULD BE REPROGRAMMED WITH THAT OPTION. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT AND LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN! IT'S EASY TO FORGET, ESPECIALLY IF A PERSON HAS A LOT ON HIS/HER MIND (AND WHO DOESN'T THESE DAYS?)

2015 VOLVO S80. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO FRONT END MALFUNCTIONS, RECURRING ISSUES WITH RIM,TIRE AND ALIGNMENT. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLVO S80. WHILE STATIONARY THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALMOST RAN OVER THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. UPDATED 02/03/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A FEATURE THAT IDLES THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO BE QUIET ENOUGH TO FOR THE DRIVER TO FORGET THE VEHICLE WAS ON. THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE BREAK PEDAL AND WAS FLIPPED INTO THE STREET. THE CONSUMER'S KNEE WAS INJURED AND PANTS WERE TORN. UPDATED 12/5/2017*JS

WHILE STOPPED IN DRIVE AT A STOP SIGN WITH FOOT ON BRAKE,ON CORNER OF CITY STREET ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH AND CAR TRIED TO SURGE FORWARD. APPLIED BRAKE EVEN HARDER, PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND STOPPED ENGINE. TRIED TO START UP AND SAME THING HAPPENED. ON THIRD TRY, ENGINE SEEMED NORMAL, BUT "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" WAS ON. DROVE 100 YARDS TO HOME GARAGE AND HAD CAR FLAT-BEDDED TO DEALER.

A batch of metal used for the steering wheel trim prematurely wears down at the base of the steering wheel in 2 locations out of sight with normal use and becomes razor sharp. When turning the wheel, the spinning razor edge can cause the driver to lose control due to sudden pain due to slicing into the fingers. The metal slices into the skin drawing blood much like that of a papercut. I have experienced sudden cuts in turning on 2 separate occasions recently having to re-grab the steering wheel due to involuntary pain reflex release to prevent total loss of control and the problem has not been confirmed by the dealer. There is no prior warning when this issue suddenly occurs.

MY WIFE KAREN WAS ON HER WAY TO WORK ON FEBRUARY 24, 2020 WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE-VIEW MIRROR DETACHED, HIT THE PAVEMENT AND SHATTERED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 7:45 AM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AT 140 STATESIR PLACE FOR 60 HOURS WITHOUT BEING USED AND THE MIRROR SHOWED NO SIGN OF DAMAGE PRIOR TO BEING DRIVER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 800 FEET FROM OUR RESIDENCE AS SHE WAS TURNING FROM STATESIR PLACE ONTO PINE STREET NEARER TO THE CORNER .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL STUDS FRACTURED FROM THE TIRE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SLID ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND THE FENDER WAS RIPPED OFF. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEN TAKEN TO DEMONDTROND VOLVO (VOLVO BUILDING, 14101 NORTH FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77090, (281) 607-0382). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

THE PASSENGER DOOR CONTINUES TO OPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE THE OPTION FOR DOORS TO LOCK WHEN CAR BEGINS TO MOVE. THE LOCK REMAINS "LOCKED" HOWEVER DOOR OPENS WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD WARNING. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO TO NO END... I SEE A MULTITUDE OF DOOR OPENING ISSUES ON VOLVO FORUM SITES, AND MECHANIC STATES COMMON PROBLEM WITH VOLVO.

DRIVERS SIDE REAR SUSPENSION LINK ARM FAILURE. VEHICLE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AHEAD ON EXPRESSWAY AT POSTED SPEED, 70MPH, ROAD CONDITIONS DRY AND CLEAR. NO IMPACTS OR SUDDEN MANEUVERS PRIOR TO FAILURE, I.E. CHUCK HOLE OR DEBRIS. NO TIRE OR WHEEL DAMAGE SUSTAINED PRIOR TO OR AFTER SUSPENSION FAILURE. NO IMPACT EVIDENCED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.