The Lemon Index
200020021st generation
Worse than average · most complaints: transmission & drivetrain
29 owner complaints, first 3 years 19–20 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2001 Acura TL 922001 Lexus IS2001 Cadillac DeVille 67
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 11 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V766000 (airbags), 20V681000 (airbags) and 10V566000 (equipment) done? It has 8 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Volvo sent dealers 234 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Information on oil leakage from flywheel / flexplate, rear crankshaft”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Volvo's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 29 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 30K to 58K miles (48K to 94K km) on the car (11 of all 29 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
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.
2001 Volvo S80 owner · NHTSA complaint 10047582
More owner reports
Vehicle jolts forward when accelerator pedal is pressed. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further details.
NHTSA complaint 894270
While driving 25 mph the throttle failed. As a result the steering locked and the vehicle became inoperable.
NHTSA complaint 10079486
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 4.5M views · 1999–2006 Volvo S80
Most-watched topics
- Gauges, lights & wiring67K views
Gauge Cluster (DIM) Repair 2004 Volvo XC90 S60 S80 XC70 V70Automotive Circuit Solutions · 53K views · 2 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors49K views
9499432 Interior rear view mirror replacement P2 models - Volvo S60, S80, V70 & XC70 (1999-2009)Nordicar Classic Volvo Parts · 49K views - Infotainment, battery & electrical38K views
Alternator replacement 2000 Volvo S80 2.9L Install Remove ReplaceFixing cars and stuff · 38K views - Heat, A/C & blend door13K views
How to Replace Cabin Air Filter 2004 Volvo S80 | AQ1067CFilterheads · 13K views
Before you buy, watch
2002-2006 Volvo S60 S80 V70 XC70 XC90 Dash Cluster DIM ProblemsAutomotive Circuit Solutions · 209K views
Should You Buy a Volvo S80 (2004)? Join Us For a Thrilling Road Test With Stunning Drone Footage!Tariq TV Productions · 19K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2001 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Volvo told dealers about
Volvo sent dealers 234 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Information on oil leakage from flywheel / flexplate, rear crankshaft
- VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : The Volvo Replacement…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 8
- Airbags · recall issued 2021
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
- Equipment · recall issued 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Show all 8 recalls
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2009
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEOR…
- Brakes · recall issued 2007
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 EQUI…
- Speed control · recall issued 2006
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 …
- Engine · recall issued 2004
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.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SEDANS AND WAGONS.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedThrottle control malfunction2005–2006
- ClosedThrottle control malfunction2005
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,750–$3,950 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.8L 6-cyl, 2.9L 6-cyl.
Every Volvo S80 year. 2001 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (1999–1999, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Volvo S80 years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2001 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volvo-s80/?y=2001" title="Volvo S80 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/volvo-s80/2001/">Lemon Index</a> (2001 Volvo S80 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2001 Volvo S80 reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew a bit more than the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 134; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2001 Volvo S80 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (28%), speed control (21%) and engine (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2001 Volvo S80 have?
8 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Volvo S80 get?
19 to 20 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2001 Volvo S80 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 28% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2001 Volvo S80 cost in fuel a year?
About $3,750 to $3,950 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2001 Volvo S80 have?
2.8L 6-cyl, 2.9L 6-cyl.
Is there a better Volvo S80 year than the 2001?
Not nearby: the 2001 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Volvo S80 years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works