The Lemon Index

All cars · Volvo S80 · 2004

2004 Volvo S80. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index–100 = average car
Complaints9NHTSA, first 3 years

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,825 and 36,882 miles. Median 20,400, from 7 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Steering33%
Tires22%
Engine11%
Airbags11%
Speed control11%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
920100

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 21V766000 Sep 2021 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. 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.

    Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.

  • 10V566000 Nov 2010 Equipment / Electrical / Navigational System(Global Positioning System)

    Defect. VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

    Risk. AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

    Remedy. VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMI

  • 09V483000 Dec 2009 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect. 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, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. 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.

    Risk. 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.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

  • 07E023000 Mar 2007 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Master Cylinder

    Defect. 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. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

    Risk. LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

    Remedy. CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.

  • 04V029000 Jan 2004 Steering / Linkages

    Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY AND, AS A RESULT, THE STUD AND NUT THAT SECURE THE ARM TO THE SPINDLE MAY LOSE THEIR INITIAL AXIAL TENSION. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE STEERING MAY BECOME LESS RESPONSIVE AND THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE STEERING WHEEL PLAY.

    Risk. THIS DRIVING CONDITION COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPARATION BETWEEN THE FRONT CONTROL ARM AND THE SPINDLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

    Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW TYPE OF NUT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Manufacturer communications 190

Volvo filed 190 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Steering noise, yoke adjustment
  • Power steering fluid leak at reservoir
  • Plastic nipple of the positive crank ventilation (pcv) system may crack or become loose

Engines and drivetrains 4

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
2.5L 5-cyl turboAuto 5-spdFWD18 / 26 / 21Premium$3,700
2.5L 5-cyl turboAuto 5-spd4Wheel or AWD18 / 25 / 20Premium$3,850
2.9L 6-cylAuto 4-spdFWD18 / 25 / 20Premium$3,850
2.9L 6-cyl turboAuto (S4)FWD17 / 24 / 19Premium$4,050

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

YouTube repair topics

200 videos about the 1999–2006 Volvo S80, 4.5M views.

TopicVideosViews
Transmission & shifter3193K
Brakes & ABS1150K
Death wobble & steering2119K
Gauges, lights & wiring267K
Windows, doors & mirrors149K
Oil changes & service249K
Infotainment, battery & electrical138K
Heat, A/C & blend door113K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20011342920,425Transmission & drivetrain
2002–8–Lights
2003–9–Brakes
2004–9–Steering
2005–2–Suspension
2006–1–Speed control
2007–1–Seat belts

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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