2001 Volvo S80 Problems

High Complaint Volume

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2001 Volvo S80.

20002002
Complaints
218
Crashes
10
Fires
2
Injuries
5
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2001 Volvo S80 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#161 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:72,293 mi
Crash-related:3
#230 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:68,270 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#311 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:87,426 mi
Considering a 2001 Volvo S80?

Check the actual VIN — every car is different.

This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).

Check VIN Free

All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2001 Volvo S80.

Unintended Acceleration
61
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
72,293
Electrical Faults
30
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
68,270
Automatic Transmission
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
87,426
Engine & Cooling
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
48,333
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,573
Gasoline Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
63,098
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
60,366
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Other Equipment
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2001 Volvo S80. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2001 Volvo S80

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~313,923 vehicles.

21V766000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~259,383 affected

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.

20V681000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~54,124 affected

Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.

10V566000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~416 affected

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

Other Volvo S80 Years

2001 Volvo S80 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2001 Volvo S80 reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2001 Volvo S80 has 218 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 61 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2001 Volvo S80?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (61 complaints, avg 72,293 mi); Electrical Faults (30 complaints, avg 68,270 mi); Automatic Transmission (11 complaints, avg 87,426 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2001 Volvo S80?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 69,405 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2001 Volvo S80?
NHTSA complaints for the 2001 Volvo S80 include 10 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2001 Volvo S80 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 313,923 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2001 Volvo S80?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (unintended acceleration) and verify open recalls have been addressed.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volvo S80 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2001 Volvo S80

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

Check Any VIN — $4.99