Volvo S80 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Volvo S80 model year (2000–2016) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Volvo S80 Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 238 complaints
15 reported injuries
Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Problem score: 274
4 recalls · 102 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Problem score: 118
3 recalls · 30 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Problem score: 43
Best Volvo S80 Years to Buy
0 recalls · 1 complaint
Main area: POWER TRAIN
Problem score: 1
1 recall · 3 complaints
Main area: ENGINE
Problem score: 6
0 recalls · 3 complaints
Main area: ENGINE
Problem score: 7
Found the right year? Verify that specific S80 with a free VIN report.
Volvo S80 — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 3 | — | — | 6 | Excellent |
| 2015 | 1 | 8 | 1 | — | 13 | Excellent |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 1 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 7 | Excellent |
| 2012 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 8 | Excellent |
| 2011 | 2 | 3 | 4 | — | 17 | Excellent |
| 2010 | 4 | 15 | — | — | 27 | Excellent |
| 2009 | 4 | 11 | — | — | 23 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 5 | 25 | — | — | 40 | Good |
| 2007 | 4 | 20 | — | — | 32 | Good |
| 2006 | 2 | 13 | — | — | 19 | Excellent |
| 2005 | 4 | 12 | — | — | 24 | Excellent |
| 2004 | 3 | 30 | 2 | — | 43 | Good |
| 2003 | 2 | 18 | 2 | — | 28 | Good |
| 2002 | 2 | 30 | — | — | 36 | Good |
| 2001 | 4 | 102 | 2 | — | 118 | Caution |
| 2000 | 2 | 238 | 15 | — | 274 | Avoid |
All 17 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Volvo S80 Shopping Guide by Era
2013–2017
Best: 2014Mid-decade S80 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2014 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder S80 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year S80 should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2000 Volvo S80 if possible. It has 2 recalls, 238 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 274 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year S80 to buy?+
The 2014 Volvo S80 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 1. It has only 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.
Which S80 has the fewest problems?+
The 2014, 2016, 2013 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Volvo S80 Research
Check a Specific Volvo S80 VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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