Volvo S80 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year S80 should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2000 Volvo S80 has the most documented problems with a problem score of 280 — driven by 4 recalls, 238 complaints.

Q: What is the best year S80 to buy?

The 2014 Volvo S80 is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 4, meaning 1 recall and 1 complaint on record.

Q: Which S80 has the fewest problems?

The 2014, 2016, 2013 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Volvo S80 model year (2000–2016) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

536

Total Complaints

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Volvo S80 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2000

4 recalls · 238 complaints

15 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Problem score: 280

#2 WORST

2001

8 recalls · 102 complaints

2 reported injuries

Top issue: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Problem score: 130

#3 WORST

2004

5 recalls · 30 complaints

2 reported injuries

Top issue: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Problem score: 49

Best Volvo S80 Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2014

1 recall · 1 complaint

Main area: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 4

#2 BEST

2016

2 recalls · 3 complaints

Main area: ENGINE

Problem score: 9

#3 BEST

2013

3 recalls · 3 complaints

Main area: ENGINE

Problem score: 16

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	2	3	—	—	9	Excellent
2015	2	8	1	—	16	Excellent
2014	1	1	—	—	4	Excellent
2013	3	3	2	—	16	Excellent
2012	3	4	2	—	17	Excellent
2011	4	3	4	—	23	Excellent
2010	5	15	—	—	30	Good
2009	5	11	—	—	26	Excellent
2008	7	25	—	—	46	Good
2007	5	20	—	—	35	Good
2006	4	13	—	—	25	Excellent
2005	6	12	—	—	30	Good
2004	5	30	2	—	49	Good
2003	5	18	2	—	37	Good
2002	5	30	—	—	45	Good
2001	8	102	2	—	130	Caution
2000	4	238	15	—	280	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: 2014

Mid-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 Caution

Older 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 4 recalls, 238 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 280 — 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 4. It has only 1 recall 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

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Volvo S80.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Volvo S80.

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.

Run a Free VIN Report →