CarBrief

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Volvo S80, and the model year has 7 recalls[1][2]. Fuel and electrical issues lead the complaint counts, and the recalls range from software fixes to a seat belt cable[3][4][5].

26owner complaints[1]
7recalls[2]
18–19MPG combined (EPA)[6]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file for the 2008 S80[1]. Four mention a crash, three mention injuries, and none mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified reports, and one complaint can name more than one part, so the groups below do not add up to 26[1].

Component group Complaints Crashes Injuries
Fuel/propulsion system[3] 6 2 0
Electrical system[4] 5 0 0
Unknown or other[7] 4 0 2
Seat belts[8] 4 2 0
Visibility[9] 3 0 0
Engine[10] 3 0 0
Structure[11] 3 0 0
Air bags[12] 2 1 1

Electrical system. In the sample of complaints we read, owners describe cooling fan or overheating warnings, a car that would not start or lost power, and wipers or an instrument cluster that misbehaved[4]. One owner says a dealer replaced the fan control module under a recall and the trouble came back[4]. The median mileage at failure in this group is 65,000[4].

Fuel and propulsion. In the sample we read, owners describe a fuel gauge that does not read correctly and a strong fuel smell inside the car[3]. Two sample texts appear to describe the same parking lot event, where the engine surged and the brakes did not stop the car before it hit a post[3].

Seat belts. The sample includes a belt that did not hold a passenger in a crash, a belt that would not pull out, and a belt warning light that stayed on[8].

Structure. The two texts we read describe a sunroof water leak with mold on the floors and rust on the front subframe[11].

Recalls

NHTSA lists seven recalls for the 2008 S80, newest first[5][13][14][15][16][17][18].

Volvo lists customer service at 1-800-458-1552 for owner questions on the seat belt cable recall[5].

Fuel economy

EPA lists four versions of the 2008 S80, and all use premium fuel[19][6][20][21]. The estimated annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
AWD, 3.0L 6-cylinder turbo[19] 15 / 23 / 18 $4,550
AWD, 3.2L 6-cylinder[6] 16 / 24 / 19 $4,350
AWD, 4.4L 8-cylinder[20] 15 / 23 / 18 $4,550
FWD, 3.2L 6-cylinder[21] 16 / 24 / 19 $4,350

All four have an automatic (S6) transmission[19][6][20][21]. The front-wheel-drive 3.2L and the all-wheel-drive 3.2L post the same ratings[6][21].

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists its 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 4-door S80 as not rated[22]. That means there is no star score to compare with other cars.

Engine and size

The EPA lists a 3.0L turbo 6-cylinder, a 3.2L 6-cylinder and a 4.4L 8-cylinder for this model year[19][6][20].

Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so they can differ slightly from US models[23].

Variant Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
3.2L V6 AWD sedan[23] 191 in 73 in 59 in 112 in 3,646 lb
4.4L V8 AWD sedan[24] 191 in 73 in 59 in 112 in 3,840 lb

The V8 is 194 lb heavier than the V6 in these listings[23][24].

How 2008 compares with other years

1999: 199 complaints, 4 recalls19992000: 318 complaints, 4 recalls2001: 164 complaints, 7 recalls20012002: 42 complaints, 4 recalls2003: 26 complaints, 5 recalls20032004: 50 complaints, 4 recalls2005: 15 complaints, 5 recalls20052006: 12 complaints, 3 recalls2007: 24 complaints, 5 recalls20072008: 26 complaints, 7 recalls2620082009: 16 complaints, 5 recalls20092010: 27 complaints, 5 recalls2011: 5 complaints, 4 recalls20112012: 8 complaints, 3 recalls2013: 8 complaints, 3 recalls20132014: 1 complaints, 1 recalls2015: 7 complaints, 2 recalls20152016: 6 complaints, 2 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each S80 model year. The 2008 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19991994
20003184
20011647
2002424
2003265
2004504
2005155
2006123
2007245
2008267
2009165
2010275
201154
201283
201383
201411
201572
201662

The 2008 S80 has 26 complaints and 7 recalls on file[2]. Among the S80 model years NHTSA lists, 1999 (199), 2000 (318), 2001 (164), 2002 (42), 2004 (50) and 2010 (27) have more complaints[2]. 2003 has the same 26[2]. The other ten years have fewer, including 2007 (24) and 2009 (16)[2].

On recalls, 2008 ties 2001 for the highest count at 7[2]. Apart from 2001, every other year listed has 5 or fewer, including 5 each for 2007, 2009 and 2010[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so read them as a rough guide only.

Should you buy a used 2008 S80?

The 2008 S80 has 26 complaints on file, with 4 crash mentions and no fires or deaths reported[1][2]., with 4 crash mentions and no fires or deaths reported[1]. Its recall count is the highest of any S80 year, tied with 2001[2]. Several of those recalls involve software in the central electronic module or the cooling fan, so it is worth asking Volvo or a dealer whether each one was done on the specific car[15][16][17]. The V8 engine mount recall and the seat belt cable recall have dealer fixes listed[18][5]. Our data cannot say how reliable the car is overall, only what owners reported and what was recalled.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo S80?
By complaint count, the fuel/propulsion group has 6 and the electrical group has 5 out of 26 total[1][3][4]. These are unverified owner reports and not a measure of how common a problem is.
How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo S80 have?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2008 model year, covering wipers, the fuel pump signal, the cooling fan, tire pressure, a seat belt cable, V8 engine mount bolts and a portable GPS battery[2][5][13][14][15][16][17][18].
What gas mileage does the 2008 Volvo S80 get?
EPA combined ratings are 18 MPG for the 3.0L turbo and the 4.4L V8, and 19 MPG for the 3.2L[19][6][20][21].
Did the 2008 Volvo S80 get a NHTSA safety rating?
NHTSA lists its 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 4-door S80 as not rated[22].
How does the 2008 Volvo S80 compare with 2007 and 2009?
It has more recalls than both, 7 against 5 each, and more complaints than both, 26 against 24 and 16[2]. Counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Volvo S80 (4 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Volvo S80 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. 6 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  4. 5 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. Recall 20V378, filed June 30, 2020: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
  6. EPA rating for S80 AWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  7. 4 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 4 complaints name the seat belts component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 3 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 3 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 3 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 2 complaints name the air bags component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 10V566, filed November 8, 2010: Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(Global Positioning System). NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 10V335, filed July 22, 2010: Tires › Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 09V343, filed September 1, 2009: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 09V218, filed June 12, 2009: Engine And Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 09V139, filed April 29, 2009: Electrical System › Software. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 08V206, filed May 6, 2008: Engine And Engine Cooling › Engine. NHTSA recall database
  19. EPA rating for S80 AWD, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. EPA rating for S80 AWD, 4.4L 8-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  21. EPA rating for S80 FWD, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S80 3.2 4DR SEDAN AWD 3.2L V6: length 191 in, width 73 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,646 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  24. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, S80 V8 4DR SEDAN AWD 4.4L V8: length 191 in, width 73 in, height 59 in, wheelbase 112 in, curb weight 3,840 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.