Best Volvo S80 Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Volvo S80 years to buy are 2006 and 2005 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2015, 2016 and 2013 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Volvo S80 year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | AVOID |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | BEST |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | BEST |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Volvo S80?
2006 and 2005 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Volvo S80 model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Volvo S80 years should I avoid?
2015, 2016 and 2013 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates. The full breakdown is on our Volvo S80 years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Volvo S80 a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 0 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Volvo S80 years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Volvo S80 year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Volvo S80 you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).