Volvo S80 Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Volvo S80 years to avoid are 2010, 2015, 2008: the 2010 alone has 27 NHTSA owner complaints and 249 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by visibility/wiper issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2006 and 2005 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-08-28 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005BEST | 15 | 191 | 6 | — |
| 2006BEST | 12 | 187 | 4 | — |
| 2007 | 24 | 245 | 5 | — |
| 2008AVOID | 26 | 243 | 7 | — |
| 2009 | 16 | 239 | 5 | — |
| 2010AVOID | 27 | 249 | 5 | — |
| 2011 | 5 | 261 | 4 | — |
| 2012 | 8 | 259 | 3 | — |
| 2013 | 8 | 264 | 3 | — |
| 2014 | 1 | 250 | 1 | — |
| 2015AVOID | 7 | 325 | 2 | — |
| 2016 | 6 | 320 | 2 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Volvo S80 problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Volvo S80 are electrical system, structure, engine, fuel/propulsion system. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2010 Volvo S80: 27 owner complaints, 249 service bulletins, 5 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: visibility/wiper, structure, air bags.
2015 Volvo S80: 7 owner complaints, 325 service bulletins, 2 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: engine, unknown or other, power train.
2008 Volvo S80: 26 owner complaints, 243 service bulletins, 7 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, seat belts.
2006 Volvo S80: cleanest recent federal record (12 complaints, 187 bulletins).
2005 Volvo S80: cleanest recent federal record (15 complaints, 191 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Volvo S80?
Based on federal records, the Volvo S80 years to avoid are 2010, 2015, 2008: the 2010 alone has 27 NHTSA owner complaints and 249 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by visibility/wiper issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2006 and 2005 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Volvo S80?
Among recent model years, the 2006 and 2005 Volvo S80 show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
Is the Volvo S80 reliable?
The Volvo S80's reliability varies by model year. Across 155 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2010, 2015, 2008 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2006 and 2005 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Volvo S80?
The most-reported problem areas for the Volvo S80 are electrical system, structure, engine, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
How do I check a specific Volvo S80 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.