1999 Volvo S80 T6 review from North America
"A design winner, but a mechanical failure"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Transmission failure twice.
Front suspension/ball joints twice.
Front struts.
Transmission shift lock twice.
Air conditioning.
Keyless remote is weak.
Emission sensor daily.
Dashboard display electronics.
CD player.
Power steering.
Various "codes"
General comments?
I have not seen a car in this class that can compare to the sharp looks and comfort features of this Volvo.
The engine is fast, handling is questionable because of "comfort" adjusted ride.
That said, the style and comfort will never overcome the substantial frustration with the mechanical failures that I have experienced almost on a daily basis.
Only slightly less frustrating is Volvo's (and the dealership's) lack of "ownership" of the problem. Regardless of the cars current odometer reading, each trip to the dealer's service department yields one of two responses:
"I'm afraid that's going to be very expensive to fix" or,
"There's no problem, we checked the error code, reprogrammed, and everything is fine now"
Until next week.
This is the best car in the world if all you ever do is stay parked.
Recommended reviews
  | Too expensive to maintain |
| Costs too much to maintain |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | T6 turbo Automatic |
| Performance marks | 7/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 10/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 2/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 6 miles |
| Most recent distance | 72000 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Maxima |
| Date of Entry | 22nd January, 2003 |