1999 Volvo S80 SE review from UK and Ireland
"Looks good and is comfortable, but hugely expensive to maintain and the computer on this early S80 i"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The main complaint has been the on board computer which, from 60,000 miles onwards, has consistently produced a range of faults none of which have had any bearing on the actual mechanical condition of the vehicle. The false readings on the computer have, however, affected the performance. A fault on the computer noted that there was a brake failure. This was incorrect, but the computer then automatically cut the engine which created dangerous driving conditions. The cost to repair the computer fault was almost £400. Then the computer showed that there was an emission service problem. This again was incorrect and there was nothing wrong mechanically. Currently there is a computer fault noting that an urgent transmission service is necessary. Again there is nothing wrong mechanically, but the computer is now influencing the acceleration so that the engine is running at a thousand revs higher than it should. The costs to repair the computer are expected to be another £500! I have lost all interest in the car and cannot wait to get rid of it particularly as all service costs are high and regular repairs are necessary and expensive.
General comments?
The main plus of the car is comfort although the suspension has become more bumpy and noisy despite replacement of track rods.
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![]() ![]() | Completely unreliable |
![]() ![]() | Do not buy one as the resale is horrific because no one wants one second hand S80. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model Year | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.9 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 4/10 |
| Reliability marks | 4/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 5/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 15 miles |
| Most recent distance | 104000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo S70 |
| Date of Entry | 18th July, 2005 |





