1999 Volvo S80 2.9 from North America - Comments

Oxygen Sensor 1st yr under warranty

Ball Joints under warranty

Sunroof off track

Sway bar link rod at 75,000 miles

torque arm bushing at 97,500

front struts, shock plates, links at 105,000

serpentine belt

throttle body

mass air flow sensor

4 oxygen sensors

window regulator.

This car was pretty good until it reached 100,000 miles. I can say it is comfortable and has never left me on the road.

The maintenance and repair has been very expensive. Repairs and maintenance made to date have cost me $9,700 over the course of the 6 years I have owned the car, which calculates to $140 per month. The dealer does not blink at several hundred dollar repairs (and scheduled maintenance), and usually warns me how much the next service is going to cost.

That said, it has become very problematic over the last year. The car lights up like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center - indicating diagnostic problems. It starts with a position light warning, despite the fact that all the position lights are working. After that, I get ABS module warnings, emission warnings, power steering warnings. The dealer has a laundry list of $3500 worth of repairs that need to be made. ABS control module ($860), replace the steering rack ($1700), exhaust, steering stops, read pads and rotors. This car has a lot of miles and I understand things go wrong on older cars, but the electrical problems are really scary - who says the issues won't return after spending the money - and make it impossible to sell the car without fixing them.

Overall the car was good up front, but extremely disappointing after 100k miles - I thought Volvo was known for high mileage.

I would also note that many of the problems I have experienced are same ones other owners have complained about on this site. I hope I can get out of this car without losing my shirt and wish luck to the next owner.

Like the owner in this posting, I have had many of the same problems with my 01, Volvo S60. My car only has 55k and has started to have many of the problems within the last 5k. I purchased the extended warranty to find out that many of the problems are not covered and are very expensive (i.e. throttle body, steering stops, spring seats). I know that parts will wear out, however, I'd expect that they would last more than 55k or at least be covered under the extended warranty. Lastly, it is also frustrating that many of the repairs must be made at the dealership because of software downloads that must be installed after part replacement.

I have a 1999 S80 and the car has been in the shop many times starting with the day after we drove it brand new off the lot.

I also bought an extended warranty from the dealer that does not seem to cover many expensive repairs, for example the throttle body that we were just told needs to be replaced. There is also an oil leak and a problem with a sensor for the rear view mirror that are not covered.

Repair costs are averaging $300/month. I am getting rid of this lemon. I love to drive the car when it runs, but I can no longer afford it.

I too have a 1999 Volvo S80 and I've suffered from many of the same problems listed here. We had an extended warranty. We've had 3 oil leaks that have been fixed, but the first one really griped me. With the first one, which happened in less than a month of owning the car, the dealer tried to tell me it wasn't covered under warranty and that it was a wear and tear issue.

It's a fun car to drive when its working, but that is rare, I think we are about to give up on it and go back to Toyotas and Hondas. There have been about 2-3k in repairs to this Volvo in the last year compared to about 1k to our Toyota in the last eight.

I hope someone buys my car and has better luck, but I will probably never recommend Volvo to any of my friends or family. My advice, stay away.

Try not buying a car (especially a Volvo) right after it comes out. Volvos are reliable, but they need to be out 2 or 3 years, before they become more dependable! I have a 1977 740 with 200k miles and I repair it less than my Land Rover Discovery.

I have a '99 S80 and have had many of the same problems. My two biggest complaints are: This car is more expensive to maintain than my past Mercedes and Acura. Also, I'm having the forth throttle body replaced on this car, Lately, the throttle bodies have only been lasting about 12 - 14 months. Volvo of N.A. is picking up 100% of the cost this time. Dealer has informed me that Volvo is going to announce a recall on 99 - 01 S80 throttle bodies. I'm not sure if this will include S60 etc...

We have a Volvo S80. It is awful. Within three weeks of having the car, the ABS brake module began acting up, and within less than three weeks following the front brakes needed to be replaced. This seemed "normal" to the Volvo techs at the dealership. After $3000 dollars in repairs, we were notified within the next two maintenance visits, that there was approximately another $5000 worth of repairs that still needed to be made. It was used with just about 30,000 miles on it at the time of purchase. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR!! current problems: sway bars (need to be replaced), front brakes (again), windshield, ABS module ($1,000)

Wished I would have known this before I purchased a Volvo. Original poster is lucky to get 100,000 miles before all his problems, I'm at 55,000 and have LOTS of them.

I have a 01 S80

I have a 01 S80 and that car is the worst I have ever owned.

To date here is what has been replaced. It was certified pre-owned so I had a 100K warranty.

57,000 mile Transmission failure

58,000 miles SRS module Caused limp home mode on the highway

75,000 mile Alternator

90,000 struts and ball joints

117,000 breather box (Oil is changed at 3000 mile intervals)

119,000 timing belt and tensioner

120,000 front brakes.

Also had the Throttle module replaced as part of the recall.

We own a '99 Volvo S80 and '01 Volvo S60, and have experienced many of the same problems others have listed. One of our biggest problems is getting the dealer to honor the throttle body replacement recall. They have "upgraded" the software on both vehicles, but never replaced any hardware. We have experienced more problems since the software upgrade. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get the dealers to honor the terms of the recall? These cars are great when they are running fine, however, the repairs are extremely expensive and never ending.

Wow, I was looking at purchasing a used 1999 S80, but after reading the previous comments there will not be a volvo in my future. Glad www.carsurvey.org exists!

I also purchased a used 1999 Volvo S80 that had 73,300 miles. The car ran beautifully until this year.. I have had the vehicle for 2 years.

I have had to deal with the throttle recall, which still seems to be on-going never ending deal. My software was upgraded as well, but no hardware replaced.

I have had to replace the front brakes and struts which I am OK with.. that is to be expected for a car that has over $100K miles.

The issue that I have is that the control arm and sway bar links have gone out, my gear box shaft snapped (plastic broke), 02 sensors going out, headlight lens busting at the slightest ping of a rock from the road, and numerous emission and check engine light warnings.

The repairs and maintenance on this vehicle has cost me more than I am wanting to admit, and I am actually pretty mad about it.

It seems that Volvo should have recalled this entire car, and provided an alternative to those that own them.

I really wish I had known all of these issue prior, because I would have never bought this vehicle!!!

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

The S80 is brilliant, I have never had any problems whatsoever, and I owned it from 0 miles, and it now has 135,000.

Maybe I'm just lucky!

I own a 1999 Volvo S80 T6 that has brought me nothing but pain since I've owned it. My wife convinced me into purchasing it. She wanted me to grow up and drive a bigger family car (former and soon again Saab owner). Currently I am dealing with an air bag sensor issue, bad module in the steering column (which locks up all the controls on my steering column) a shift shimmy (which I recently found out is VERY common with this year and model) ABS issues, and of course a check engine light that the dealership can't shut off! I have brought this car to 3 different Volvo dealers and no one can find the problem. The car only has 76K on it.