2011 Volvo S80 recalls and problems

The 2011 Volvo S80 has 4 recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2011 compares

Lowest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Lowest complaint count among 17 S80 model years — 16th most.

4recalls

5complaints

1crashes

1fires

2injuries

25,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

4 recalls

Seat Belts

Jun 30, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V378000 · 308,260 vehicles

Problem: Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy & notes

Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Train

Jul 6, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V317000 · 1,469 vehicles

Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 S80 vehicles. A software error May prevent the transmission from downshifting such as shifting from fifth to fourth gear when coasting.

Original NHTSA wording

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 S80 VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE ERROR MAY PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM DOWNSHIFTING SUCH AS SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR WHEN COASTING.

Risk: This May result in decreased engine rpms and possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS MAY RESULT IN DECREASED ENGINE RPMS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the software to the transmission control module, free of charge. The safety recall began on August 10, 2012. Owners May contact Volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.

The Volvo recall campaign number is 255.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Engine

Nov 17, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V579000 · 6,046 vehicles

Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2011, S80, S60, XC70 and XC60 vehicles. The software calibration for the fuel cut-off functionality in the engine control module (ECM) is too sensitive.

Original NHTSA wording

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011, S80, S60, XC70 AND XC60 VEHICLES. THE SOFTWARE CALIBRATION FOR THE FUEL CUT-OFF FUNCTIONALITY IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) IS TOO SENSITIVE.

Risk: Sudden engine stall could occur increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

SUDDEN ENGINE STALL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will update the ECM and TCM with new software free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before December 10, 2010. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or at customercare@volvoforlife.com.

Volvo safety recall no. R234.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Air Bags

Oct 13, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V489000 · 9,746 vehicles

Problem: Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 S80, XC70, model year 2011 XC60 and model year 2010 V70 vehicles. There May be an intermittent fault in the driver's airbag clockspring wiring connector for the supplemental restraint system.

Original NHTSA wording

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 S80, XC70, MODEL YEAR 2011 XC60 AND MODEL YEAR 2010 V70 VEHICLES. THERE MAY BE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT IN THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG CLOCKSPRING WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the driver's frontal airbag May not deploy as intended or at all, and therefore will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AS INTENDED OR AT ALL, AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a metal shim in the driver's air bag clockspring wiring connector. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on October 20, 2010. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

Volvo safety recall no. R229.owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2011 vs. other Volvo S80 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2011. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2011 Volvo S80 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2011 Volvo S80, the latest from Jun 30, 2020 (seat belts). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Volvo S80?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (2), power train (2), air bags (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.