2006 Volvo S80 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (3) · Suspension (2) · Visibility:windshield (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo S80 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2021-09-30 · campaign 21V766000 · 259,383 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2010-11-08 · campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Service bulletins (187)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-04-23 · 35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 2 pdfs and 1 .png oil consumption test. perform the test. follow service procedure description and service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-07 · 37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj text only - the purpose of this tj is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. this tj will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. current items under prior approval are listed in the "service" sec
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-06 · 19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal. vehicle type and platform identification.
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-10 · 8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: remote connection, bomgar application. before joining a remote session: •connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in vida is between 12.5v and 14.9v. •connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a voe
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-21 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-13 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Showing the 6 most recent of 187 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-01-13 · Suspension“on tuesday 11/19/2024 i went to my car and saw that a lot of fluid had leaked out of it. i went to start my car and when the car came on the gas tank was empty, but i had just filled the tank up the day before and parked it. on monday the 11/18/2024 i had put gas in the tank. so on tuesday when i had to go to the store i was pretty confused that th…”
2023-01-08 · Air Bags“safety recall r10125 for this vehicle has not been performed as of this date; received safety recall notice letter from volvo car usa llc 29 nov 2021; have contacted dealer once immediately upon receipt of letter; volvo corporation 4 to 6 times telephonic and email with the last response (volvo is looking into it) on 15 dec 2022 upon which i have a…”
2020-02-10 · Vehicle Speed Control · 86,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 volvo s80. the contact stated that while driving and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to exceed 30 mph. the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer in binghamton, new york, to be diagnosed. the contact was informed that accelerator sensor-digital sensor needed to be replaced. the vehicle was repaired however, …”
2019-12-08 · Electrical System · 80,000 mi“without preceding event, the electrical systems monitoring the car-check engine lights, gas gauge, vehicle range, tire pressure etc have ceased to function. the car was stationary at the time this occurred.…”
2019-02-22 · Visibility:windshield · 153,808 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 volvo s80. while driving, the contact noticed a large amount of air entering the vehicle. she pulled the vehicle over and noticed that the front exterior driver's side door panel, the windshield, and the roof were becoming detached. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. …”
2015-04-11 · Vehicle Speed Control · 48,000 mi“when driving the transmission shift slams / bucks for 2nd to 3rd gear at the 20 to 30 miles per hour. the transmission revs and then bang?s into the next gear. this also happens when slowing down and coming to a stop, you can feel it bucking / jolt (as if it was slipping) as i apply the brake. i had reported this to the volvo dealer several time…”
2013-06-03 · Suspension“2006 volvo s80 . consumer writes in regards to unsatisfactory vehicle repairs and customer service at dealership. *smd the front brakes, pads and shock absorbers were replaced. also, the vehicle had air bag problems and it over heated.…”
2011-03-02 · Exterior Lighting · 60,500 mi“first the high beam headlights could not be dimmed and constantly remained on creating problems for oncoming drivers. next the high beams could not be turned on creating visibility issues when driving the car. the component that failed is the central electronic module ( cem ) . when the cem failed it also burned out the turn signal board. …”
2010-11-09 · Seat Belts:front“2006 volvo s80. consumer states driver seat side seat belt would stick and would not release immediately. *tgw also, the radiator leaked coolant due to a leak. *jb…”
2010-08-24 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly · 32,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2006 volvo s80. the contact stated that the driver side seat belt would fail intermittently. when depressing the release button, the seat belt would not immediately release the contact. the seat belt would release after several attempts. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. the vin…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.