Short answer
Among Volvo S80 model years through 2024, 2014 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2001 and 2008 have the most (7). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volvo S80: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 17 (2000–2016)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 26
- Fewest recalls
- 2014 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2001 and 2008 (7)
- Most recalled system
- Equipment (14)
Volvo S80 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2015 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2014 | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Power train, Seat belts, Tires |
| 2012 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Power train, Seat belts |
| 2011 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Power train |
| 2010 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2008 | 7 | Not rated | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2007 | 5 | Not rated | Electrical system, Equipment, Seat belts |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags |
| 2005 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2004 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2003 | 5 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2002 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2001 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Equipment |
| 2000 | 4 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Suspension |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20162 recalls
- 20152 recalls
- 20141 recall
- 20133 recalls
- 20123 recalls
- 20114 recalls
- 20105 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20087 recalls
- 20075 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20055 recalls
- 20044 recalls
- 20035 recalls
- 20024 recalls
- 20017 recalls
- 20004 recalls
Volvo S80: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volvo S80 recalls are equipment (14), air bags (11), seat belts (11), electrical system (9) and engine and engine cooling (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Volvo S80 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volvo S80?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2014 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Volvo S80 model years have the most recalls?
2001 and 2008 have the most, with 7 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "S80", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy