1999 Volvo S80 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1999 Volvo S80, and owners have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1999 Volvo S80
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.
Remedy: Dealers will install the current software upgrade onto the involved vehicles. The recall began on december 29, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, under certain operating conditions, some electric cooling fans may overheat potentially causing heat damage and, in rare instances, a fire in the engine compartment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cooling fan. The recall began on november 29, 2004. Customers should contact volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
On some passenger vehicles, certain electric cooling fans could be inadequate in a hot climate. Under certain circumstances, excessive heat could be generated.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine cooling fan. Owner notification began april 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
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Suspension: upper ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Over time, the ball joint between the front wheel king pin and the suspension link arm, can experience increased looseness.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front ball joints.
199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1999 Volvo S80 have filed 199 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,867 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 55 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The ETM is acting up for no reason available”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 31, 2021 · Engine
“When im driving and have to come to a slow stop im hearing the master cylinder sound like its rubbing against something loudly even with the appropriate brake fluid and measure is filled within it, al”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 9, 2020 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1999 Volvo S80. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–17 / 25 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 2.8/2.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Volvo S80 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo S80 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 Volvo S80 | 4 | 199 |
| 2000 Volvo S80 | 4 | 318 |
| 2001 Volvo S80 | 7 | 164 |
| 2002 Volvo S80 | 4 | 42 |
| 2003 Volvo S80 | 5 | 26 |
| 2004 Volvo S80 | 4 | 50 |
| 2005 Volvo S80 | 5 | 15 |
| 2006 Volvo S80 | 3 | 12 |
| 2007 Volvo S80 | 5 | 24 |
| 2008 Volvo S80 | 7 | 26 |
| 2009 Volvo S80 | 5 | 16 |
| 2010 Volvo S80 | 5 | 27 |
| 2011 Volvo S80 | 4 | 5 |
| 2012 Volvo S80 | 3 | 8 |
| 2013 Volvo S80 | 3 | 8 |
| 2014 Volvo S80 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 Volvo S80 | 2 | 7 |
| 2016 Volvo S80 | 2 | 6 |
Checking a specific 1999 Volvo S80
How do I know if my 1999 Volvo S80 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1999 Volvo S80; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V238000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volvo models
- XC901,528 complaints
- S601,266 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
- XC70417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.