KnownCarProblems2003 Volvo S80 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Volvo S80, most often about the fuel system (31% of complaints, typically around 45,500 miles). It is 6th of 17 S80 model years by number of complaints and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2003 Volvo S80 problems
Fuel system
8 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, delivery.
Hi, just had to have my fuel pump replaced to the tune of well over a thousand dollars. Cost and problem fall in to the "unreal" category. Hard to believe that something as simple as a fuel pump has evolved into a piece of equipment that apparently as complicated as something that is vital to the launch of the…
My car shows exact symptoms of the vehicles involved in NHTSA recall # 09v483. Recall involved cars in the hot weather states of US. At the time of the original recall I have resided in the massachusetts which was not included in the initial recall. I have moved to arizona in the summer of 2010 and now my car is…
Electrical
4 complaints · 15%Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
Driver information module (dim) originally started dropping out and returning multiple times during a trip, now it is going out completely after roughly 15 miles, no cluster gauges or dash lights. Will come back on after cool down time of roughly 2-3 hours. No speedometer, tach, gas or temp gauges. Signal lights work…
Takata recall the dashboard lights are not working at all. I just bought the car 2 months ago. Without the dashboard lights not working, it is very dangerous. I can not see how many MPH I am going, and can't tell how much gas I have. Also at night, it is completely black in the dashboard and is very dangerous. This…
Lights
3 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: headlights.
I bought a Volvo S80 in january 2003. Both of the headlight glass assemblies have cracked from no apparent impact. The first was in april, and the second in august. I beleive there is a headlight assembly defect. I live in a very hot climate, and the heat may crack the glass.
Takata recall the dashboard lights are not working at all. I just bought the car 2 months ago. Without the dashboard lights not working, it is very dangerous. I can not see how many MPH I am going, and can't tell how much gas I have. Also at night, it is completely black in the dashboard and is very dangerous. This…
Brakes
3 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
2000 Volvo S80--the automatice stabilizing system and ABS braking system failure lights come on intermittently. Our mechanic (Volvo expert, but not employed by a dealership) says this is a common fault in the s-80s when they reach 50,000 miles. The dealership is claiming it is a $1000 repair--because the car has…
While applying brakes a loud noise was heard coming from the front wheel. Consumer shifted the gear in reverse and the noise recurred. Consumer drove the vehicle to dealer for inspection, but mechanic was unable to resolve the problem.
Air bags
3 complaints · 12%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Volvo S80 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Volvo car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began april 20, 2021. Owners may contact volvo car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo car's number for this recall is r10058.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA llc (volvo car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 s80 and s60 vehicles sold or ever registered in alabama, arkansas, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Full defect summary
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the condition occurs vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on january 15, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 xc90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, utah, virginia and the u.s. Territories. When exposed to certain environmental conditions (hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will receive a letter/package consisting of the second isofix guide with installation instructions, and in certain cases, the corrected owner's manual may be provided. If the owner wants to take their vehicle to a volvo dealer for installation of the guide, it will be performed at no charge to the owner. Owner notification began on december 19, 2003. Owners should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the second isofix guide was not installed in these vehicles and, in certain cases, the owner's manual isofix information is incorrect.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2003 Volvo S80
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Volvo S80?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (8 complaints, typically around 45,500 miles); electrical (4 complaints); lights (3 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo S80 have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 30, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Volvo S80?
- It is 6th of 17 S80 model years by number of complaints, with 26 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.