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KLUNK

2004 Volvo S80

The Verdict

87 Smooth Ride

The 2004 Volvo S80 has 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (22 complaints) and body (15 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 87/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Volvo S80, consider the 2014 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2014 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2014 Volvo S80 dashboard →

87

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2000131186011320
2001763404813
200210161810
200353894
20041537223
200521192
200640341
2007141450
2008121390
2009130120
2010152460
201110211
201260101
201360020
201400001
201520131
201620040

By Category

Engine
22
Body
15
Electrical
7
Brakes
3
Transmission
3

By Severity

1
19
2
27
4
4

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

Both of the key fobs I have are broken in that the key won't lock straight out or stay folded into the fob. The weight of the plastic fob alone frequently causes the key to twist backwards if the road is bumpy or uneven, which kills the engine and makes it extremely difficult to steer to safety without power steering. The first time this happened to me I was traveling at 55 mph on a crowded highway but fortunately I was in the rightmost lane, not in a curve, and was approaching an area where I could pull over to safety. I have had to duct tape both keys in the open position to prevent this. The situation is much worse if additional keys or other weight is added to the ring. It is possible to insert a broken key in a way that causes the weight of the fob to hang away from the driver but large road bumps or accidental interference from the driver or passengers can cause it to flip backwards anyway. These incidents are alarming and confusing for the driver, particularly the first time, and could easily cause an accident depending on the conditions. I am not the only person who has experienced this issue, and it will become even more common as these vehicles age.

43mo ago
Electrical 2

ON 11/17/2020 WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP DECAL FOR MY CAR AND I GOT A MESSAGE THAT READ A CHECK AIRBAGS I DIDN'T HAVE ANY READING ON MY GAGES TURN SIGNAL FOR RIGHT TURN STAY LIT UP NOT BRINKING JUST ON , WHEN I STOPPED AND WENT IN BUILDING TO GET DECAL CAME BACK TO CAR STARTED IT MY GAGES CAME BACK WHICH WAS GLAD THEY WERE WORKING BUT STILL HAD MESSAGE ABOUT AIRBAGS

68mo ago
Engine 2

AFTER NOTICING A VERY ACUTE SMELL OF GAS I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC ADVISE THAT I HAD A FUEL LEAK IN MY 2004 VOLVO S 80 . THATS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THAT THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE IN THIS CONDITION.

74mo ago
Engine 1

STRONG ODOR OF GAS OUTSIDE OF CAR. RECALL ON SIMILIAR CARS BUT NOT IN THIS AREA. KNOWN ISSUE BY VOLVO BUT WILL NOT REPAIR AT NO COST AS IT IS OUTSIDE OF THE 10 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH CAR DOES NOT HAVE 150000 MILES ON. FIRE HAZARD AND SHOULD BE FOR ALL CARS OF THIS YEAR AND MAKE BUT OFFER LITTLE IF ANY HELP.

110mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE GARAGE. UPON CHECKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, THE ODOR BECAME STRONGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A FUEL LEAK ORIGINATED FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

112mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

112mo ago
Engine 1

THE CAR IS PUTTING FORTH A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BUT WAS PUT DOWN TO HAVING JUST FILLED THE TANK. THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE YOU CAN SMELL GAS 20 FEET AWAY FROM THE CAR. WE ARE NOT ALLOWING OUR DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT IS AN EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. I HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH ANOTHER S80 IN 2015 WHICH ALSO WASN'T COVERED IN THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS NOT SOLD IN A "HOT CLIMATE". WITH THAT CAR THE FUEL PUMP (WITH DEFECTIVE FLANGE) WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. ALTHOUGH I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT HEAT IS THE PROBLEM (RATHER THE DEFECTIVE FLANGE) THE TEMPERATURES IN OUR AREA RANGES FROM 15 IN WINTER TO LOW 100S IN THE SUMMER. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH VOLVO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AND IT CLEARLY MAKES DRIVING THE CAR DANGEROUS IF NOT DEADLY. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM 09V483000 - VOLVO RECALL #R220.

114mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE WAS HANGING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED TWO OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTROL ARM KEPT FRACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

120mo ago
Transmission 1

PURCHASED A 2004 VOLVO S80 IN "MINT CONDITION" FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP (GOOD REPUTATION).THREE (3) MONTHS LATER THE TRANSMISSION STARTED THE FAMOUS VOLVO "SLIP, SLIDE, AWAY".. IT RIDES LIKE A ROCK, I FELL EVERY CRACK, GRAIN OF SAND IN THE ROAD. I REPLACED THE STRUTS, COIL SPRINGS, LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER SUSPENSIONS PARTS BUT TO NO AVAIL IMPROVED ITS CONDITION. EVERY WEEK OR SO I GET THE "STOP SAFELY COOLANT LEVEL LOW" WARNING ON MY DASH...KEEP IN MIND THE DEALERSHIP HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE ISSUES SINCE THE CONDITIONS DIDN'T APPEARED UNTIL 3 MONTHS/50000 MILES AFTER THE PURCHASE. STEERING HAS SOME PLAY AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY RECOVERING THE DIRECTIONAL PATH SLIGHTLY. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I INSTALLED ALL NEW TIRES (MICHELINS) PURCHASED A LIFETIME WHEEL ALIGNMENT, WHICH WAS DONE DURING NEW TIRE INSTALL AND RECENTLY RE-CHECKED. I DO 90% OF THE WORK MYSELF; I'M AN ENGINEER BY TRADE WITH 40 YEARS OF MECHANICAL SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE. CHECKED THE RECALL DATABASE BY VIN (SAFERCAR.GOV) AND VARIOUS OTHER SITES AND THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE VOLVO SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DISHEARTENING FOR SUCH A WELL-KNOWN EUROPEAN CAR. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

120mo ago
Engine 2

SHORTLY AFTER MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA, I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE GAS CAP AND REPLACED IT. THE SMELL CONTINUED TO GROW STRONGER AND STRONGER, TO THE POINT I COULD NOT KEEP IT PARKED IN MY GARAGE IN MY TOWNHOME DUE TO THE SMELL OF GAS WHICH WOULD PERMEATE THE ENTIRE HOUSE. I ALSO NOTICED DURING THIS TIME A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS IN GAS MILEAGE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE AUTO SHOP FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING AND SHOWED ME THE BACK OF THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS COVERED IN GAS. DUE TO THE EXTREME RISK, THE AUTO SHOP STATED THAT THE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY, ESPECIALLY SINCE I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A 300-MILE TRIP. THE SHOP DID FIND THE RECALL: 09V483000 AND CALLED THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I REQUESTED THAT THE FUEL PUMP BE GIVEN TO ME SO THAT I COULD REVIEW THE RECALL. I THEN REVIEWED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION ONLINE, SPECIFICALLY THE PICTURES OF THE PUMPS WHICH WERE COVERED VS. THE PUMP WHICH WAS BAD. MY PUMP MATCHES EXACTLY TO THE "BAD" PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS LEAKING GAS TO THE POINT OF COATING THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK INDICATES THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A COVERED INCIDENT.

121mo ago
Engine 2

FUEL SMELL FROM REAR OF THE CAR, HARD TO START.

126mo ago
Engine 2

BACK IN 2010 UNDER THE RECALL ADV ,I TOOK MY CAR IN TO MY VOLVO DEALER FOR THE RECALL FOR FUEL SMELL AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OK . THE CAR THEN HAD AROUND 90.000 MILES OR SO, NOW I TAKE MY CAR BACK WITH STRONG FUEL SMELL IN 2015 170.000 MILES AND I REPORTED TO VOLVO HEAD QUARTERS AND THEY TELL THEY WILL COVER THE PUMP ONLY AND NOT THE LABOR TO TUNE OF 550.00 BECAUSE THE CAR HAS OVER 150000 MILES ON IT AND IS PAST THE RECALL EXTENDED WARRINTY , BUT I THOUGHT UNDER RECALL P29075 THAT VOLVO IS LIA FOR FREE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN. VOLVO TOLD ME IT IS ABOUT 4 HRS LABOR WHEN THERE OWN RECALL CALLS FOR .09 HRS LABOR. SO IT HASN'T BEEN FIXED YET. I WILL FIX IT MY SELF TO THE TUNE OF A PUMP (BOCSH PUMP 155.00 )AND MY OWN LABOR.THANKS FOR NOTHING VOLVO I GUESS IF I WOULD OF BURNT UP IN THIS CAR VOLVO WOULDN'T BE LIA ? MY ATT SURE THINKS THEY WOULD OF BEEN. NEVER WILL BUY A VOLVO AGAIN.

127mo ago
Body 1

BASED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN 04V029000> THE CONTROL ARMS ARE GRINDING AS I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. I HAVE LOST STABILIZATION OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IN MOTION. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND WHILE TURNING. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS LED TO COMPLAINANTS AND PRESENTS A DANGER WHILE DRIVING.

129mo ago
Engine 1

THERE WAS A RECALL REGRDING FUEL SMELL/FUEL PUMP AND/OR FUEL SEAL PROBLEM IN 2010..MY CAR IS NOT REGERSTED IN THE DATA BASE FOR THE DEALER TO FIX THE FUEL PUMP. HOW DO I GET A DEALER VOCHER TO TAKE OF THIS PROBLEM.

129mo ago
Engine 1

CAR BEGAN OVERHEATING AND EVENTUALLY OVERHEATED AND RUINED ENGINE LATER MECHANIC DISCOVERED THERMOSTAT WASNT WORKING PROPERLY SO NO INDICATION AS TO VEHICLE TEMPURATURE. CAR WAS ON FREEWAY AND STOPPED COMING OFF FREEWAY. HEAD GASKET BLEW ALSO AS WELL AS BAD TRANSMISSION

130mo ago
Body 4

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND DROVE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. ...UPDATED 02/04/16 *B THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT FOR 3-4 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT 03/15/18 *JB

131mo ago
Engine 1

VEHICLE HAS BEEN HESITANT, SPUTTERING AND SURGING WHEN STOPPED OR INCREASING SPEED. WHEN STOPPED THE VEHICLE SURGES AND MOVES. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS, AS WE CAN HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. THE ETM HAS BEEN CLEANED BY COLLINS AUTO IN SC. THEY TOLD US THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A FEW THOUSAND MILES. THERE IS BUILD UP IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND THIS IS DUE TO THE OIL CHANGE INTERVAL (7500 MILES) WHICH IS RECOMMENDED BY VOLVO. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A PART DEFECT WHICH VOLVO SHOULD FIX AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST. *TR

136mo ago
Engine 2

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

138mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED IN THE CABIN AND AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING FAILURE DIRECTLY RELATED TO RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE).THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

142mo ago
Engine 1

BROKEN KEY CAN CAUSE VEHICLE KEY SWITCH TO TURN OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE FOLLOWING IS MY INTERACTION WITH VOLVO, I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM THEM SINCE MARCH. ADVISE HOW AND I WILL SEND YOU A PICTURE OF THIS CONDITION. CUSTOMERCARE WEB FORM - 3/19/2014 7:08 PM RESPONSE BY EMAIL ([XXX]) (03/20/2014 09:09 AM) DEAR DICK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EMAIL. YOUR COMMENTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED AND I FORWARDED TO OUR HEADQUARTERS IN SWEDEN. OF COURSE THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH THIS INFORMATION, BUT I THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO WRITE. [XXX] VOLVO CUSTOMER CARE 1-800-458-1552 X [XXX] AUTO-RESPONSE BY (ADMINISTRATOR) (03/19/2014 08:08 PM) THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER. OUR TEAM IS LOOKING INTO YOUR EMAIL RIGHT NOW AND WILL RESPOND TO YOU WITHIN 24 HOURS. IF YOU WOULD PREFER TO SPEAK TO A VOLVO REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CALL US DURING OUR REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS LISTED BELOW. PLEASE REFER TO THIS ID#140319-000156. THIS WILL HELP US QUICKLY LOCATE AND REVIEW YOUR CORRESPONDENCE. CUSTOMER BY CSS WEB ([XXX]) (03/19/2014 08:08 PM) AFTER THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE SHUT OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ZIPPING ALONG THE INTERSTATE I RESOLVED TO FIGURE OUT WHY AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING CONDITION WOULD CAUSE IT TO DO SO. I HAVE A NUMBER OF KEYS ON THE KEYRING AND THE SPRING WHICH NORMALLY HOLDS THE KEY OUT STRAIGHT FROM ITS HOLDER IS BROKEN. WHEN THE KEY/HOLDER IS INSERTED BACK SIDE UP AND THEN ROTATED TO THE RUN POSITION THE BODY OF THE HOLDER EVENTUALLY FOLDS HALF WAY IN AGAINST THE COLUMN, WITH THE OTHER KEYS ON THE RING PULLING IT DOWNWARDS. AFTER ENOUGH BUMPS IN THE ROAD THE DOWNWARD FORCE ROTATES THE KEY OUT OF THE RUN POSITION. IF THE KEY/HOLDER IS INSERTED BUTTONS SIDE UP THIS DOES NOT OCCUR. THOUGHT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SCENARIO BEFORE THE GM LITIGATORS GET WIND OF IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

143mo ago

50 total

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