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KLUNK
KLUNK

2011 Volvo S80

The Verdict

99 Smooth Ride

The 2011 Volvo S80 has 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (2 complaints) and body (1 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 99/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Volvo S80, consider the 2014 model year which has 80% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2014 has 80% fewer complaints

View the 2014 Volvo S80 dashboard →

99

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.

Recalls 1

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

12V317000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 S80 VEHICLES. A SOFTWARE ERROR MAY PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM DOWNSHIFTING SUCH AS SHIFTING FROM FIFTH TO FOURTH GEAR WHEN COASTING.

Risk

THIS MAY RESULT IN DECREASED ENGINE RPMS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

VOLVO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL UPGRADE THE SOFTWARE TO THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-...

Reported Jun 7, 2012

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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

Electrical
2
Body
1
Engine
1
Transmission
1

By Severity

2
3
4
2

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE STABILIZATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STARTED FLASHING. THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND VEHICLE LOSS POWER. THE CHARGING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED PEDERSEN VOLVO CARS (4455 S MASON ST, FORT COLLINS, CO 80525, (970)223-8500) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE" WARNING LIGHT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE HAD AN INCIDENT IN WHICH IT WOULD NOT POWER ON. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CHARGING FAILURE LIGHT CONTINUED FLASH. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONSUMER THEN EXPERIENCED A TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE WILE DRIVING. IT WAS DETERMINED THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS RETURNED. IT WAS DETERMINE VIA SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 2015 THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR LOST COMMUNICATION. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ANTI TAMPER UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER OFFERED A 15% DISCOUNT.

65mo ago
Body 2

DRIVER SEAT BELTS HAS FAULTY HOOKS. SEAT BELT POPPED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO QUICK BRAKE TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE SUDDEN STOP CAUSED MY SEAT TO SHIFT POSITION. I TRIED TO MOVE SEAT BACK INTO POSITION IT DID MOVE. THE SEAT WAS PERMANENTLY LOCKED IN THE POSITION WHICH RENDERED ME KNEES CRAMPED ON STEERING WHEEL. I BUCKLED MY SEAT BELT BACK AND SLIPPED OUT AGAIN. THE DRIVERS SEAT & SEAT BELT STILL MALFUNCTIONING.

66mo ago
Transmission 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SWITCH GEARS. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED. IN ADDITION, THE BATTERY CABLE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

128mo ago
Electrical 4

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35 TO 40 MILES PER HOUR FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES, I BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THERE WAS NO ENGINE NOR TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIT UP ON THE DASH. ASSUMING IT WAS FROM A PASSING VEHICLE, I CONTINUED TO DRIVE FOR 1 TO 2 MINUTES. THEN LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, I COULD SEE BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUNK. UPON OPENING THE TRUNK, THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED IN WIRING LOCATED IN THE TRUNK THEN PROCEEDED THROUGH TO THE SPEAKER IN THE BACK SEAT. EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE, THE FIREMAN ON THE SCENE NOTICED THAT THE RADIO AND AIR CONDITIONING WERE STILL RUNNING. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT ELECTRICAL ITEMS OFF. *TR

160mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN A PRECEDING VEHICLE REVERSED AND ABRUPTLY CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER AND NECK. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER AND REPAIRED FOR THE FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2011, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V489000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL) ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIR BAG AT THAT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF UPDATED 11/14/12

167mo ago
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