See attached document for complaint
The worst 2003 Volvo S80 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Fuel system8
- Brakes4
- Electrical4
- Airbags3
- Lights3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Fuel system8
- Brakes4
- Electrical4
- Airbags3
- Lights3
- Transmission2
- Acceleration1
- Driver assistance1
- Engine1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
Recalls 5
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 21V766000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 20V681000 · Recall details
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
- What is wrong
- Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
- Risk
- An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 10V566000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- 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.
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 09V483000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 03V284000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Volvo S80 184
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test
- This is a TJ text only
- This is a Technical Journal
- This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application
- Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch...
- This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist
- Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service
- This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method
- Complimentary upgrade C00009 description.
- Rubber cushion
2003 Volvo S80 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9L 6‑cyl | FWD | 17-18 | 24-25 | 19-20 |
What 2003 Volvo S80 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
In Tank Fuel Pump, problem was leaking at top of pump @ the inlet at the outlet & return valve, crack in the plastic mold. Was giving off fumes, totally unhealthy and waitin for someone to light up a cigarette for a total car explosion and death for all occupants. I have replaced the pump myself. Local Dealer wanted 1100 plus to replace out of my budget This in my view it should have been done by recall, local Jim Volvo of Portland, Oregon said no, out of warranty period. I disagree, If unrepaired, I would have been risking me and my family or occupants in the vehicle at the time. There are still many of these cars and other models & years that I found my research on the web that has had this same problem. I have a 1998 Volvo s70 that appears to be developing the same issue. I had come to like my 2003 S80, it will be my last Volvo My cost so far About $150, and 1st pump I installed was defective, had to start over [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The lovely GM transmission suddenly decided to not shift while going uphill. Pushing the accelerator just made the RPMs go up and up while the car did nothing. Then a warning light. Transmission service Then limp mode. And all I could do literally was go 5 mph then. It occurred as I was turning at a light. I did call my local volvo dealer who kind of laughed about the price of a new transmission and told me that was all I could do.
The contact owns a 2003 Volvo S80. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V766000 (Air Bags). The dealer had been notified about the recall and an appointment was made for the recall repair. The contact then received a call that the appointment was cancelled due to parts not yet being available. The manufacturer was also notified of the recall and also stated that parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The vehicle has a recall and Volvo told me I have to drive 8 hours to another state to get it fixed by the closest dealership. I cannot do that - I need to have it fixed locally
Within a week of purchasing the vehicle from a dealer, I discovered that the fuel tank has a leak, so its currently unsafe to drive. I found out about the leak when I brought it to an independent mechanic for service. I see that other vehicles of this model and year had been recalled for fuel leaks, so I wanted to report the issue.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 volvo s80. While parked, the battery compartment caught fire without warning. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The vehicle was destroyed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volvo s80. The contact smelled fuel inside the vehicle. It was diagnosed that the flange was cracked on the fuel pump. The manufacturer was notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
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 happens day and night. It happened as soon as I drove it off the lot. I called the dealer, and they did not want to take care of it. I purchased the car at michele motors, located on rt.88, brick, nj.
My car shows exact symptoms of the vehicles involved in the federal safety agency 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 smelling gas as recalled vehicles. Tried to contact volvo dealers and thy are stating since my VIN is not in the database of recalled vehicles they will not perform repair ( unless I will pay full price of course ).
Compare the 2003 Volvo S80
Other model years
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Questions about the 2003 Volvo S80
Is the 2003 Volvo S80 reliable?
Owners have filed 26 complaints about the 2003 Volvo S80, 1.6 times a typical S80 model year.
What is the 2003 Volvo S80 year score?
The 2003 Volvo S80 scores 50 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volvo S80: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Volvo S80?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 8 complaints, typically around 45,506 miles. Next is brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo S80 have?
5 recalls, covering air bags, equipment and fuel system, gasoline.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Volvo S80 fuel system?
Yes, 1 recall: 09V483000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volvo S80 have the most fuel system problems?
The Volvo S80 model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2000 (41 complaints), 1999 (29 complaints) and 2001 (17 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2003 Volvo S80 get?
Official estimates for the 2003 Volvo S80 range from 19 to 20 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.9L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 17-18 city and 24-25 highway.
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