2000 VOLVO S80 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

DRIVING IN THE CITY AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT THE BRAKES BECAME HARD AND ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING WELL. WHEN I TRIED TO DRIVE OFF IN THE GREEN LIGHT THE SPEED CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL WAS VERY CHAOTIC. I GOT A MESSAGE OF ENGINE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED A FAULTY THROTTLE ETM ASKING 2000 $ TO REPLACE. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL ON THAT BY VOLVO AND WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER HE SAID THAT THIS WAS TRUE BUT MY CAR WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD ( ALTHOUGH HE COULD HAVE INFORMED ME ABOUT THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE). HE INFORMED ME THAT A SOFTWARE SERVICE ON THE ETM OF MY CAR WAS DONE IN 2006 ( AFTER THE RECALL?) BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AS APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ETM DESIGN ( FALTERING POTENTIOMETER). THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT WILL PROBABLY GO TO THE JUNKYARD, BUT WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED BY ALL VOLVOS REMAINING ON THE STREET WITH FAULTY ETM'S, WHICH THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FILED AT NHTSA SHOW. *TR

Mileage: 144,400

I WAS DRIVING ALONG A BUSY STREET, WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN THE BRAKES WHERE HARD TO PUSH, WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR, YOU COULD STILL FILL THE CAR TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SPED UP ON IT'S ON REACHING CLOSE TO 40 MPH AGAIN I WAS BARELY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR DO TO A STIFF BRAKE PEDAL. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT IT OFF, ONCE I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WAS SPUTTERING AND WOULDN'T IDLE CORRECTLY EVERY TIME I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT WOULD SHUT OFF NOW I'M GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT SAYS SERVICE ENGINE SYSTEM URGENT. *TR

Mileage: 131,329

I PURCHASED A 2000 VOLVO S80 IN DEC 2010. SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH NEAR THE FIRE WALL. THE SOUND IS COMING FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS HAS CAUSED WEAK BRAKES. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL IT GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE PUMPED TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 230,000

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 VOLVO S80 ON 5/19/10 AND HAD EXITED I-405, ONTO HWY 169, HEADING HOME TOWARDS MAPLE VALLEY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG, RESULTING IN SUDDEN STEERING LOSS, HEARD LOUD SQUEALING, AND SAW LOTS OF WHITE SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, WHICH HAD TURNED OUTWARD, COMPLETELY SIDEWAYS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE CAR IS NOW IN NO CONDITION TO BE DRIVEN. THE WHEEL DAMAGED THE FRAME, WARP/DENTED THE QUARTER PANEL, BROKE OFF THE MOLDING, RIPPED OUT THE CV DRIVE OR WHATEVER THAT THING IS THAT MAKES THE WHEEL TURN IN A NORMAL, FORWARD DIRECTION, BROKE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, MESSED UP THE BRAKE LINE, STRUTS, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE? I'M GUESSING THAT THE REPAIR COSTS ARE GOING TO BE TOWARDS THE THOUSANDS, BEING THAT VOLVO PARTS ARE SO EXPENSIVE. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANS SIGNAL (ALERT TO THE ABS AND SPEED SENSOR) WOULD ALTER THE ABS AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE. HE HAD NOT NOTICED ANY PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE RESULTS PRODUCED SIX CODES AND INDICATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR WAS ALSO A PART OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V441000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,944 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,000.

Mileage: 122,000

2000 VOLVO S80 2.9L HAD ABS MODULE FAILED TWICE AT 25K MILES (2006) AND 50K (8/2008) MILES. GOTTEN CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS ESPECIALLY DURING RAIN, SNOW, OR HUMID WEATHER. COMPLAINED TO AUTHORIZED DEALER/MECHANIC AT LEAST OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS WITHOUT ANY HELP UNTIL IT REQUIRES REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SPONTANEOUSLY DECELERATE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ENGINE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $1,500. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 09/23/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB

Mileage: 107,000

MY WIFE LEFT FOR WORK & GOT TO THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY & HAD NO BRAKE ASSIST IE VERY HARD PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING(NO WARNING LIGHTS,ETC).SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE&TOOK ANOTHER TO GET TO WORK(RN).I LATER DROVE THE CAR,BRAKES WORKED FINE. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE IT AGAIN & NO POWER BRAKES. *TR

Mileage: 57,479

SRS AIRBAG FAILURE AND ABS BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS AND ALERTS POSTED ON DASHBOARD DISPLAY. TURNS OUT THE PROBLEM WAS DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE AND WAS RESOLVED WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE FAILURE RESULTS IN THE DISABLING OF THE SYSTEMS. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED IN ABOUT AN HOUR. VOLVO CLEARLY NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEMS SINCE THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE (AKA A FIX) WAS ALREADY COMPLETED AND AVAILABLE - VOLVO HAD TO PAY SOMEONE TO FIX THE SOFTWARE, WHY PAY THEM IF THERE WAS NO DEFECT. I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ADVISED IF NOT MANDATORY FOR ALL OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. IT IS A SIMPLE EASY WAY TO AVOID A TRAGEDY IF THESE SYSTEMS ARE DISABLED BY DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE. *TR

Mileage: 148,900

1) ENGINE IDLES ROUGH, PROBLEM BECAME SO BAD THAT CAR STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS, LOST POWER STEERING & "ENGINE DIES" AT LOW SPEEDS (UNSAFE!). LOCAL MECH REFERRED TO ETM WARRANTY PROGRAM TO RE-PROGRAM FAULTY ETM MODULE. TOOK CAR TO DLR, RE-PROGRAMMED ETM CAR DIED AGAIN! TURNS OUT BAD BATTERY AS WELL: SEVERAL HUNDRED $$$ TO REPLACE BATTERY. CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY, LARGE "SHUDDERS" PRESENT WHEN MERGING ONTO HWY, DURING TRANSMISSION/GEAR SHIFT. NOT GOOD! 2) AIRBAG "SRS-URGENT SERVICE" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON. GOOD LOCAL MECH. STATES THIS IS A $1000 REPAIR. 3) "CHECK BRAKE LIGHT" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN DEPRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL: GOOD LOCAL MECH. STATES THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" REQUIRES EXACT MATCHING ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS TO ENSURE THAT "CHECK BRAKE LIGHT" WARNING DOES NOT OCCUR (IN ACTUALITY THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK FINE, THE BUILT-IN-TEST IS FAULTY). 4) "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON 2-3 TIMES IN LAST 3 MONTHS. MAJOR SERVICE WAS REQUIRED. ONE FAULT WAS ISOLATED TO FUEL TANK GAS CAP: IF NOT SECURED PROPERLY "ECM-4308 (LEAK DIAGNOSTIC) LARGE LEAK" OCCURS...REMEDIED BY TWISTING FUEL CAP 3 FULL ROTATIONS, AFTER RE-FUELING GAS TANK. GOOD LOCAL MECH. DIAGNOSED THE LOOSE GAS CAP PROBLEM, WARNED ME ABOUT IT, AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME (NICE!). 5) BODY PAINT IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CHIPPING & SCRATCHES. PAINT OR EXTERIOR PANELS ARE VERY SOFT AND EASILY DAMAGED. ANOTHER SHAME, THIS CAR LOOKS GREAT BUT DOES NOT HOLD UP VERY WELL UNDER TYPICAL PARKING LOT CONDITIONS (I.E. SOMEONE PARKED NEXT TO YOU OPENS THEIR CAR DOOR INTO THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR RESULTING IN A LARGE SCRATCH). SOLUTION: PURCHASE A FANCY CAR COVER AND PROTECT THE BODY PAINT, IF YOU CAN! 6) PARKING BRAKE "SEEMS LOOSE", UPON PARKING CAR AND ENGAGING PARKING BRAKE THE VEHICLE ROLLS ALMOST 30 CM BWDS OR FWD DEPENDING ON LEVEL OR INCLINED SURFACE. *TR

Mileage: 119,500

A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AREA BEGAN OCCURING AND I TOOK TO THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE "BRAKE BOOSTER" AND THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT IF NOT CORRECTED COULD LEAD TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE CAR IS USED TWICE A WEEK AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80 HESITATING AS IF IT'S NOT GETTING ANY GAS WHEN FIRST BEGINNING TO DRIVE IT EVERYDAY. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BUT THE VOLVO REPAIR SHOP HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STC LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THESE LIGHTS COME ON MY CAR BECOMES HARD TO STEER SOMETIMES. AFTER CHECKING INTO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER VOLVO S80 'S BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS MINE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT MY CAR SUSPENSION MAKING WEIRD NOISES SINCE HAVING THIS VEHICLE AND THE VOLVO REPAIR SHOP SAYS THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY THING WRONG BUT WHEN ENQUIRING WITH OTHERS WHO OWN VOLVO S80'S, BUILT AROUND THE SAME TIME AS MINE, MANY ARE SAYING THEY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THE BELOW INFORMATION ASKS FOR AN INCIDENT DATE BUT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2000 VOLVO S80 HESITATING AND BEING HARD TO STEER OCCUR OFTEN PROBABLY OVER 100 TIMES. *NM

Mileage: 48,000

IN OCTOBER 2001 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE CROSSING THE STREET THE CAR STALLED. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY & GASKET. IN JUNE 2004 CAR STALLED AGAIN. REPLACED SWAY LINKS AND PROGRAM DOWN LOAD $338.19. IN DECEMBER 2004, CAR STALED ON THE ROAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, MASS AIR FLOW, MFI MODULE- AT COST OF 2098.96. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THIS CAR ON ANY LONGER TRIP. DUE TO STALLING ON THE ROAD, FREQUENT LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS CAR WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. 11-16 E-MAIL ; FIRST TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. STOPPED TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AGAIN. AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. *AK THE RIGHT DOOR MIRROR FAILED AND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

Mileage: 22,815

IN OCTOBER 2001 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE CROSSING THE STREET THE CAR STALLED. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES LATER WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR, AND AT THE SAME TIME HEADLIGHTS CAME ON. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE THROTTLE BODY & GASKET. IN JUNE 2004 CAR STALLED AGAIN. REPLACED SWAY LINKS AND PROGRAM DOWN LOAD $338.19. IN DECEMBER 2004, CAR STALED ON THE ROAD AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THEY REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY, MASS AIR FLOW, MFI MODULE- AT COST OF 2098.96. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THIS CAR ON ANY LONGER TRIP. DUE TO STALLING ON THE ROAD, FREQUENT LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS AND NUMEROUS OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THE CONTACT BELIEVED THIS CAR WAS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. 11-16 E-MAIL ; FIRST TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. STOPPED TURN THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT AGAIN. AFTER FEW ATTEMPTS THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. *AK THE RIGHT DOOR MIRROR FAILED AND THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

Mileage: 22,815

2000 VOLVO S80 T6 ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, EVEN WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED FORCING ME TO CROSS 3-4 LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC WITHOUT THE USE OF POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE WAS DETERMINED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART ON 1999-2001 VOLVO S80'S. THERE ARE EVEN DOCUMENTED REPORTS THAT THE ETM WILL FAIL ON OVER 90% OF ALL VOLVO S80'S WITHIN THIS YEAR RANGE ('99-01). I HAVE SPENT $900 TO HAVE THIS REPLACED. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLVO OVER THIS PART. I LIVE IN KY; THEREFORE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT LAWSUIT WILL HELP ME. I AM ASKING VOLVO FOR FULL REIMBURSEMENT TO REPLACE THIS PART. IT NOT ONLY WAS A FAULTY DESIGN, BUT ALSO POTENTIALLY DEADLY PART. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A FULL RECALL ON THIS PART AND VOLVO KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EVEN BEFORE THE RELEASE OF THE VEHICLE IN '99. THERE IS ANOTHER KNOW DEFECTIVE PART ON THE SAME YEAR VOLVO THAT IS THE ABS MODULE. I HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED FOR A COST OF $1000. DOCUMENTED REPORTS SAY THE ABS MODULE WILL FAIL ON 60% OF THOSE VOLVOS. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FUNCTIONS INTERMITTENTLY AND IS USUALLY IN THE FAILURE MODE. ABS BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. A NEW MODULE IS REQUIRED AT A QUOTED PRICE OF $950 FROM VOLVO DEALER. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS AND ONGOING PROBLEM.

Mileage: 55,000

OVER THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP OF A 2000 VOLVO S80 (I.E., FOUR YEARS), I HAVE THE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED AT 67,000 MILES;HAD THE THROTTLE REPLACED WHEN MY CAR CHOKED ( LUCKILY ON A SIDE STREET); HAD A BAR ON THE SUNROOF DROP OFF; ENGINE MOUNTS BROKEN; WHEEL STOPS BROKEN; AND, MOST RECENTLY REPLACED AN ABS PANEL. NOT WITHSTANDING IN ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS IS THE COOLING FAN AND BALL JOINT REPLACED DUE TO RECALL. TRULY THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ANY OTHER KNOWN TO BE DRIVEN. EVERY TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP IS EASILY $1000 PLUS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE RESEARCH WAS SCANT IN TERMS OF PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRULY BEEN DISMAYED BY VOLVO'S COMMITMENT TO ITS PRODUCT AND IS DESIGN FLAWS AND/OR DEFECTS. AFTER, THE TRANSMISSION WAS CORRECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WENT TO TRADE THE CAR IN---TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BASICALLY WOULD NOT GIVE MONEY ON ITS TRADE. AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS LATER IN REPAIRS, I AM STILL FUMING OVER A CAR THAT WAS PURCHASED SOLELY FOR THE "HISTORICAL" VOLVO STANDARD AND ITS COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. *JB

Mileage: 67,000

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

Mileage: 35,000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITION INFORMATION. *NLM

WHILE BACKING AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE (COLD ENGINE), THE BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL SECONDS (FEET).