YearToAvoid

2006 Volvo S80 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

18/100

#10 most-complained of 12 S80 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Volvo S80 has 12 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 18 out of 100 — #10 highest of 12 S80 model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (6 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
12
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy

Top 2006 Volvo S80 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine6 (50%)
  2. Electrical System3 (25%)
  3. Airbags2 (17%)
  4. Brakes2 (17%)
  5. Seat Belts2 (17%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (17%)
  7. Fuel System1 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (8%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)
2006 Volvo S80 complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2008Aug 2010Mar 2011Apr 2015Dec 2019Jan 2023
21 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Jan 2025; peak Jun 2013 (4).

2006 Volvo S80 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V766000Sep 30, 2021Airbags259,383 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

  2. NHTSA 10V566000Nov 8, 2010Other416 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)

    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.

  3. NHTSA 06V375000Oct 3, 2006Other19,700 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Certain vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the label denoting the tire and loading pressure information is incorrect.

    Risk: A misprinted label would lead to improper vehicle loading specifications or tire inflation which could result in a tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will mail the correct labels free of charge. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

2006 Volvo S80 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,825
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other S80 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good3615520
2006Best1812321
2007Caution5524519
2008Avoid10026718.5

All Volvo S80 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Volvo S80 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Volvo S80 ranks #10 of 12 among S80 model years (Complaint Index 18/100, verdict: Best). It has 12 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Volvo S80?
The most reported problem areas are engine (6 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints), and airbags (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 60,500 miles.
Does the 2006 Volvo S80 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2006 Volvo S80, most recently reported 2021, covering airbags and other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Volvo S80?
EPA rates the 2006 Volvo S80 at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 26 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,825. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.