YearToAvoid

2008 Volvo S80 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 12 S80 years

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

The 2008 Volvo S80 has 26 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 12 S80 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is fuel system (7 complaints, 27% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
26
Recalls
7
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
15.5 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2008 Volvo S80 problems

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

  1. Fuel System7 (27%)
  2. Electrical System5 (19%)
  3. Engine5 (19%)
  4. Other4 (15%)
  5. Seat Belts4 (15%)
  6. Visibility & Wipers4 (15%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (12%)
  8. Airbags2 (8%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
  10. Brakes1 (4%)
2008 Volvo S80 complaints: complaints filed per month7Mar 2008Mar 2012Feb 2013Jul 2014Jun 2016Jan 2018Jul 2021Apr 2022
37 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2008 to Aug 2026; peak Jan 2018 (7).

2008 Volvo S80 recalls

7 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V378000Jun 30, 2020Seat Belts308,260 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

    Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

  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 10V335000Jul 22, 2010Suspension, Wheels & Tires3,635 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    Volvo is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 s80 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the tire and loading information label and a page in the owner's manual contain incorrect maximum permissible inflation pressure and the tire pressure monitoring system (tpms) software has an incorrect trigger level.

    Risk: These vehicles do not meet the required safety standards.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicles with a new tire and loading information label, owner's manual label and tpms software. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about august 27, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552 or [email protected] .

See all 7 recalls for the 2008 Volvo S80 →

2008 Volvo S80 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,325
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.

2008 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
2006Best1812321
2007Caution5524519
2008Avoid10026718.5
2009Caution6416518
2010Avoid9127519

All Volvo S80 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Volvo S80 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Volvo S80 ranks worst among S80 model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 26 complaints and 7 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo S80?
The most reported problem areas are fuel system (7 complaints), electrical system (5 complaints), and engine (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 67,250 miles.
Does the 2008 Volvo S80 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo S80, most recently reported 2020, covering seat belts, other, suspension, wheels & tires, and electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Volvo S80?
EPA rates the 2008 Volvo S80 at 18.5 MPG combined (15.5 city / 23.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,325. 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.