Problems · NHTSA complaints

2009 Volvo S-Class problems

Owners filed 33 complaints about the 2009 Volvo S-Class with NHTSA between Nov 2009 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is structure (5).

Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure5
  2. Wheels5
  3. Tires5
  4. Electrical system4
  5. Power train3
  6. Exterior lighting2
  7. Air bags2
  8. Seat belts2
  9. Engine2
  10. Fuel system, gasoline2
  11. Steering1
  12. Lane departure1
  13. Fuel/propulsion system1
  14. Vehicle speed control1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20091
20101
20110
20121
20133
20142
20155
20162
20173
20182
20191
20203
20213
20222
20232
20240
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

5 reports
“SEVERE SUBFRAME RUST DUE TO THE EXHAUST ON VOLVO S80 V8 BEING TOO CLOSE AND MELTING THE PAINT OFF. CAR IS VERY CLEAN AND WE'LL TAKEN CARE OF. APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE V8 S80S.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 10, 2021StructureODI 11407345

Wheels

5 reports
“ALUMINUM NUTS ON THE VALVE STEMS COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATE AND FALL APART CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS (TWO TIRES) WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD QUICKLY WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL 4 VALVE STEMS WERE INSPECTED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2017WheelsODI 10980879

Tires

5 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO S80. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS PRESSURE IN THE TIRES BASED ON THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V335000 (WHEELS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2015TiresODI 10780571

Electrical system

4 reports1 related recall
“The headlight system malfunctioned. It is available for inspection upon request. The low beam failure error occurred, which led to an inspection of the headlight system. The wiring inside the headlight assembly failed. The insulation on bulb wires is crumbling everywhere and causing short circuits from exposed wire conductors. This causes a safety issue because the bulbs stop functioning, impairing visibility of the car, visibility of the road, and disabling motion intent lights like the turn signals. Bare wires touching can also lead to overheating and fires or failures of the headlight electrical system. Humidity may damage the exposed wires and cause bulb failure or wire overheating. The wiring harnesses may also overheat. The wire insulation problem was confirmed by an independent service center on multiple cars of this model.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2025Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11681205

Power train

3 reports
“REPLACEMENT OF CV JOINTS- OCTOBER 2018 MY VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEAKAGE FROM THE CV JOINTS WHICH SPLATTERED ALL UNDERNEATH MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAD 69,000 MILES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEMS WITH SO FEW MILES. HE STATED THAT MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED IF THEY HAD FAILED AND CAUSE DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. I TRAVEL 1 HOUR ONE DAILY TO WORK. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT IF IT HADN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED IN TIME. IT HAS BEEN SINCE THEN REPAIRED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Power trainODI 11156048

Exterior lighting

2 reports
“HEADLIGHT WIRING- MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE LIGHT BULBS FOR HEADLAMPS. COVERING AROUND ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS WHICH CONNECT TO HEADLIGHT CRUMBLED IN MY HANDS AND ELECTRICAL WIRING IS EXPOSED. WORRIES THAT THIS MAY BE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD TO MY VEHICLE AND MYSELF. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11156046
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.