Volvo S80 1
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
272 PS
2.8L T6 Benzin
Biturbo six from Gothenburg
Fun to Drive!181–185 PS
2.4L D5 Diesel
5 weaknesses
Stay Away!Generations
Engine Overview
The Volvo S80 1 is available with 8 engine variants — from 140 to 272 hp. 2 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Volvo 2.4L D5 (Diesel, 163–185 PS) comes with 2 different engines: D5244T (2001–2006, Be Careful) und D5244T4 (2005–2006, Stay Away!). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.4L D5!
The Volvo 2.0T (Benziner, 179 PS) has the B5204T5 (2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 4 known weaknesses.
The Volvo 2.3L Turbo (Benziner, 250 PS) has the B5234T3 (2.3L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 4 known weaknesses.
The Volvo 2.4L (Benziner, 140 PS) has the B5244S (2.4L) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Volvo 2.4L Turbo (Benziner, 200 PS) comes with 2 different engines: B5244T (1998–2006, Be Careful) und B5244T3 (1998–2006, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the 2.4L Turbo!
The Volvo 2.5L Turbo (Benziner, 209 PS) has the B5254T2 (2.5L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 4 known weaknesses.
The Volvo 2.8L T6 (Benziner, 272 PS) has the B6284T (2.8L T6) — rated: "Be Careful", 4 known weaknesses.
The Volvo 2.9L T6 (Benziner, 272 PS) has the B6294T (2.9L T6) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic gearbox — costly replacement candidate The automatic transmission in the S80 I is considered failure-prone and costly to replace. Repair at a specialist costs €3,000–4,000; Volvo dealers charge up to €6,000–8,000. Regular fluid changes delay failure. Symptoms: Gearbox stops upshifting, vehicle only creeps in first gear, gearbox jumps into neutral from 150,000 km | High | |
| Geartronic automatic wears out without fluid change The Geartronic automatic gearbox in the S80 I requires a fluid change every 50,000–60,000 km. Volvo declared it maintenance-free — which has led to premature failure in many examples. Symptoms: Jerky gear changes, gearbox shifts too late or too early, slip feeling when accelerating from 120,000 km | Medium |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues
A total of 57 weaknesses have been documented for the Volvo S80 1 (1998–2006) — 47 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. One problem engine: D5244T4 (2.4L D5). Typical issues affect Gearbox, Suspension, Electronics, Cooling.
S80 (D5244T, 2001–2006) — Be Careful: Injector seal leaking (Black Death), Timing belt + water pump, EGR valve sooted. Power: 163 PS.
S80 (D5244T4, 2005–2006) — Stay Away!: Injector seal leaking (Black Death), Swirl flap linkage breaks, Timing belt + water pump. Power: 185 PS.
S80 (B5244S, 1998–2006) — Be Careful: Timing belt replacement mandatory, Camshaft adjuster migrates and fails to seal, PCV oil separator clogged. Power: 140 PS.
S80 (B5244T, 1998–2006) — Be Careful: ETM electronic throttle unit faulty, Timing belt + CVVT camshaft adjuster, PCV oil separator clogged. Power: 200 PS.
S80 (B5244T3, 1998–2006) — Be Careful: ETM electronic throttle unit faulty, Timing belt + CVVT adjuster, PCV oil separator clogged. Power: 200 PS.
S80 (B5234T3, 1998–2006) — Be Careful: Turbocharger worn under high load, PCV system critical on turbocharged engine, Timing belt — mandatory water pump replacement. Power: 250 PS.
S80 (B5254T2, 1998–2006) — Be Careful: Timing belt + water pump mandatory, PCV oil separator clogged, Turbo drain pipe seal leaking. Power: 209 PS.
S80 (B6284T, 1998–2002) — Be Careful: Camshaft adjuster leaking + timing belt, Water pump + cooling fan control fails, Air leaks in the boost circuit. Power: 272 PS.
S80 (B5204T5, 1999–2006) — Be Careful: Timing belt + CVVT camshaft adjuster, PCV hose cracks — oil on engine, ETM electronic throttle unit faulty. Power: 179 PS.
S80 (B6294T, 2002–2006) — Be Careful: Gearbox overloaded by torque, Timing belt + camshaft adjusters, Water pump bearing fails prematurely. Power: 272 PS.
What to watch out for with the Volvo S80? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee