KnownCarProblems2002 Volvo S60 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 186 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Volvo S60, most often about the fuel system (37% of complaints, typically around 108,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about S60 model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2002 Volvo S60 problems
Fuel system
69 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 108,000 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, fuel injection system.
I am a resident of texas. I just bought a 2002 Volvo S60 about three months ago, and I've noticed a strong fuel smell in and around car. There is a leak in the fuel pump and when car is parked, fuel forms a puddle under car. It is extremely dangerous to drive a car in this condition, both for myself but also for the…
Began to notice strong fuel smell inside and outside the vehicle. Also noticed that starting the vehicle when engine is cold became more difficult. Researched various forums and NHTSA and discovered that Volvo has had 2 recalls for fuel pumps. My vehicle exhibited same symptoms as detailed in both NHTSA recalls.…
Electrical
36 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator, wiring.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Volvo S60. While the vehicle was stopped and the contact attempted to accelerate, the vehicle shifted into limp home mode. The vehicle would only move 5 MPH. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it; it performed correctly after the restart. The vehicle was taken to an authorized…
Electrical panel fails (gas gauge says empty), passenger and rear door locks, fuel door, and trunk opening also fails. Incredibly dangerous as cannot open the doors unless pulling the door lock up manually from inside the car so therefore can't get to children in the backseat without crawling through the front seat…
Wheels and tires
22 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: sidewall, rim, tread/belt.
With only 6,000 miles on the vehicle, front left tire separated from the rim. Upon inspection, they said nothing was wrong. (nar)
I have a 2002 Volvo S60 AWD with pirelli p6 tires. Back in january I had a blowout after hitting a bump in the road. Now the 3 remaining tires have developed large bubbles in the sidewalls. All 4 of my rims are bent. I have complained to Volvo and pirelli tire. They blame the road conditions in the northeast. They…
Speed control
20 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 89,500 miles.
Two malfunctions exist with the 2002 Volvo S60. The first one is a faulty driver's information module defect that causes a total malfunction of the entire dashboard. Specifically, the dashboard goes completely blank while driving and all of the gauges become inoperable, including the speedometer. Therefore, preventing…
2002 Volvo S60 experienced a very sudden reduction is speed and had to be driven home in limp mode. I brought the car to marten's Volvo where it had the software updated and the throttle cleaned. This sounds very much like it should be covered by NHTSA campaign id number 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). However, the…
Engine
17 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 102,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Volvo S60. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. The indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the throttle…
I was driving on the freeway and without warning the engine lost power and the check engine light came on. I coasted off to the shoulder and the engine would only idle, and even that was rough. The message indicator on the dash said something like "reduced engine performance". I had the car towed to gengras Volvo in…
Transmission
15 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle assembly, manual transmission.
Volvos-60 24t took car to dealer bill gray Volvo for electrical problem and transmission problem. Car was returned to me with air bag passive restraint system inoperable and dealer refuses to correct problem or to even accept responsibility for same.
We are a 2 Volvo family (having purchased them "pre-certified from Volvo 2 and 3 years ago respectively). Both cars (2002 S60 & 2001 cross country) have had to have their transmissions replaced since purchase - mine once (so far) and my husband's three times - all before 55,000 miles. I went online and found literally…
Air bags
12 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 140,000 miles.
Service lights scroll in sporadic motion flipping through constant alerts, check engine light, air bag light, constant electrical problems going on, fuel door wont open, both front seats have electrical problems, obvious burn thru on passenger side indicates its been overheated and dangerous. Everytime I've taken it…
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S60. The contact was driving 10 MPH when another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the vehicle which caused the contact to strike her head on the window and suffer injuries. The front and side air bags did not deploy and the vehicle was destroyed. The contact called the manufacturer…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 89,000 miles.
Two malfunctions exist with the 2002 Volvo S60. The first one is a faulty driver's information module defect that causes a total malfunction of the entire dashboard. Specifically, the dashboard goes completely blank while driving and all of the gauges become inoperable, including the speedometer. Therefore, preventing…
My climate control module computer turns off my A/C for no reason when I turn on the A/C it happens when it is very hot outside. I have had to make numerous trips to the Volvo dealership to have software updated which did not cost anything. When the ccm first started doing this Volvo thought it was my A/C compressor…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Volvo S60 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: Volvo car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began april 20, 2021. Owners may contact volvo car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo car's number for this recall is r10058.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA llc (volvo car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 s80 and s60 vehicles sold or ever registered in alabama, arkansas, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Equipment: navigational system(global positioning system)
Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: If the condition occurs vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on january 15, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 xc90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, utah, virginia and the u.s. Territories. When exposed to certain environmental conditions (hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange.
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump free of charge. The recall began on july 10, 2007. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of arizona and nevada, due to the combination of fuel quality and climate conditions, the fuel pump may, in certain cases, experience a reduced functionality. The most common symptoms would be fuel odor.
Speed control: vehicle speed control
Risk: This resulted in a high number of vehicles going into the limp home mode without need.
Fix: Dealers will install the current software upgrade onto the involved vehicles. The recall began on december 29, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a corrected label. If the owner so desires, a dealer can install the label for them. Owner notification began on december 8, 2003. Owners should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." the tire pressure label is incorrect. These vehicles did not have the "max load vehicle capacity weight" information on the label.
Equipment: labels
Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Fix: Owners will receive a letter/package consisting of the second isofix guide with installation instructions, and in certain cases, the corrected owner's manual may be provided. If the owner wants to take their vehicle to a volvo dealer for installation of the guide, it will be performed at no charge to the owner. Owner notification began on december 19, 2003. Owners should contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the second isofix guide was not installed in these vehicles and, in certain cases, the owner's manual isofix information is incorrect.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Throttle control malfunction
Summary
On november 14, 2006 volvo submitted a defect information report to NHTSA concerning etm failures in model year (my) 1999 through 2001 volvo models (not including the s40 and v40), my 2002 s60 and v70 with naturally aspirated engines and my 2002 v70s.according to volvo, ?a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.volvo further stated that,this resulted in a high number of these vehicles going into limp home mode without need.?volvo indicated that this was the most severe consequence of an etm fault in the subject vehicles.the recall
Throttle control malfunction
Summary
Pe05-041 was opened on july, 26, 2005, based on 136 consumer complaints to odi alleging throttle control malfunctions in the subject vehicles.odi has now received 591 complaints of etm failures which allege symptoms with potential safety related consequences.these include allegations of engine stall, vehicle surging forward without accelerator input, vehicle hesitation upon acceleration and sudden and unexpected transition into reduced performance operation (limp mode).volvo submitted over 2,900 complaints concerning the etm in the subject vehicles during pe05-041.odi's preliminary analysis of a sample the volvo complaints identified approximately 55 percent with one or more of the symptoms
Questions about the 2002 Volvo S60
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Volvo S60?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (69 complaints, typically around 108,000 miles); electrical (36 complaints, typically around 85,000 miles); wheels and tires (22 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Volvo S60 have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 30, 2021 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Volvo S60?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about S60 model year since 2000, with 186 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.