2002 Volvo S60: problems, recalls and reliability
9 recalls and 186 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, gasoline (21% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Sep 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 186 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Message board throttle body position sensor controls the speed of the car is having issues having a problem accelerating”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Jun 2022
“2002 volvo s60. Consumer writes in regards to NHTSA safety recall 21v-766. The consumer stated there were no volvo dealerships within a reasonable distance to perform the repair. The consumer requested to have the necessary parts sent to a local automotive shop.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2022
“The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S60. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V766000 (Air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“Air bag throw shards of metal but volvo say I shouldn't drive it but won't give loaner car, they won't help us at all with the situation”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2021
“Takata recall [xxx]. For my ssn number, driver license number call me for that information I don't like to put it on website so that other people can get it but here's my VIN [xxx] email is [xxx] the whole dashboard my lights won't come on the key wont come out I have to wait 5 or 10 min to wait for it to come out it smell like gas sometimes the keyless wont work I change the thang in the back five times in one month the gear sometime don't work. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2018
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact smelled a fuel odor inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Aug 2017
“Fuel odor noted on passenger side of car, toward the back of vehicle near tank, car has 137,000 miles on it, purchased new, live in kansas and garage kept. No leaks noted under car, vehicle is still starting.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. While driving, the contact noticed an abnormal odor of fuel inside the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer (valenti volvo cars of watertown located at 105 commercial st watertown, ct 06795), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 171,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2017
“Posible taskata recall air bag light on/engine missing bad/tranmission shift fast and hard-sun roof don't works had tune-up done change turbo charger replaced/replaced trollder body-replace the radiator between and a/c evaporator that connect from turbo and troller body rough idleing whild starting and driving on the city streets. I would ask the power train and the speed control to include the electrical system be reviewed for service and any unknown or other.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2017
“Michelin pilot sport as plus tires are chunking on sidewalls and tread coming off in large pieces. Started as cracks then began flying off the tires on the road while driving. Tires have been rotated and inflation checked regularly. The car has an alarm for tire inflation.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 9 campaigns
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
How other years compare
Check your exact S60 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Volvo S60 reliable?
NHTSA has 186 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Volvo S60. The most complained-about area is fuel system, gasoline (21% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo S60 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 90,000 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Volvo S60 have open recalls?
9 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.