2002 Volvo S80: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 42 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (20% 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 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V681000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2021
“The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the odometer would go black. The contact stated that the electrical system of the vehicle would fail causing all of the functions to start flashing, the brakes to stutter, and the transmission to fail. The contact stated no warning lights would be illuminated as the control panel would go black. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to have it diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2018
“When the vehicle warms up from start it will not move forward or reverse it started at like 30 miles and I parked the car till I could get it fixed now when the car just warms up (not gets hot) it will not engage trans I have on more senser to check but the car will move when you first start it both forward and back but when it warms up it stops”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“Fuel pump flange is leaking fuel, causing fuel smell throughout cabin of vehicle. Fuel pump flange recalled for defects due to temperature extremes, thermocycling and fuel quality,”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2017
“I HAD A GAS LEAK AT 141,000 MILES.. HAVE TO PAY $889.00 BUCKS TO REPAIR OR THE SAID I COULD CATCH FIRE.. PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL [XXX] THANKS.. IT'S HAPPENS WHEN I WAS DRIVING WAS THIS A RECALLED PART? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. While driving 30 mph, the accelerator pedal traveled to the floorboard and smoke appeared under the hood. The vehicle was taken to several unknown independent mechanics who determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.”Owner report · Engine · May 2017
“My volvo s80 spontaneously combusted in my driveway, when I was away from home. The car had not been driven for approximately two hours, when it caught fire (under the hood) and burned.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · May 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to start when the key was turned in the ignition. The contact also stated the vehicle hesitated to start even with a full tank of fuel. The contact noticed a fuel leak and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline), but the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was 248,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Apr 2017
“We have a 2002 volvo s 80 that had a fuel pump leak that looks like our model had an issue with. We had a strong gas smell inside the car. There's a campaign number to it... 09v483000. We're still having an issue with it.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2015
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact S80 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 S80 reliable?
NHTSA has 42 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2002 Volvo S80. The most complained-about area is power train (20% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo S80 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 104,445 miles or less.
Does the 2002 Volvo S80 have open recalls?
5 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.