2002 Volvo S60 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
186 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
89,126 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 145 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 28 of 186 complaints (15.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 43 | 23.1% |
| Braking behavior | 13 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 26 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 15 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Tires | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
Electrical System: 28; Fuel System, Gasoline: 26; Fuel/Propulsion System: 25; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 15; Air Bags: 12; Tires: 12; Unknown Or Other: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 44 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 44; 150,000 and above: 22
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 19 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
2002: 2; 2003: 14; 2004: 12; 2005: 12; 2006: 9; 2007: 11; 2008: 14; 2009: 11; 2010: 11; 2011: 19; 2012: 18; 2013: 9; 2014: 11; 2015: 11; 2016: 5; 2017: 8; 2018: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10202380 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V152000 I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH MY FUEL PUMP ON MY 2002 VOLVO S60, BUT BECAUSE I AM NOT IN ARIZONA OR NEVADA, VOLVO WON'T REPLACE MY FUEL PUMP. JUST BECAUSE I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA DOESN'T MEAN HAVE LESS CHANCE OF A FIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 67,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202387 · 2007-09-10 (September 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S60. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V152000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP). HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT, BUT STATED THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005726 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
2002 VOLVO S60 SUDDENLY STOPPED ON A BUSY TWO-LANE HIGHWAY/COMPLETE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM FAILURE/UNABLE TO RE-START CAR/CAR TOWED TO DEALER/DEALER ABLE TO RESTART CAR AFTER CAR SAT UNTOUCHED ON LOT FOR SEVERAL DAYS/TWO DIFFERENT VOLVO DEALERSHIPS LOOKED AT CAR AND WERE UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY FAILURE OCCURRED/(CAR ALSO HAD TO HAVE BRAKE SENSOR PAD REPLACED BECAUSE OF INTERMITANT CRUISE CONTROL FAILURE AND SHIFTING COLUMN LOCK UP; STILL EXPERIENCE POOR AM RADIO RECEPTION WHILE RECHARGING CELL PHONE)
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036711 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
1) DRIVER'S SEAT SHIFTS REARWARD ON ACCELERATION AND SHIFTS FORWARD ON BRAKING. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 3 OR MORE TIMES, BUT IT RE-PPEARS SHORTLY AFTER REPAIR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK 2) VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS (MANUAL TRANSMISSION). GEAR CHANGES ARE VERY 'JERKY', THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE SHIFTED SMOOTHLY. VOLVO RECOMMENDS LETTING THE CLUTCH SLIP MORE, BUT THIS ONLY MASKS THE PROBLEM. 3) VOLVO ACKNOWLEDGES AN ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT REFUSES TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052667 · 2004-01-08 (January 8, 2004)
I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION, CAR WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC, CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE MANY MANY TIMES. THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. I HAVE SENT 9 EMAILS TO THEIR HEAD QUARTERS SINCE 12/5, NO REPLY. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131977 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
DT: VEHICLE STALLED/DIED/OST POWER WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH DUE TO THROTTLE BODY FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005730 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
BULB POSITION FAILURE ERROR MESSAGE. I HAVE BROUGHT IN THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT NO BULBS WERE OUT AND THAT THEY CHECKED ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS AND EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYING AGAIN. SEEMS MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND VOLVO SEEMS TO BE JUST BRUSHING OFF THE ISSUE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CORREC IT. EITHER THERE IS AN ELECRICAL PROBLEM OR A WIRING HARNESS PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055217 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S STEERING AND GAS PEDAL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK IT CONTINUED TO MOVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM THE IGNITION CHIP HAD TO BE REPLACED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FROZEN AND THE WINDOWS WERE UNCONTROLLABLY MOVING UPWARD AND DOWNWARD, WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061129 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
STEERING WHEEL FROZE AND VEHICLE COULD NOT ACCELERATE. TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND OUT THAT THE CAUSE WAS A DEFECT IN THE AXLE. *LA WHEN THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE IGNITION CHIP HAD TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061129 at NHTSA ↗