vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Volvo V70 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

76 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

100,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 76 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting1722.4%
Braking behavior1317.1%
Engine operation1013.2%
Fuel system concerns79.2%
Steering behavior33.9%
Electrical and battery issues22.6%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
7
Air Bags
6
Electrical System
6
Power Train
6
Exterior Lighting
3
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission9
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Air Bags6
Electrical System6
Power Train6
Exterior Lighting3
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights3

Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 6; Exterior Lighting: 3; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
10
100,000 to 149,999
19
150,000 and above
11
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,99910
100,000 to 149,99919
150,000 and above11

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 11

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 19 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.

2002
2
2003
8
2004
8
2005
4
2006
1
2007
2
2008
1
2009
5
2010
5
2011
8
2012
6
2013
3
2014
7
2016
3
2017
4
2018
2
2019
2
2020
1
2021
2
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20022
20038
20048
20054
20061
20072
20081
20095
20105
20118
20126
20133
20147
20163
20174
20182
20192
20201
20212
20221
20231

2002: 2; 2003: 8; 2004: 8; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 5; 2010: 5; 2011: 8; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 7; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10034087 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

THREE TIMES DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JUMPED FORWARD INTO TRAFFIC. DEALER SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK WINDOWS SQUEAK WHEN ROLLED DOWN. STEERING WHEEL BOOT WAS NOT IN PLACE.*TS

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034087 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10055370 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)

DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE DURING COLD WEATHER, THE DRIVER NOTICED A HESITATION WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SLIGHT "CRUNCHING" SOUND. AT A LATER DATE, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROX. 35-45 MPH ON A ROAD WITH HILLS (UP AND DOWN). WHILE DRIVING UP AN INCLINE, THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SAME HESITATION AND HEARD A HORRIBLE "PUNCHING" SOUND. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE RAPIDLY APPROACHED FROM THE REAR. THE OTHER VEHICLE HAD TO SWERVE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE CON…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055370 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045369 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)

I OWN A 2002 VOLVO V70. ON FOUR OCCASIONS THE POWER LOCKS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. AT TIMES, WE ARE UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WITHOUT THE USE OF A REMOTE CONTROL. AT OTHER TIMES, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK THE DOORS UTILIZING THE POWER LOCK CONTROLS. THE LOCKS LAST BROKE ON 11/03/2003. WE HAVE ALSO HAD OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING A POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILURE AND PROBLEMS WITH A BRAKE POSITION SENSOR. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WE ARE FEARFUL THAT THIS CAR MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048466 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)

VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING PUMP, POWER WINDOWS, AND FAULTY BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSORS.*MR (NAR) *CB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048466 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10128192 · 2005-07-09 (July 9, 2005)

DEALER SAYS THROTTLE BODY IN 2002 VOLVO V70 IS FAILING AND WILL PRESENT SAFETY PROBLEM (STALLING ON X-WAY OR INABILITY TO START). DEALER SAYS $1,000 TO REPLACE.NEVER HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS IS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN OVER 35 YEARS OF DRIVING.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128192 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10131436 · 2005-08-03 (August 3, 2005)

DT: VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER TALKED TO MECHANIC HE WARNED CONSUMER OF STALLIN GPROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO A VOLVO FOR REPAIRS. DEALER PAID FOR PARTS AND CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR WORK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 53,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10131436 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049178 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)

MY NEW VOLVO V70 WITH ONLY 7000 MILES ALMOST TOOK MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY 18 MONTH OLD SON'S LIFE! I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FOUR LANE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER MOTIONED ME TO PULL ASIDE. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE SO I PULLED OVER. THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! WHEN I LOOKED BACK THE CAR HAD FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE CAR AND THE GAS TANK EXPLODED! I WAS ABLE TO TAKE NOTHING WITH ME, I LOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR DOWN TO MY PURSE! THE SADDEST PART ABOUT MY S…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049178 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10462301 · 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUEL PUMP) WHICH WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10462301 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070127 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

VOLVO RELUCTANTLY RELEASED US FROM OUR LEASE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. OUR FIRST VOLVO EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THEY PUT US IN ANOTHER VOLVO WHICH EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS ON VOLVO OF DALLAS' PART TO REPAIR OUR CAR THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PERFORMING PROPERLY EITHER WHEN VOLVO RELEASED US FROM THE LEASE. THE DEALERSHIP, AREA/REGIONAL DIRECTORS, AND VOLVO CORPORATION PRACTICED POOR BUSINESS ETIQUETTE ON ALL ACCOUNTS IN OUR OPINION.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070127 at NHTSA ↗