VOLVO V70XC · model year

2002 VOLVO V70XC

32 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002VOLVOV70XC carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 V70XC is power train:automatic transmission with 7 filings, followed by power train (4) and fuel/propulsion system (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2002 V70XC. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

32
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

32 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
POWER TRAIN4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
EQUIPMENT1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SUSPENSION1

Recalls (1)

04V05100002/02/2004

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE HIGH POSITIONED BRAKE LIGHT AND ALL OTHER TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

Recent Complaints

20160404FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLANK FRACTURED AND BOTH THE FLANK AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

20150616FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1) FUEL SMELL, AND HARDER TO START ENGINE. ENGINE CRANK W/O PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS STARTED AROUND JULY 4TH LAST YEAR, GETTING SEVER AND MORE OFTEN. TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL VOLVO, BUT THEY SAID "NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR" EVEN THOUGH MULTIPLE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS ARE REPORTED, THEN TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE FINALLY, TODAY MECHANIC CALLS AND SAYS "FUEL PUMP FAILURE". 2) TRANSMISSION SLIP, "SHOCK" WHEN SHIFT UP, AROUND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, ALSO MANY USER COMPLAIN AISIN-MADE TRANSMISSION SLIPS/SHOCK WHEN SHIFT UP, PROGRAM/SOFTWEAR UPDATE SOLVES SOME USERS BUT NO ALL, LOCAL DEALER SAYS "UPDATE COSTS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS, BECAUSE OF NO RECALL", ALSO THEY SAY "BUT MAY NOT SOLVE PROBLEM" WHY THEY DON'T SEE ANY RECALL FOR MY CAR, OR WHY I CANNOT GET ANY SUPPORT FROM VOLVO, EVEN MANY USER COMPLAIN SAME SYMPTOMS?

20150616VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1) FUEL SMELL, AND HARDER TO START ENGINE. ENGINE CRANK W/O PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS STARTED AROUND JULY 4TH LAST YEAR, GETTING SEVER AND MORE OFTEN. TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL VOLVO, BUT THEY SAID "NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR" EVEN THOUGH MULTIPLE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS ARE REPORTED, THEN TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE FINALLY, TODAY MECHANIC CALLS AND SAYS "FUEL PUMP FAILURE". 2) TRANSMISSION SLIP, "SHOCK" WHEN SHIFT UP, AROUND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, ALSO MANY USER COMPLAIN AISIN-MADE TRANSMISSION SLIPS/SHOCK WHEN SHIFT UP, PROGRAM/SOFTWEAR UPDATE SOLVES SOME USERS BUT NO ALL, LOCAL DEALER SAYS "UPDATE COSTS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS, BECAUSE OF NO RECALL", ALSO THEY SAY "BUT MAY NOT SOLVE PROBLEM" WHY THEY DON'T SEE ANY RECALL FOR MY CAR, OR WHY I CANNOT GET ANY SUPPORT FROM VOLVO, EVEN MANY USER COMPLAIN SAME SYMPTOMS?

20150224POWER TRAIN

MY TRANSMISSION IS JERKING BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN SLAMS FORWARD. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS

Mileage: 105,000

20150122FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPAIRED, SPENDING 700 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. *TR

20141002ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FIRST, I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SAYING "SRS AIRBAG URGENT." A FEW DAYS LATER, THE PANEL STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY WORK. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK, I HAVE NO WORKING SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ODOMETER, BLINKERS (ALTHOUGH THEY STILL WORK OUTSIDE THE CAR), OR ANY OTHER LIGHT THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE SHOWN ON THE PANEL. OCCASIONALLY EVERYTHING COMES ON, THEN IT FREEZES, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS BACK OFF. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND THEY TRIED A DIFFERENT PANEL BUT IT HAS TO BE CODED IN AND THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT COMPATIBLE. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD TRY TO SEND IT TO SOMEONE IN CANADA WHO REBUILDS THEM AND RECODES THEM SO THEY CAN BE REINSTALLED, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID TO WAIT UNTIL HE HAS MORE INFORMATION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO HAVE TO GUESS WHAT SPEED I'M GOING AND TO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE LEFT. BOTH MECHANICS HAVE NOT SEEN THIS IN THIS MODEL BEFORE AND SEEM TO THINK IT IS A FAULTY PANEL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NOTE: MILEAGE IS ESTIMATED SINCE I

Mileage: 160,000

20140905FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL SMELL AND LEAK FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK AREA OF FUEL PUMP. VOLVO SPECIALTY SHOP CONTRACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I CALLED SAME DEALERSHIP TO MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A 10 YR EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM AND NOT COVERED. MY CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN VA SINCE AUG 2011. IS IT COVERED BY THIS RECALL NOTICE OR NOT

Mileage: 133,226

20111219POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILS AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS (UPDATED SOFTWARE) IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 99,001

20111205POWER TRAIN

BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT I NOW REALIZE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH LURCHING, REVVING HIGH AND JERKING FORWARD, AND MISSING IN DRIVE (WITH TRANSMISSION). VOLVO HAS TOLD MANY THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM...AT ALL. I HOPE THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED SO THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED THAT WILL FIX THE PARTS/MECHANICS OF THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM, AND NOT WITH BOGUS SOFTWARE UPDATES. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

20110817POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70XC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 15 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD REV, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER PULLING INTO A GARAGE AND THEN TRYING TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 130,000

20110814FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 2002 VOLVO XC 70 SEEMS TO SMELL LIKE GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR. I HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS VOLVO FORUMS REGARDING VOLVO OWNERS THAT HAS THE SAME OR SIMILAR CONCERNS. THIS CANT BE GOOD FOR THE DRIVER(MYSELF) OR THE VEHICLE. ANY INSIGHT ON A RECALL WOULD BE WONDERFUL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 151,500

20110619POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND OCCASIONALLY SLIPPING. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

20110310SUSPENSION

TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO LOWER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND THEN PUTTING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. VOLVO DEALER RECOMMENDS HAVING BODY REPLACED AT A COST OF @2200 AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CURE. ALSO, IN JUNE 2001 AT 86,488 I HAD TO HAVE THE LEFT FRONT STRUT MOUNT, SWAY BAR LINKS AND ENGINE TORQUE ROD MOUNT REPLACED. UPDATED 03/10/11 *BF

20110310POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO LOWER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND THEN PUTTING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. VOLVO DEALER RECOMMENDS HAVING BODY REPLACED AT A COST OF @2200 AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CURE. ALSO, IN JUNE 2001 AT 86,488 I HAD TO HAVE THE LEFT FRONT STRUT MOUNT, SWAY BAR LINKS AND ENGINE TORQUE ROD MOUNT REPLACED. UPDATED 03/10/11 *BF

20110310ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO LOWER GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN A CORNER AND THEN PUTTING FOOT ON ACCELERATOR. VOLVO DEALER RECOMMENDS HAVING BODY REPLACED AT A COST OF @2200 AND IT MIGHT NOT BE THE CURE. ALSO, IN JUNE 2001 AT 86,488 I HAD TO HAVE THE LEFT FRONT STRUT MOUNT, SWAY BAR LINKS AND ENGINE TORQUE ROD MOUNT REPLACED. UPDATED 03/10/11 *BF

20101216CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PULLING INTO RESTAURANT PARKING SPACE. PUSHED ON BRAKE AND VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD. ENDED UP IN RESTAURANT. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT NEVER ACCIDENTALLY HIT THROTTLE BEFORE. CONCERNED, INSURANCE CHECKED RECALLS AND FOUND A PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 63,321

20101207POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY VOLVO XC70 2002 HAS CHRONIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHICH STARTED AT 70K MILES. THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR LOSES POWER, OR SOMETIMES DOES THIS AT A STOP LIGHT AND LOSES THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. IT HESITATES AND JERKS. I AM READING THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CARS. *TR

Mileage: 30

20101009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2002 VOLVO V70 XC TRANSMISSION. THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AFTER ONLY 105,000 MILES MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. VOLVO DEALER SHIP SAID THAT IT WAS A COMPUTER UPGRADE, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM OF ERRATIC SHIFTING AND JUMPING SHIFTING. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20100418SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR

Mileage: 81,203

20100418SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR

Mileage: 81,203

Compare 2002VOLVOV70XC to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 VOLVO V70XC have?
The 2002 VOLVO V70XC has 32 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 VOLVO V70XC?
Yes, the 2002 VOLVO V70XC has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 VOLVO V70XC?
The most-complained component for the 2002 VOLVO V70XC is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2002 VOLVO V70XC safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.