Total Complaints
32 filings
VOLVO V70XC · model year
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.
Total Complaints
32 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN | 4 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
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.
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
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?
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?
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
THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPAIRED, SPENDING 700 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. *TR
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
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
TRANSMISSION FAILS AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS (UPDATED SOFTWARE) IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. *TR
Mileage: 99,001
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
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
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
TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS AND OCCASIONALLY SLIPPING. *TR
Mileage: 78,000
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
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
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
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
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
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
FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR
Mileage: 81,203
FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR
Mileage: 81,203
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.