Most common 2002 Volvo S80 problems
Share of the 42 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S80 complaints by model year
Best S80 years: 2011, 2005, 2012. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2003, 2008. Compare all years →
2002 Volvo S80 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational system(global positioning system)
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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,…
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.
What 2002 Volvo S80 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact stated that there was a fuel smell in the rear of the vehicle behind the rear seats. The contact stated that the fuel could be heard splashing around in the tank when the vehicle was in use. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the flange was cracked and needed to be repaired. The failure caused fuel to leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact stated that the instrument panel malfunctioned and failed to illuminate while driving. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 MPH while the accelerator pedal was depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of an electrical failure that affected the brakes and the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact also mentioned that she had received NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V681000 (Air Bags) however, the part was not yet available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
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
Engine & cooling
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.
Tl contact owns a 2002 Volvo S80. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, there was a sudden increase in engines rpms without warning. The contact powered the vehicle off and back on but the failure recurred. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to be driven without incident. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
2002 Volvo S80 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 2.9L 6-cyl turbo | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Volvo S80 a good car?
Based on 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 S80 rates avoid: 2.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the S80 at the same age. It is one of the S80 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Volvo S80?
The fuel & propulsion system — 12 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (11) and engine & cooling (6).
How many recalls does the 2002 Volvo S80 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2002 Volvo S80, the most recent from September 30, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S80?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2005 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 2004, 2003 and 2008. See the full Volvo S80 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo S80 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 104,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.