Most common 2002 Volvo V70 problems
Share of the 76 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo V70 complaints by model year
Best V70 years: 2008, 2009, 2010. Years to avoid: 1998, 2001, 1999, 2000, 2004. Compare all years →
2002 Volvo V70 recalls (6)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2007 V70 and XC70 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 December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552.
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.
Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration May cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.
Remedy: Dealers will install the current software upgrade onto the involved vehicles. The recall began on December 29, 2006. Owners May contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake light relay with two relays of a modified design. Owner notification began on February 23, 2004. Owners should contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the second isofix guide was not installed in these vehicles and, in certain cases, the owner's manual isofix information is incorrect.
Remedy: Owners will receive a letter/package consisting of the second isofix guide with installation instructions, and in certain cases, the corrected owner's manual May be provided.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Volvo V70:
Throttle control malfunction
Pe05-041 was opened on July, 26, 2005, based on 136 consumer complaints to odi alleging throttle control malfunctions in the subject vehicles.odi has now received 591 complaints of etm failures which allege symptoms with potential safety related consequences.these include allegations of engine stall, vehicle surging forward without accelerator input, vehicle hesitation upon acceleration and sudden and unexpected…
Throttle control malfunction
On November 14, 2006 Volvo submitted a defect information report to NHTSA concerning etm failures in model year (my) 1999 through 2001 Volvo models (not including the s40 and v40), my 2002 s60 and v70 with naturally aspirated engines and my 2002 v70s.according to Volvo, ?a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing and/or inefficient software calibration May cause a warning…
What 2002 Volvo V70 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving at 50 MPH front driver's side wheel separated from the vehicle. When the wheel separated the air bags deployed. Consumer lost control of the vehicle and collided with another vehicle. The police arrived and cited the consumer. Vehicle was examined by a certified mechanic, who informed the consumer that the shaft broke, causing the wheel to come off, and the collision to occur.
Transmission began slipping around 90,000 miles. Changing from 2nd to 3rd was a pressurized build up resulting in a lunge forward or bucking of vehicle. Several times trying to get across traffic lanes almost resulted in near crash due to transmission not changing gear. Putting car in gear resulted in a bucking forward or lunge. Volvo advised a new transmission but advised us of a computer download that might fix the problem. After the download the car drove great for about three weeks. Then it began again. When on a trip the jerking in changing was so violent the gas line was forced loose from the fuel filter causing a stall in traffic. Fortunately we were able to push the car out of traffic and waited for a mechanic to arrive to re-install the line to the filter. …
Fuel & propulsion system
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volvo V70. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle started spot fueling and lost power shortly afterwards. The check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road where the contact noticed that the vehicle was leaking fuel from the top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (barret auto. In alpine, al) where the technician diagnosed that the flange inside the tank was defective. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and hung up on the contact after stating that a recall was performed in 2010. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000. ...updated 08/08/17 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 08/10/2017
The vehicle stalls or goes into "limp" mode often upon acceleration, but also apparently randomly. There is a recall for the same model of a different year described as "vehicles going into the limp home mode without need". I took it to a Volvo mechanic and he found no problem, but he cleaned some parts and charged me. It still happens and is dangerous since the car could stall in traffic. It has happened over 100 times. I called Volvo "support" and they said they could do nothing since there is no recall on that model. They offered no technical support which I thought was the least they should do. I would like to get it fixed, but Volvo is of no help. At least they should offer technical support even if there is no recall.
Speed control & acceleration
In April 2021 I drove my newly acquired Volvo V70 wagon from Mississippi to my home in RI. Once I reached in and around NYC, the car began to surge forward as I applied the brakes at stop lights/signs. This became most pronounced at the GW Bridge Toll area, in high slow-moving traffic. Several times the car almost got out of control as the brakes were barely enough to stop the car from ramming into other vehicles. Cars and huge trucks were honking their horns as I broke, swerved, smoke clouds from high idling in neutral, and peeling rubber as I moved forward from standing still. I was trapped as there is no place to pull over to the sides to a breakdown lane. It eventually stopped surging but has threatened to do it in RI. I asked the mechanic about it when I had to get the car inspected. He basically said he would have to see the vehicle when it was happening. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volvo V70. After starting the vehicle, a loud rumbling noise was heard coming from the engine. In addition, the vehicle accelerated independently and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that the instrument panel was dark and not functioning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle control and driver information module needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 06V441000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.
2002 Volvo V70 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 2.3L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Volvo V70 a good car?
Based on 76 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 V70 rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the V70 at the same age. It is one of the V70 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 V70?
The transmission & drivetrain — 17 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (13) and speed control & acceleration (12).
How many recalls does the 2002 Volvo V70 have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2002 Volvo V70, the most recent from October 14, 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 V70?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2009 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 2001, 1999, 2000 and 2004. See the full Volvo V70 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo V70 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 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.