Most common 2002 Volvo V70XC problems
Share of the 27 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo V70XC complaints by model year
Best V70XC years: 2004, 2003, 2002. Years to avoid: 2001, 2000, 1999. Compare all years →
2002 Volvo V70XC recalls (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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Volvo V70XC:
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…
What 2002 Volvo V70XC owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Volvo v70 xc cross country at the speed of 30 MPH and trying to accelerate the vehicle stalled. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. The control panel lights turned on, and she pulled off to the side of the road. The contact turned the ignition off and called the Volvo mechanic. They advised her to restart the vehicle, and while trying to start the vehicle ,the instrument panel stayed on. The Volvo mechanic urged her to have the vehicle towed. The contact had the transmission replaced two weeks prior to this incident, and had the vehicle fully serviced. The contact drove the vehicle home. The contact stated that there was recall 06V441000 on the 2002 Volvo concerning the vehicle speed control; she stated that the dealership informed her that this vehicle was not included in the recall. …
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.
Fuel & 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.
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?
Speed control & acceleration
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.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 Volvo v70 xc cross country at the speed of 30 MPH and trying to accelerate the vehicle stalled. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. The control panel lights turned on, and she pulled off to the side of the road. The contact turned the ignition off and called the Volvo mechanic. They advised her to restart the vehicle, and while trying to start the vehicle ,the instrument panel stayed on. The Volvo mechanic urged her to have the vehicle towed. The contact had the transmission replaced two weeks prior to this incident, and had the vehicle fully serviced. The contact drove the vehicle home. The contact stated that there was recall 06V441000 on the 2002 Volvo concerning the vehicle speed control; she stated that the dealership informed her that this vehicle was not included in the recall. …
2002 Volvo V70XC engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 5-cyl turbo | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 23 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Volvo V70XC a good car?
Based on 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 V70XC rates better than average: 61% fewer complaints than a typical year of the V70XC at the same age. It is one of the best V70XC years by this measure. 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 V70XC?
The transmission & drivetrain — 12 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (7) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Volvo V70XC have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Volvo V70XC, the most recent from February 2, 2004 (brake lights). 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 V70XC?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2000 and 1999. See the full Volvo V70XC years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo V70XC problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 99,000 miles; 9% 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.