Complaints
34
Crashes
5
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Volvo S40 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#13 complaints
Electrical Faults
#23 complaints
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
#32 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Volvo S40.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brakes | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear:Springs | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Horn
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear:Springs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Volvo S40. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Volvo S40 Years
2002 Volvo S40 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Volvo S40 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2002 Volvo S40 has 34 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 3 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Volvo S40?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (3 complaints); Exterior Lighting:Headlights (3 complaints); Air Bags:Frontal (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2002 Volvo S40?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Volvo S40 include 5 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Volvo S40 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Volvo S40 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Volvo S40?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Volvo S40 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Volvo S40
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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