2002 Volvo S60 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Volvo S60.

20012003
Complaints
248
Crashes
4
Fires
4
Injuries
8
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2002 Volvo S60 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#128 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:98,509 mi
Fires:1
#226 complaints

Gasoline Fuel System

Avg mileage:111,501 mi
#325 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:137,405 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Volvo S60.

Electrical Faults
28
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
98,509
Gasoline Fuel System
26
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
111,501
Fuel System
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
137,405
Unintended Acceleration
20
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
96,305
Fuel Pump
15
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
94,824
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
140,614
Tire Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
30,494
Engine & Cooling
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
110,325
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
105,800
Tires:Sidewall
6
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,125
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
116,500
Headlight/Taillight Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
153,755
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
54,125
Seat-Related Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
159,333
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
22,000
Electrical System:Ignition
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Other:Delivery:Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Axle Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheels:Rim
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Volvo S60. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Volvo S60

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~313,923 vehicles.

21V766000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~259,383 affected

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.

20V681000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~54,124 affected

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. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.

10V566000Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
~416 affected

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Other Volvo S60 Years

2002 Volvo S60 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2002 Volvo S60 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2002 Volvo S60 has 248 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 28 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Volvo S60?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (28 complaints, avg 98,509 mi); Gasoline Fuel System (26 complaints, avg 111,501 mi); Fuel System (25 complaints, avg 137,405 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Volvo S60?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 101,775 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Volvo S60?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Volvo S60 include 4 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 8 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 S60 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 313,923 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2002 Volvo S60?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2002 Volvo S60 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volvo S60 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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