2002 Volvo S80 Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2002 Volvo S80.

20012003
Complaints
59
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2002 Volvo S80 Problems

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

#17 complaints

Fuel System

Avg mileage:166,200 mi
Fires:1
#25 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:99,111 mi
#34 complaints

Electrical Faults

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Volvo S80.

Fuel System
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
166,200
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,111
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Hydraulic Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Parking-Brake Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Volvo S80. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2002 Volvo S80

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 S80 Years

2002 Volvo S80 — FAQ

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

Is the 2002 Volvo S80 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2002 Volvo S80 has 59 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Volvo S80?
Top reported problems: Fuel System (7 complaints, avg 166,200 mi); Automatic Transmission (5 complaints, avg 99,111 mi); Electrical Faults (4 complaints). 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 S80?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 138,246 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 S80?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Volvo S80 include 1 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 0 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 S80 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 S80?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

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

Wider context: See the full Volvo S80 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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