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Volvo S80Model year report

2002 Volvo S80 Problems

Complaints
42filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
104,445miles, 33 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 2.9L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Volvo S80 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2002 Volvo S80. The part named most often is fuel system, with 12 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (11) and brakes (4). 33 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 104,445 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 167 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the fuel pump and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (2), Electronic stability control (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Body and structure (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “Over the last 1.5 ' 2 years the vehicle 2002 Volvo S80 has displayed a fuel odor in the interior of the vehicle and close proximity of the exterior in the summer months. June of 2008 received warranty notice from Volvo that there has been a voluntarily extended warranty to cover the fuel pump for vehicles that displayed a fuel odor. January 8, 2009 I took the vehicle to the local Volvo dealership for routine maintenance and displayed the letter sent by Volvo in regards to the failure of the fuel pump. …”

NHTSA complaint #10254386, filed 2009-01, 141,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “When the vehicle warms up from start it will not move forward or reverse it started at like 30 miles and I parked the car till I could get it fixed now when the car just warms up (not gets hot) it will not engage trans I have on more senser to check but the car will move when you first start it both forward and back but when it warms up it stops”

NHTSA complaint #11145069, filed 2018-11, 180,000 miles

Brakes: “Volvo S80 2002 -pa .while reversing rear wheel locked and car could not be driven.parking brake not engaged. Car towed to Volvo dealer. On assessment dealer indicated that parking shoes froze up and delaminated causing collateral damage. Another possibility was that parking cable froze up and parking shoes delaminated. Car had approx 85000 miles. Either way this is a defect if occurred on the highway would have had disastrous consequence. Irrespective of age of car cable cannot freeze. Car has always been serviced by dealer. All maintenance done by dealer as recommended by manufacturer. …”

NHTSA complaint #10336366, filed 2010-06, 85,000 miles

Electrical system: “The cars automatic transmission will shift to the reverse position without giving any warning under the normal driving condition in its drive position. When it shifts to reverse by itself on the freeway I notice the nose of the car will drop lower and if my foot press on the gas paddle the car will act as braking and engine is making noise. I notice on the dashboard and shifter the gear sign indication is toggle in between 'd' and 'r', when I press on the gas paddle the sign will change to 'r' and as I release my foot off the gas paddle the sign will change back to 'd'. …”

NHTSA complaint #10282345, filed 2009-08, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

21% of the 33 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 63,000 and 141,000 miles.

3%0–106%10–2512%25–509%50–7515%75–10033%100–15021%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (33 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 104,445 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’03’05’08’106’12’15’176’21
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Volvo S80. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
S80 · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2002 Volvo S80 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
S80/S80 Executive FWD2.9L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172319$4,350
S80/S80 Executive FWD2.9L 6-cyl4-speed automatic162319$4,350

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 Volvo S80 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 167 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 167 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo S80

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2016659,8002—29—Not enough data
2015736,0002—29—Not enough data
2013851,0003—22—Not enough data
2012851,2823—23—Not enough data
2011525,0004—22—Not enough data
20102747,9005—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Stable
20091670,0005—20—Falling
20082667,2507—19Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20072490,0005—19—Falling
20061260,5003—22—Not enough data
200515102,0005—22—Falling
20045099,0004—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20032650,7535—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200242104,4454—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200116463,2947—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200031878,0004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199919981,6564—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Volvo S80 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Volvo S80 have?

NHTSA recorded 42 consumer complaints for the 2002 Volvo S80 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Volvo S80 is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 12 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 11.

Has the 2002 Volvo S80 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Volvo S80 get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Volvo S80 (S80/S80 Executive, 2.9L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Volvo S80 reported?

Among the 33 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 104,445 miles and the middle half falls between 63,000 and 141,000 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.