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Volvo XC70Model year report

2002 Volvo XC70 Problems

Complaints
35filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
81,442miles, 32 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Volvo XC70 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2002 Volvo XC70. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 14 complaints (40% of the total), followed by fuel system (7) and vehicle speed control (7). 32 of the complaints include a mileage, and 19% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 81,442 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 165 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the fuel pump and 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: Steering (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “2002 Volvo cross country transmission problem. The vehicle has 143,000 and transmission is going bad. According to the mechanic this is a common problem. The transmission slips and jerks when gearing down. I was going through an intersection and the transmission slipped and almost caused me to get hit. The mechanic said that I will have to replace the valve body in the amount of $2300.”

NHTSA complaint #10349595, filed 2010-08, 143,000 miles

Fuel system: “Volvo xc v70 2002 ocean race edition has developed a strong gasoline smell after driving. There is no 1) leakage under vehicle, 2) check engine light, or 3) apparent reduction in mileage or performance. I also replaced the gas cap, but nothing changed. We keep our Volvo in the garage under our house and the gasoline smell has become so bad that we are nervous about leaving it there at night since the upstairs begins to smell like gasoline. We do not know if we are creating a real safety hazard because of this car? …”

NHTSA complaint #11072312, filed 2018-02, 138,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “I have a 2002 Volvo XC70, 110k miles with an etm defect that the dealership will not replace. According to your website it is covered under the new 10 year/ 200k miles warranty. The check engine light it on that displaces the etm code. I took it howard orloff in chicago this morning and they will not replace the part under warranty. The car accelerates and decelerates while driving - it is not safe.”

NHTSA complaint #10323954, filed 2010-04, 110,000 miles

Engine cooling: “I noticed one day that there was suddenly a pause when the lower automatic gears were shifting, perhaps from first to second gear during acceleration. If my foot was on the accelerator, the car lurched forward with a startling, loud thud when the gear seemed to engage. If I recognized this was happening and lifted my foot off the accelerator, the car hovered in between gears for a second or two then changed gears. Scary!”

NHTSA complaint #10352637, filed 2010-08, 93,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

19% of the 32 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 128,000 miles.

3%0–103%10–2513%25–5025%50–7522%75–10028%100–1506%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (32 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 81,442 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’04’06’08’1010’12’15’18
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.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2002 Volvo XC70 → · 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. 165 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 165 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo XC70

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2016727,3502—26—Not enough data
2015628,7001—27—Not enough data
2013815,3002—21—Not enough data
20121425,0002—21—Not enough data
20111538,0003—21—Falling
20101528,5005—18—Falling
20091563,2235—18—Falling
20083971,5008—17Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20072585,3752—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200618101,0002—19—Falling
20052771,1432—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200410190,0003—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200324115,5524—19—Stable
20023581,4424——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20016679,0005——Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Volvo XC70 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Volvo XC70 have?

NHTSA recorded 35 consumer complaints for the 2002 Volvo XC70 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Volvo XC70 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 14 complaints (40% of the total), followed by fuel system with 7.

Has the 2002 Volvo XC70 been recalled?

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

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Volvo XC70 reported?

Among the 32 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 81,442 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 128,000 miles; 19% 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.

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.