AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
2002 Volvo V70
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 76 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Volvo V70, most frequently naming the fuel system, driver assistance and transmission categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 213 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 6 |
| Nov 2003 | 3 | 9 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 2004 | 2 | 12 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 13 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Jul 2004 | 3 | 17 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 18 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 19 |
| Aug 2005 | 2 | 21 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 22 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 23 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 25 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 26 |
| Feb 2009 | 2 | 28 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 29 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 30 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 31 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 32 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 33 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 34 |
| Nov 2010 | 2 | 36 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 37 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 38 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 39 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 40 |
| Oct 2011 | 2 | 42 |
| Nov 2011 | 2 | 44 |
| Jan 2012 | 3 | 47 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 48 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 49 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 50 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 51 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 52 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 54 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 56 |
| Oct 2014 | 3 | 59 |
| Nov 2014 | 1 | 60 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 61 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 62 |
| Jul 2016 | 1 | 63 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 64 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 65 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 66 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 67 |
| May 2018 | 1 | 68 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 69 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 70 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 71 |
| Jun 2020 | 1 | 72 |
| Oct 2021 | 1 | 73 |
| Dec 2021 | 1 | 74 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 75 |
| May 2023 | 1 | 76 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system1315.1%
- Driver assistance1214.0%
- Transmission910.5%
- Powertrain (other)89.3%
- Airbags78.1%
- Electrical67.0%
- Engine55.8%
- Brakes55.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
ON NOVEMBER 14, 2006 VOLVO SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING ETM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999 THROUGH 2001 VOLVO MODELS (NOT INCLUDING THE S40 AND V40), MY 2002 S60 AND V70 WITH NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINES AND MY 2002 V70S.ACCORDING TO VOLVO, ?A COMBINATION OF THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR IRREGULARITIES, A DIRTY THROTTLE HOUSING AND/OR INEFFICIENT SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAY CAUSE A WARNING LAMP TO LIGHT AND THE SUBSEQUENT ONSET OF LIMP HOME MODES.VOLVO FURTHER STATED THAT,THIS RESULTED IN A HIGH NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES GOING INTO LIMP HOME MODE WITHOUT NEED.?VOLVO INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE MOST SEVERE CONSEQUENCE OF AN ETM FAULT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE RECALL REMEDY IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE INTRODUCED BY VOLVO ON MARCH 16, 2006 IN A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM.AT THE TIME OF THE NOTIFICATION 161,202 VEHICLES OF THE POPULATION OF 331,301 HAD ALREADY HAD THE SOFTWARE UPLOADED AND WERE THEREFORE NOT INCLUDED IN THE POPULATION COUNT OF THE RECALL. ODI?S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND VOLVO, VOLVO FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY DATA FOUND THAT ETM FAILURE COULD RESULT IN (1) ENGINE STALL; (2) MECHANICAL LIMP MODE; (3) LUNGING FORWARD DURING LOW-SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS; AND (4) FALTERING DURING HIGH SPEED MERGES OR WHEN CROSSING TRAFFIC.ODI IDENTIFIED 12 CRASHES RELATED TO ETM FAILURE, WITH 6 CAUSED BY LUNGING INCIDENTS, 3 CAUSED BY STALLING INCIDENTS, 2 CAUSED BY MECHANICAL LIMP MODE AND 1 FROM THE FALTERING CONDITION.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT DATA AND INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM CONSUMER INTERVIEWS IDENTIFIED 1,289 INCIDENTS WITH SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES (389.1 PER 100,000 VEHICLES), INCLUDING 479 INVOLVING ENGINE STALL (144.6 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND 729 INVOLVING MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (220.0 PER 100,000 VEHICLES).ODI'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY CLAIM NARRATIVE TEXT SHOWS AT LEAST 14,965 WARRANTY CLAIMS WITH CODES INDICATING AN ETM FAULT RESULTING IN VEHICLE OPERATION IN MECHANICAL LIMP MODE (4.5% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES). VOLVO?S RECALL ADDRESSES ODI?S SAFETY CONCERNS WITH ETM FAILURES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF ADDITIONAL ACTION IS REQUIRED.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo XC70. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V800000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- NHTSA ID
- 11524017
- Incident
- Oct 14, 2021
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo XC70. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V800000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- NHTSA ID
- 11460504
- Incident
- Apr 5, 2022
The contact owns a 2002 Volvo XC70. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V800000 (Air Bags) however, there were no dealers nearby to her for service. The nearest dealer that was 275 miles away from her location had been notified about the issue and informed her that they could not provide transportation or towing services. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact stated that the responsibility of the repair should be on the manufacturer and that arrangements should be made to service the vehicle. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- NHTSA ID
- 11445097
- Incident
- Dec 14, 2021
In April 2021 I drove my newly acquired Volvo V70 wagon from Mississippi to my home in RI. Once I reached in and around NYC, the car began to surge forward as I applied the brakes at stop lights/signs. This became most pronounced at the GW Bridge Toll area, in high slow-moving traffic. Several times the car almost got out of control as the brakes were barely enough to stop the car from ramming into other vehicles. Cars and huge trucks were honking their horns as I broke, swerved, smoke clouds from high idling in neutral, and peeling rubber as I moved forward from standing still. I was trapped as there is no place to pull over to the sides to a breakdown lane. It eventually stopped surging but has threatened to do it in RI. I asked the mechanic about it when I had to get the car inspected. He basically said he would have to see the vehicle when it was happening. I am just funding out about Recall information and filing a report. I really want to have any necessary repairs made because the car performs well otherwise...AND I am hoping to give the car for my daughter to use as she starts her new job, but want to make sure it is safe first. I feel I would know how to handle it if it surges again (throw it in neutral, brake and pull to safe place, etc), but can't trust that she would be able to handle this emergency situation.
- NHTSA ID
- 11437917
- Incident
- Apr 24, 2021
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE GAS CAP AND THE VEHICLE BUT FOUND NO FUEL LEAKS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL ODOR WAS NOT OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11331072
- Incident
- Dec 31, 2019
- Mileage
- 198,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO XC70. -THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES, THEN IT RUNS. -UNKNOWN CAUSE -THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ONE OF THE VISITS TO THE DEALER ( 3 YEARS AGO ) UNIVERSITY VOLVO, 7716 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28262, WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 09V483000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE ). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THIS LAST TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11253352
- Incident
- Sep 4, 2019
- Mileage
- 42,000 mi
COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER DOES NOT WORK. NO FUEL GAUGE TACHOMETER TEMPERATURE OR SPEEDOMETER. I'VE TALKED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THAT EXACT SAME PROBLEM. IT CUTS IN AND OUT RANDOMLY BUT THAT WAS IN THE BEGINNING NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING OR HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. I HAVE RAN OUT OF GAS A FEW TIMES WHILE MOVING SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS IN THERE. I KEEP WORRYING ABOUT GETTING A TICKET SINCE I DON'T KNOW HOW FAST I'M GOING
- NHTSA ID
- 11218246
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2018
- Mileage
- 151,098 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLVO CARS EDINBURGH (4221 US 281 BUS, EDINBURGH, TX 78539) FOR AN EVALUATION, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE DEALER DECLINED THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH A STRONG FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A WRITTEN DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT RENDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- NHTSA ID
- 11133339
- Incident
- Oct 4, 2018
- Mileage
- 137,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE
This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section
This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session: •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V. •Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a VOE (Volvo OBD to Ethernet) adapter and perform a NEW vehicle readout.
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle. The corrective action is to download SP Software. S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.
Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles. Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle. The corrective action is to download SP Software. S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 48.0 |
| 2007 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 43.9 |
| 2005 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 44.0 |
| 2004 | 83 | 6 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2003 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 46.4 |
| 2002Viewing | 76 | 6 | 2 | 59.6 |
| 2001 | 221 | 9 | 2 | 57.2 |
| 2000 | 93 | 6 | 3 | 61.5 |
| 1999 | 169 | 4 | 5 | 55.7 |
| 1998 | 187 | 5 | 5 | 63.6 |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.