RoadVitals

2002 Volvo V70XC

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Apr 4, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 2, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Volvo V70XC, most frequently naming the transmission, fuel system and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 37 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Transmission825.8%
  • Fuel system722.6%
  • Powertrain (other)412.9%
  • Driver assistance39.7%
  • Engine26.5%
  • Suspension26.5%
  • Visibility13.2%
  • Electrical13.2%

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

1 campaign 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.gov
04V051000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

Feb 2, 2004
3,242 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT RELAYS MAY NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE HIGH POSITIONED BRAKE LIGHT AND ALL OTHER TAIL LIGHTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
The risk: IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAIL TO COME ON, THERE WILL BE NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS TO INDICATE TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT THE VEHICLE IS DECELERATING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT RELAY WITH TWO RELAYS OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R131View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05041ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTION

Opened Jul 26, 2005
Closed Dec 7, 2005

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.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 27
Fuel system
Filed Apr 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO V70XC. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL FUMES EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FLANK FRACTURED AND BOTH THE FLANK AND THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V483000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10853346
Incident
Feb 15, 2016
Mileage
104,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2015

1) FUEL SMELL, AND HARDER TO START ENGINE. ENGINE CRANK W/O PROBLEM. SYMPTOMS STARTED AROUND JULY 4TH LAST YEAR, GETTING SEVER AND MORE OFTEN. TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL VOLVO, BUT THEY SAID "NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR" EVEN THOUGH MULTIPLE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS ARE REPORTED, THEN TOOK MY CAR TO LOCAL AUTO REPAIR GARAGE FINALLY, TODAY MECHANIC CALLS AND SAYS "FUEL PUMP FAILURE". 2) TRANSMISSION SLIP, "SHOCK" WHEN SHIFT UP, AROUND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, ALSO MANY USER COMPLAIN AISIN-MADE TRANSMISSION SLIPS/SHOCK WHEN SHIFT UP, PROGRAM/SOFTWEAR UPDATE SOLVES SOME USERS BUT NO ALL, LOCAL DEALER SAYS "UPDATE COSTS ABOUT 200 DOLLARS, BECAUSE OF NO RECALL", ALSO THEY SAY "BUT MAY NOT SOLVE PROBLEM" WHY THEY DON'T SEE ANY RECALL FOR MY CAR, OR WHY I CANNOT GET ANY SUPPORT FROM VOLVO, EVEN MANY USER COMPLAIN SAME SYMPTOMS?

NHTSA ID
10725454
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 24, 2015

MY TRANSMISSION IS JERKING BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN SLAMS FORWARD. I HAVE READ ALL OVER THE INTERNET WHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ID
10690309
Incident
Sep 16, 2009
Mileage
105,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 22, 2015

THE VEHICLE SMELLED OF GASOLINE AND NEEDED TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPAIRED, SPENDING 700 DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678401
Incident
Jan 22, 2015
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2014

FIRST, I GOT A MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SAYING "SRS AIRBAG URGENT." A FEW DAYS LATER, THE PANEL STARTED TO INTERMITTENTLY WORK. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK, I HAVE NO WORKING SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ODOMETER, BLINKERS (ALTHOUGH THEY STILL WORK OUTSIDE THE CAR), OR ANY OTHER LIGHT THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE SHOWN ON THE PANEL. OCCASIONALLY EVERYTHING COMES ON, THEN IT FREEZES, AND EVENTUALLY TURNS BACK OFF. TOOK IT TO SHOP AND THEY TRIED A DIFFERENT PANEL BUT IT HAS TO BE CODED IN AND THE SOFTWARE WAS NOT COMPATIBLE. TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD TRY TO SEND IT TO SOMEONE IN CANADA WHO REBUILDS THEM AND RECODES THEM SO THEY CAN BE REINSTALLED, BUT THE MECHANIC SAID TO WAIT UNTIL HE HAS MORE INFORMATION. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO HAVE TO GUESS WHAT SPEED I'M GOING AND TO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL I HAVE LEFT. BOTH MECHANICS HAVE NOT SEEN THIS IN THIS MODEL BEFORE AND SEEM TO THINK IT IS A FAULTY PANEL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *NOTE: MILEAGE IS ESTIMATED SINCE I CAN NOT ACTUALLY CHECK THE ODOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640852
Incident
Aug 13, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 5, 2014

FUEL SMELL AND LEAK FROM TOP OF FUEL TANK AREA OF FUEL PUMP. VOLVO SPECIALTY SHOP CONTRACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THIS RECALL. I CALLED SAME DEALERSHIP TO MAKE APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A 10 YR EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM AND NOT COVERED. MY CAR HAS BEEN REGISTERED IN VA SINCE AUG 2011. IS IT COVERED BY THIS RECALL NOTICE OR NOT

NHTSA ID
10631034
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
133,226 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 19, 2011

TRANSMISSION FAILS AFTER MULTIPLE REPAIRS (UPDATED SOFTWARE) IT IS STILL NOT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440410
Incident
Nov 17, 2009
Mileage
99,001 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2011

BEGAN EXPERIENCING WHAT I NOW REALIZE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH LURCHING, REVVING HIGH AND JERKING FORWARD, AND MISSING IN DRIVE (WITH TRANSMISSION). VOLVO HAS TOLD MANY THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM...AT ALL. I HOPE THIS WILL BE INVESTIGATED SO THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED THAT WILL FIX THE PARTS/MECHANICS OF THIS RECURRENT PROBLEM, AND NOT WITH BOGUS SOFTWARE UPDATES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438604
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
129,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

26745.13.14

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method

C00009

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC):CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADE C00009 DESCRIPTION.

TJ3656330

Rubber cushion

CBR-2201

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Engine Control Module (EMS) Software (MSW) Information – August 2022; Improvement List (Change Log) - US21+OBD22 (13L VGT, TC) And US17+OBD22 (11L) Emissions

Special Tools Bu

The Deutronic DBL-1200 is an advanced battery maintainer/charger with the flexibility to be updated as products and repair methods evolve.

Service Manager

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

ICUP/Google Built-In Diagnostic Operations

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

Volvo V70XC by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007400—
2006300—
2005300—
2004500—
2003120025.7
2002Viewing271139.7
20011441245.2
20001032249.3
1999792250.4
1998311041.2
1997000—
1994000—

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.