Is the 2002 Volvo S60 a bad year?
186 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S60 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Volvo S60 are in line with other S60 years. Fuel system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 S60 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 108,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 69 (37%) | 77k–140k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Electrical system | 36 (19%) | 44k–141k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 16 (9%) | 46k–108k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 15 (8%) | 41k–117k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed control | 20 (11%) | 50k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Tires | 20 (11%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 108,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 186 complaints: 4 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jun 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2002 Volvo S60: 9
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed. Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
The batteries on those units may overheat. An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
When exposed to certain environmental conditions (Hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange. If the condition occurs vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of arizona and nevada, due to the combination of fuel quality and climate conditions, the fuel pump may, in certain cases, experience a reduced functionality. The most common symptoms would be fuel odor. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
On certain passenger vehicles, 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. This resulted in a high number of vehicles going into the limp home mode without need.
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." The tire pressure label is incorrect. These vehicles did not have the "Max load vehicle capacity weight" Information on the label. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
Certain passenger cars fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." The second isofix guide was not installed in these vehicles and, in certain cases, the owner's manual isofix information is incorrect. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Volvo: 107
Repair instructions Volvo sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Volvo S60. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The 5 speed automatic transmission, AW55-50/51, has a bolt on top that anchors the B4 band, which applies 3rd gear
Retailers should only use a Volvo part number on claims for items purchased directly from Volvo
The Volvo Certified Pre-Owned (VCPO) warranty on all vehicles certified and retailed on or after 1/1/05…
VIDA will not support Windows 8.1 after June 30th 2017
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Throttle control malfunction
Throttle control malfunction
Neighbouring years
2001 S60: 223 complaints, keep it · 2003 S60: 120 complaints, keep it.
Every Volvo S60 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · All S60 years side by side
Other Volvo models: Volvo C70 · Volvo S40 · Volvo S70 · Volvo S80 · Volvo V70 · Volvo V70XC · Volvo XC40 · Volvo XC60 · Volvo XC70 · Volvo XC90. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Volvo S60 a bad year?
186 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other S60 years. At 108,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Volvo S60?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: fuel system (69), electrical system (36), engine (16), transmission and drivetrain (15), speed control (20).
How many recalls does the 2002 Volvo S60 have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 21V-766), Air bags (NHTSA 20V-681), Equipment (NHTSA 10V-566), Fuel system (NHTSA 09V-483) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.