2002 Volvo S70 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2010: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10361064 · 2010-10-18 (October 18, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S70. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 01/06/11. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE RELAYS WITH TWO SMALLER RELAYS. UPDATED 03/02/11
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361064 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1995 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10087256 · 47,900 miCONSUMER ETS (ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE) WOULD INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WHILE DRIVING ,AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT A COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK | 73.3%ODI 10046379 · 76,000 miWHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED VEHICLE REVVED AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK | 6531.7%ODI 10047978WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST SPEED OR HESITATED, AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THROTTLE BODY WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, AND YEAR. *AK | 7042.7%ODI 10036988 · 52,000 miSPEED CONTROL. HAVE HAD A VARIETY OF SPEED/ENGINE CONTROL PROBLEMS. ENGINE WOULD DIE. ENGINE WOULD CAUSE "BUCKING". ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THROTTLE BODY AND AIR MASS METER REPLACED. THROTTLE BODY COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR AIR MASS METER REPLACEMENT. CURRENT PROBLEM TRAVELING @ 55 TO 60 MPH PRESS ON ACCELERATOR AND CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE BUT WILL SLOW DOWN WITH RPMS HESITATING AT 5000 AND 4500 WITHOUT ACCELERATING. CAR SLOWS DOWN,LOSES POWER. THIS OCCURS USUALLY UNDER A HILL CLIMBING SITUATION BUT HAS OCCURRED ON FLA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 188.4%ODI 10048874I PURCHASED A 1998 S70 VOLVO FROM SUBURBAN VOLVO IN TROY MICHIGAN. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD TO RETURN IF THE A/C LEAKED. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PHYSICAL LEAK, WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT THERE IS NO PHYSICAL INDICIATION OF A PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE CAR ON TWO MORE OCCASSIONS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE A/C HAD A LEAK AND I HAD TO PAY $1,400 TO HAVE REPAIRED. I EXPLAINED TO THE SUBURBAN DEALER THAT I FELT I SHOULD NOT … | 4120.0%ODI 10049045 · 74,500 miMY 1999 VOLVO S70 HAS FAILED TO START AFTER SHORT TRIPS. MY WIFE HAD MENTIONED THIS PREVIOUSLY, BUT TWO RECENT INCIDENTS MADE THIS REPORT NECESSARY.*AK THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ON THE MORNING OF 11/18/2003. AFTER A 30-MINUTE TRIP, I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND LEFT THE CAR TO GATHER PAPERS FOR WORK. I LEFT THE CAR LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, THERE WERE LIGHTS IN THE DASH AND THE FUEL PUMP PRIMED, BUT NO IGNITION. THERE WAS NO CLICKING, BUT IT SEEMED THAT THE CAR HAD POWER. CAR WAS TOWED TO A VOLVO DEALERSHIP FOR … | 2615.9%ODI 10043870 · 34,800 mi12 VOLT ADAPTER NEEDED TO USE HANDS FREE CELL PHONE AS REQUIRED BY LAW IN NEW YORK & MOST OTHER STATES FAILED DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10113813 · 113,000 miWHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ABS/TRACSON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE AUTOMATICALLY. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK | 3114.4%ODI 10014478 · 72,000 miTHE ABS LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER CONSULTING THE WEB I LEARNED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 98 S70'S. VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM! WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CONDITION I NOTICED IF THE ABS PUMP CYCLED AND THE LIGHTS COME ON YOU LOSE BRAKING UNLESS YOU PUMP THE BRAKES. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR A MANY DRIVERS. I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND MY TRAINING HELPED ME AVOID THE ACCIDENT. *NLM | 31.5%ODI 10029441CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING ABS FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK | 31.8%ODI 10160792 · 67,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL FUNCTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH INTERMITTENTLY. THE ABS ALSO ENGAGES INTERMITTENTLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATES WHEN DEPRESSED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN INFORMED. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 31.4%ODI 10108020 · 128,000 miWHILE DRIVING DOWN I-85 S. ON 12/30/04 IN MY 1998 VOLVO S-70 THE TENSIONER WHEEL EXPLODED CAUSING THE TIMING BELT TO DISENGAGE FROM THE ENGINE THUS LOOSING ALL ENGINE POWER AT 70 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND DOING OVER 2000.OO DOLLARS WORTH OF ENGINE DAMAGE. FROM EXAMINATION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART, THE GOOVE GUIDES JUST SHATTERED LEAVING NO GROOVES FOR BELT GUIDANCE.*AK | 178.3%ODI 10001564CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SURGE FORWARD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS | 74.3%ODI 10131194 · 77,000 miWE PURCHASED THE VOLVO 2000 S70 VEHICLE IN 9/01 WITH 25,000 MILES. A 30,000 MILE CHECK-UP WAS PERFORMED BY SANTA MONICA VOLVO ON 12/26/01. STEVEN AND I BEGAN A 14-MONTH ROAD TRIP AROUND THE US AND HAD THE VEHICLE MAINTAINED AT VOLVO DEALERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY (THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PERIODICALLY CAME ON AND WE WOULD ASK THE DEALERS ABOUT IT. WE WERE TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT THE LIGHT.) THE ROAD TRIP ACCOUNTS FOR THE ACCRUED MILES PUT ON THE VEHICLE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. RETURNED TO CALIFORNIA 3/04. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO SANTA M… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 83.7%ODI 10112802 · 100,000 miFAILURE OF CAM BELT ADJUSTER, AT SPEED WITH NO WARNING AND TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT. *AK | 94.4%ODI 10046773MY VOLVO 1999 S70 T5 HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKING (OR BURNING) SINCE THE SECOND YEAR. MY HUSBAND HEARD SOME STRANGE AND LOUDER THAN NORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND HE CHECKED THE OIL AND NO MORE OIL IN THE ENGINE. HE HAD TO PUT 3 TO 4 QUARTS OF ENGINE OIL IN. THIS KIND OF INCIDENT HAPPENED AT TWO TIMES WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER 50,000 MILES AND UNDER WARRANTY. WE REPORTED TO VOLVO DEALER SERVICES, THEY COULD FOUND ANY PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME THEY FOUND SOME PROBLEM AND FIXED IT. NOW AT 51700 MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY), WE HAVE T… | 63.7%ODI 101260072000 S70 - MULTIPLE REPAIRS AND MULTIPLE RECURRING INCIDENTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM! CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH, TACH BOUNCES AND POWER DEMINISHES BECOMING A SEVER HAZARD IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM TO BE "KNOWN ISSUES" WITH THE ELECTRONIC AIR MASS AND THROTTLE SYSTEMS. REPLACED TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, EXTENDED WARRANTY DENIED, SHORTLY OUT OF WARRANTY AND PROBLEM RETURNS AGAIN. DEALERSHIP NOR VOLVO WILL TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION ON >$1000 REPAIR (WHICH ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH IS ALMOST GUARAN… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 167.4%ODI 10002686 · 85,950 miABS / TRACS LIGHTS COME ON DUE TO DEFECTIVE ABS CONTROLLER. NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. | 21.0%ODI 10107431THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO DRAG FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE THERE WAS A SMELL COMING THROUGH THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE OWNER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. | 10.6%ODI 10209278 · 140,000 miABS CONTROL MODULE ON MANY MODELS OF VOLVO ARE DEFECTIVE AND FAIL AROUND OR AFTER ABOUT 85000 MILES. ALTHOUGH MOSTLY ANNOYING COULD PREVENT PROPER OPERATION OF ABS DURING BRAKING AND POOR BRAKING AS A RESULT WHEN NOT EXPECTED. DEFECTS OF INTERNAL SOLDER CONNECTIONS OF CONNECTOR TO PCB ON THE CONTROL MODULE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD IS MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR. THE PROBLEM IS SO WIDE SPREAD THAT MANY INTERNET SITES ARE DEVOTED TO THE REPAIR OF THIS MODULE SINCE IS SO COMMON. SINCE IT IS SO COMMON AND A FAILURE IS VERY LIKELY AND AS A RESULT A REDUCTION OF … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 150.0%ODI 875234WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH CONSUMER HIT ISLAND CURB IN PARKING LOT, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, BREAKING CONSUMER'S ARM. WHILE BEING TOWED TO DEALER TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED, RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE.PLEASE ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND VIN NUMBER.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 104.7%ODI 10005190 · 40,000 miFAULTY DASH CLIPS THAT RETAIN THE DASHBOARD TO THE FIREWALL. I WAS TOLD BY THE LEAD TECHNICAN AT BOB PINKUS VOLVO IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT. THE CLIPS BREAK LEADING TO A SQUEEKY DASH THAT VOLVO IS NOT WILLING TO ADDRESS OUT OF WARRANTY. I NOW HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN DIRVING THIS CAR AS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE DASH WILL SEPERATE, IF IN AN ACCIDENT, AND SEVERLY INJURE EITHER MYSELF OR A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. | 21.0%ODI 10126031I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN INJURIES FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, AIRBAG FAILURE | 31.8%ODI 10030086 · 39,000 miTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. VOLVO REFUSED TO SEND THE CONSUMER AN ANALYSIS REPORT. *SCC *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.6%ODI 536632TURN SIGNNAL BULB SIGNAL SOCKET WAS SCORCHED BLACK ON INSIDE, MELTING THE PLASTIC. | 21.0%ODI 10046007 · 27,000 mi1999 VOLVO S70 - CONTINUED REAR BRAKE, RUNNING LIGHT, AND TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS.I PARTICIPATED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL CAMPAIGN (00V405000) TO REPLACE THE REAR TURN SIGNAL SOCKETS AND BULBS. TO THIS DAY I CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. I FREQUENTLY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALL OF THE REAR LIGHTING (BRAKE, RUNNING, AND TURN SIGNALS). RECENTLY, I FOUND BOTH REAR TURN SIGNAL AND BOTH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO BANG ON THE LIGHT HOUSINGS TO GET THE BULBS TO MAKE GOOD CONTACT… | 10.6%ODI 10005898 · 47,000 miTHE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL, TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR HAS FAILED 3-4 TIMES. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 5-6 TIMES. DEALER IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 120,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10361064 · 120,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S70. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 01/06/11. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY REPLACING THE RELAYS WITH TWO SMALLER RELAYS. UPDATED 03/02/11 |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 17 complaints · 2002: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 | 13 | 17 |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 158 | 2 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Exterior Lighting | Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | — | 0 | 0 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 0 | — | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.