- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2002 Volvo V70XC Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 30 complaints about the 2002 Volvo V70XC with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (12) and the fuel system (7). Those complaints describe 1 crash and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in February 2004 for the brake lights. For comparison, the 2001 has 144 and the 2003 has 15.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical V70XC year, for its age
#178 most complained-about 2002 vehicle
- Complaints
- 30
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2002 Volvo V70XC problems
Share of all 30 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2002 Volvo V70XC recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first V70XC owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
30 complaints about the 2002 Volvo V70XC
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.
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.
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...
Read the full complaint
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?
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
The vehicle smelled of gasoline and needed to have the fuel pump repaired, spending 700 dollars out of pocket. *Tr
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....
Read the full complaint
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
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
Transmission fails after multiple repairs (updated software) it is still not right. *Tr
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
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo v70xc. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 to 15 mph and trying to accelerate, he noticed that the engine would rev, but the vehicle would not accelerate. After pulling into a garage and then trying to reverse, the vehicle would not shift into reverse. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic and they advised him that he needed a new transmission. The vehicle had not been repaired and the manufacturer had not been contacted. The failure and current mileages were approximately 130,000. The vin was unavailable.
My 2002 volvo xc 70 seems to smell like gasoline inside the car. I have read on numerous volvo forums regarding volvo owners that has the same or similar concerns. This cant be good for the driver(myself) or the vehicle. Any insight on a recall would be wonderful. [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr
Transmission is hard shifting between gears and occasionally slipping. *Tr
Transmission slips into lower gear when slowing down to turn a corner and then putting foot on accelerator. Volvo dealer recommends having body replaced at a cost of @2200 and it might not be the cure. Also, in june 2001 at 86,488 I had to have the left front strut mount, sway bar links and engine torque rod mount replaced. Updated 03/10/11 *bf
Pulling into restaurant parking space. Pushed on brake and vehicle shot forward. Ended up in restaurant. Not sure what happened, but never accidentally hit throttle before. Concerned, insurance checked recalls and found a problem. *Tr
My volvo xc70 2002 has chronic transmission issues which started at 70k miles. The transmission light comes on the highway and the car loses power, or sometimes does this at a stop light and loses the ability to accelerate from a stop. It hesitates and jerks. I am reading that this is very common in this make and model of cars. *Tr
2002 Volvo v70 xc transmission. This part is defective after only 105,000 miles many others are having the same problem. Volvo dealer ship said that it was a computer upgrade, but it did not solve the problem. Flushed the transmission and that did not solve problem of erratic shifting and jumping shifting. *Tr
FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR
Strong smell of fuel/gasoline, checked for fuel leak. Factory volvo fuel pump assembly housing cracked and leaking. Replaced fuel pump assembly. *Tr
I recently had my 2002 volvo xc70 looked at by a mechanic. Among other things, he said that with nearly 100,000 miles on the car, it was due for fresh transmission fluid. I drained about a gallon of fluid from the trans, went to the dealer and bought four liters of volvo approved transmission fluid and put it in the transmission. Now the car won't shift into 3rd gear. I did a couple of searches on the internet and apparently this happens fairly frequently and the only fix is to tear the transmission apart. It's just '!@#$% Frustrating. *Tr
The transmission will not engage at times, slips and bangs into gear. *Tr
2002 Volvo v70xc started leaking fuel after normal driving. Took the vehicle to a dealership and they discovered a cracked fuel pump housing at only 108,000 miles. The pump did not have a mechanical failure. The part was replaced with an "improved" part due to faulty/inferior design/manufacture. The part is currently on national back order due to a high demand as other consumers are experiencing similar failures. *Tr
31 July 2007 - failed air conditioning condenser, 2 august 2007 - failed air conditioning compresser. Vehicle has 47,400 miles. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volvo v70xc. While attempting to change the vehicle's oil, the mechanic noticed that it was brown. He stated that something, possibly coolant, was leaking into the oil. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The vin was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 74,682.
The transmission slips when shifting into or out of 1st and 2nd gears.*Ak
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2002 volvo v70 xc cross country at the speed of 30 mph and trying to accelerate the vehicle stalled. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. The control panel lights turned on, and she pulled off to the side of the road. The contact turned the ignition off and called the volvo mechanic. They advised her to restart the vehicle, and while trying to start the vehicle ,the instrument panel stayed on. The volvo mechanic urged her to have the vehicle towed. The...
Read the full complaint
contact had the transmission replaced two weeks prior to this incident, and had the vehicle fully serviced. The contact drove the vehicle home. The contact stated that there was recall 06v441000 on the 2002 volvo concerning the vehicle speed control; she stated that the dealership informed her that this vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure and current mileage were both 97,000. *Ak update *4/23/07 *tr
Seven light bulb failures have occurred on this vehicle in the past four years. Four headlights ( two left and two right) and 3 rear lights. I have never had a vehicle with this many lighting problems. *Nm
Volvo V70XC: every year compared
All V70XC years2002 Volvo V70XC vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Volvo V70XC | 30 | 1 | C | |
| 2002 Volvo S60 | 189 | 9 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo V70 | 106 | 6 | F | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo S80 | 45 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo S40 | 30 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo C70 | 9 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo V40 | 7 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo S70 | 3 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2002 Volvo Heavy Truck | 2 | 0 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2002 Volvo V70XC
Does the 2002 Volvo V70XC have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2002 Volvo V70XC: brake lights (February 2004). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Volvo V70XC?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (12), fuel system (7), acceleration & cruise control (4).
How many complaints has the 2002 Volvo V70XC had?
30 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 26, 2002 and the latest on April 4, 2016. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2002 Volvo V70XC a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Volvo V70XC year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Volvo V70XC years have the most complaints?
2001 (144), 2000 (103), 1999 (79). See every Volvo V70XC year compared.
What should I do if my 2002 Volvo V70XC has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data