Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Volvo V70XC problems
Owners filed 30 complaints about the 2002 Volvo V70XC with NHTSA between Mar 2002 and Apr 2016. The most-cited component is power train (12).
Complaints
30
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train12
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Suspension2
- Exterior lighting2
- Electrical system1
- Equipment1
- Visibility1
- Seats1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
0
1
2
1
5
1
2
4
6
0
0
2
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
12 reports
“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”
Fuel/propulsion system
4 reports
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“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?”
Fuel system, gasoline
3 reports
“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. [XXX] *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports
“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”
Suspension
2 reports
“FRONT RIGHT COIL SPRING FAILURE ON 2002 VOLVO V70XC. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.