Illustration2002 VOLVO S80 TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 63,000 MILES, REPLACED WITH NEW VOLVO TRANSMISSION, LASTED 2 YEARS 1 MONTH, VOLVO STATES 2 YEARS IS THE WARRANTY, SO FAR WE HAVE 8900.00 IN REPAIRS TO THIS CAR IN THE LAST 3 YEARS,THIS CAR IS A REAL LEMON. *TR
2002 Volvo S80
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Volvo S80 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all S80 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
30–25K
425–50K
350–75K
575–100K
11100–150K
7150K+
33 reports with mileage · 9 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports
Suspension complaints
4 reportsTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S80. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLVO S80. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLVO S80 IN MARCH OF 2009 AND STATED HEARING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR & WHEN I WENT & GOT IT CHECKED THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I NEEDED NEW STRUTS SO I GOT THE STRUTS FIXED FOR A WARPING $600 BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE REPAIR,I HAVE HAD IT REPAIR 2 TIMES BY THE S…
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I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLVO S80 IN MARCH OF 2009 AND STATED HEARING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR & WHEN I WENT & GOT IT CHECKED THE MECHANIC SAID THAT I NEEDED NEW STRUTS SO I GOT THE STRUTS FIXED FOR A WARPING $600 BUT THE PROBLEM HAS RECURRED 3 TIMES SINCE THE REPAIR,I HAVE HAD IT REPAIR 2 TIMES BY THE SAME SHOP BUT SINCE THEY TRIED TO CHARGE ME LABOR ON THE LAST VISIT I'M DONE,THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT I NEEDED FRONT CONTROL ARMS WHICH ARE ALSO EXPENSIVE.I CHECKED ONLINE TO SEE IF MAYBE VOLVO HAD ANY RECALLS ON THIS MATTER & THEY DID ON 1999,2000,2001 VOLVO S80 BUT NOT 2002 WHICH IS MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED AS A SAFETY ISSUE IN VOLVO S80 99-2001 SO IM JUST WONDERING WHY HAVEN'T IT REACHED THE 2002 BECAUSE I WENT TO THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE & MORE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING THAN MYSELF. MY STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTERED,MY CAR SHIFTS WHEN I HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD & MY TRACTION IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT WAS WHEN I 1ST BOUGHT IT. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS MY FRONT END IS REALLY SCREWED UP & IT'S NOT MY FAULT SO CAN ANYONE DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME OUT. THANKS A MILLION!!!! *TR
I OWN A 2002 VOLVO AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I DEALER WORKED ON THE FRONT END WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I JUST SPENT OVER $900 TO REPLACE INNER TIER ROD ENDS AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THIS CAR HAS 47,000 MILES? THE TIE RODS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY W…
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I OWN A 2002 VOLVO AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I DEALER WORKED ON THE FRONT END WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I JUST SPENT OVER $900 TO REPLACE INNER TIER ROD ENDS AND CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND THIS CAR HAS 47,000 MILES? THE TIE RODS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND MY WIFE USES THIS CAR LOCALLY. I HAVE OWNED MANY VOLVOS AND HAVE NEVER HAD FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH ANY CAR I HAVE OWNED. *TR
Official recalls
421V766000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Sep 30, 2021
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2006 S80 and 2001-2009 S60 vehicles. 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10125.
20V681000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Nov 4, 2020
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2001-2003 S80 and S60 vehicles sold or ever registered in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The driver side frontal air bag inflator may rupture, sending metal fragments into the passage compartment, when the driver side air bag is deployed.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began April 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10058.
10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Dec 18, 2009
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.