IllustrationMY 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
2002 Volvo V70XC
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all V70XC 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
10–25K
125–50K
450–75K
675–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
22 reports with mileage · 5 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
12 reportsTRANSMISSION 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 T…
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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 …
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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.
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. …
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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
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.…
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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
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…
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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
Official recalls
104V051000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
Feb 2, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
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
1PE05041 · Throttle Control Malfunction
Opened Jul 26, 2005 · Closed Dec 7, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
PE05-041 WAS OPENED ON JULY, 26, 2005, BASED ON 136 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TO ODI ALLEGING THROTTLE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ODI HAS NOW RECEIVED 591 COMPLAINTS OF ETM FAILURES WHICH ALLEGE SYMPTOMS WITH POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES.THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE STALL, VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD WITHOUT ACCELERATOR INPUT, VEHICLE HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED TRANSITION INTO REDUCED PERFORMANCE OPERATION (LIMP MODE).VOLVO SUBMITTED OVER 2,900 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE ETM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING PE05-041.ODI'S PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A SAMPLE THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 55 PERCENT WITH ONE OR MORE OF THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ABOVE.ODI IS CONTINUING ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE VOLVO COMPLAINTS. IN NOVEMBER 2005, TO RESOLVE AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD, VOLVO ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE TO 10 YEARS / 200,000 MILES FOR THE ETM IN APPROXIMATELY 356,000 MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 PASSENGER CARS SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.UNDER VOLVO'S POLICY, VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE ETM FAILURES WILL RECEIVE A VARIETY OF REPAIRS INCLUDING ETM CLEANING, REPROGRAMMING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND/OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ETM. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-021) TO CONTINUE TO ASSESS THE SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF ETM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.