2002 Volvo S60 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (22) · Fuel System, Gasoline (22) · Vehicle Speed Control (20)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo S60 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
145 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2021-09-30 · campaign 21V766000 · 259,383 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2020-11-04 · campaign 20V681000 · 54,124 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Metal fragments can strike vehicle occupants increasing the risk of serious injury or death.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical:navigational System(Global Positioning System) 2010-11-08 · campaign 10V566000 · 416 vehicles
Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (186)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-04-23 · 35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 2 pdfs and 1 .png oil consumption test. perform the test. follow service procedure description and service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-07 · 37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a tj text only - the purpose of this tj is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. this tj will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval. current items under prior approval are listed in the "service" sec
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-06 · 19245 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal. vehicle type and platform identification.
Exterior Lighting 2025-04-10 · 8501 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: remote connection, bomgar application. before joining a remote session: •connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in vida is between 12.5v and 14.9v. •connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a voe
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-21 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-13 · S10303 · Service Campaign
volvo cars usa llc and volvo car canada ltd on behalf of the volvo car corporation has decided to launch service action s10303 on certain model year 2025 ex90 vehicles. volvo car investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob. as a result, there is a possibil
Showing the 6 most recent of 186 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-06-22 · Vehicle Speed Control“message board throttle body position sensor controls the speed of the car is having issues having a problem accelerating…”
2022-06-15 · Air Bags“injanuary 3, 2021, i received a recall for the front driver airbag but replacement parts were not available. onapril 19, 2021i received a letter the parts were available were and for me to contact a volvo dealer to replace the front driver's airbag.free of charge. i called volvo cars to let me know the dealers in nashville. they recommended volvo …”
2022-03-28 · Air Bags“2002 volvo s60. consumer writes in regards to nhtsa safety recall 21v-766. the consumer stated there were no volvo dealerships within a reasonable distance to perform the repair. the consumer requested to have the necessary parts sent to a local automotive shop.…”
2022-02-02 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 21v766000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. the contac…”
2021-02-26 · Air Bags“air bag throw shards of metal but volvo say i shouldn't drive it but won't give loaner car, they won't help us at all with the situation…”
2018-11-27 · Air Bags · 120,800 mi“both front airbags deployed on its own in the garage…”
2018-10-25 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump · 134,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. the contact smelled a fuel odor inside and outside of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel pump was fractured. the vehicle was not repaired. the dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was approximately 134,000. …”
2018-05-06 · Vehicle Speed Control · 157,000 mi“takata recall [xxx]. for my ssn number, driver license number call me for that information i don't like to put it on website so that other people can get it but here's my vin [xxx] email is [xxx] the whole dashboard my lights won't come on the key wont come out i have to wait 5 or 10 min to wait for it to come out it smell like gas sometimes the ke…”
2018-03-16 · Seats · 140,000 mi“service lights scroll in sporadic motion flipping through constant alerts, check engine light, air bag light, constant electrical problems going on, fuel door wont open, both front seats have electrical problems, obvious burn thru on passenger side indicates its been overheated and dangerous. everytime i've taken it in the shop they say there are n…”
2017-11-06 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 99,000 mi“fuel leak fire hazard won't pass inspection. gas smell. car leaking while parked.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.