2002 Volvo S80 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (7) · Vehicle Speed Control (4) · Suspension:front (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo S80 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
33 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 (183)
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 183 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-10-05 · Air Bags“the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v681000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer was notified and informed the contact that the part was not yet…”
2021-07-19 · Electrical System · 22,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, the odometer would go black. the contact stated that the electrical system of the vehicle would fail causing all of the functions to start flashing, the brakes to stutter, and the transmission to fail. the contact stated no warning lights would be illuminated as …”
2021-06-28 · Service Brakes · 100,000 mi“the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. the contact stated that the instrument panel malfunctioned and failed to illuminate while driving. the contact also stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 20 mph while the accelerator pedal was depressed. there was no warning light illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. the c…”
2018-11-03 · Vehicle Speed Control · 180,000 mi“when the vehicle warms up from start it will not move forward or reverse it started at like 30 miles and i parked the car till i could get it fixed now when the car just warms up (not gets hot) it will not engage trans i have on more senser to check but the car will move when you first start it both forward and back but when it warms up it stops…”
2017-11-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“we have a 2002 volvo s 80 that had a fuel pump leak that looks like our model had an issue with. we had a strong gas smell inside the car. there's a campaign number to it... 09v483000. we're still having an issue with it.…”
2017-08-26 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel pump flange is leaking fuel, causing fuel smell throughout cabin of vehicle. fuel pump flange recalled for defects due to temperature extremes, thermocycling and fuel quality,…”
2017-07-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 141,000 mi“i had a gas leak at 141,000 miles.. have to pay $889.00 bucks to repair or the said i could catch fire.. please give me a call [xxx] thanks.. it's happens when i was driving was this a recalled part? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).…”
2017-06-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 160,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. while driving 30 mph, the accelerator pedal traveled to the floorboard and smoke appeared under the hood. the vehicle was taken to several unknown independent mechanics who determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 160,000. …”
2017-05-25 · Unknown Or Other · 95,000 mi · 🔥 fire“my volvo s80 spontaneously combusted in my driveway, when i was away from home. the car had not been driven for approximately two hours, when it caught fire (under the hood) and burned.…”
2017-04-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 248,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s80. the contact stated that the vehicle stalled and failed to start when the key was turned in the ignition. the contact also stated the vehicle hesitated to start even with a full tank of fuel. the contact noticed a fuel leak and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnosed or rep…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.