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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

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

Power Train complaints

11 reports
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100,000 miles · Jun 28, 2021
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes

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…

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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 contact was informed of an electrical failure that affected the brakes and the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact also mentioned that she had received NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V681000 (Air Bags) however, the part was not yet available. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11422659

180,000 miles · Nov 3, 2018
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #11145069

79,000 miles · Sep 10, 2011
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR SURGES AND HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS, IT SLOWS DOWN AND ACCELERATES RANDOMLY WHEN I PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS. IT STICKS AND WON'T LET ME CHANGE GEARS IN MANUAL MODE AND IT STRUGGLES TO CHANGE GEARS IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, IT WILL DECELERATE RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH WITH THE CRUISE ON AN…

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CAR SURGES AND HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS, IT SLOWS DOWN AND ACCELERATES RANDOMLY WHEN I PUSH DOWN ON THE GAS. IT STICKS AND WON'T LET ME CHANGE GEARS IN MANUAL MODE AND IT STRUGGLES TO CHANGE GEARS IN AUTOMATIC MODE. THIS PROBLEM IS DANGEROUS, IT WILL DECELERATE RANDOMLY WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BOTH WITH THE CRUISE ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424583

63,000 miles · Jan 2, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

2002 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

NHTSA ODI #10373785

104,445 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Power Train

PULLING INTO TRAFFIC CAR WAS HESITATING, STARTING AND STOPPING UNCONTROLLABLY. SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND, HARD TO GET UP TO SPEED. HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE HESITATIONS. NO INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS AT THE BEGINNING OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES, DANGEROUS. NOW TRANSMISSION LIG…

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PULLING INTO TRAFFIC CAR WAS HESITATING, STARTING AND STOPPING UNCONTROLLABLY. SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND, HARD TO GET UP TO SPEED. HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE HESITATIONS. NO INDICATOR WARNING LIGHTS AT THE BEGINNING OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES, DANGEROUS. NOW TRANSMISSION LIGHT IS ON, VEHICLE ONLY HAS 104K MILES. GOING IN TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345577

79,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Power Train

IN THE PAST MONTH WHEN I DRIVE THERE IS SURGING AND HESITATION. WHEN I STOP THEN ACCELERATE THERE IS NO POWER, SYMPTOMS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND DAILY. I TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THINKING IT WAS A RECALL FOR THE EMS. DEALER SAYS NO CODES CAME UP IT WAS EMS PROBLEM THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. …

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IN THE PAST MONTH WHEN I DRIVE THERE IS SURGING AND HESITATION. WHEN I STOP THEN ACCELERATE THERE IS NO POWER, SYMPTOMS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AND DAILY. I TOOK IT TO DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THINKING IT WAS A RECALL FOR THE EMS. DEALER SAYS NO CODES CAME UP IT WAS EMS PROBLEM THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. METAL IN TRANS. FLUID. I PURCHASED IN OCT. 2008 WITH 30 DAY WARRANTY AND IT ONLY HAS 79,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10312839

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

ELECTRONIC THROTTLE MODULE FAILURE IN 2002 S80. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285860

150,000 miles · Aug 30, 2009
Electrical SystemPower Train

THE CARS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT TO THE REVERSE POSITION WITHOUT GIVING ANY WARNING UNDER THE NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION IN ITS DRIVE POSITION. WHEN IT SHIFTS TO REVERSE BY ITSELF ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICE THE NOSE OF THE CAR WILL DROP LOWER AND IF MY FOOT PRESS ON THE GAS PADDLE THE CAR WILL ACT AS BRAKING AND ENGINE IS …

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THE CARS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT TO THE REVERSE POSITION WITHOUT GIVING ANY WARNING UNDER THE NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION IN ITS DRIVE POSITION. WHEN IT SHIFTS TO REVERSE BY ITSELF ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICE THE NOSE OF THE CAR WILL DROP LOWER AND IF MY FOOT PRESS ON THE GAS PADDLE THE CAR WILL ACT AS BRAKING AND ENGINE IS MAKING NOISE. I NOTICE ON THE DASHBOARD AND SHIFTER THE GEAR SIGN INDICATION IS TOGGLE IN BETWEEN 'D' AND 'R', WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PADDLE THE SIGN WILL CHANGE TO 'R' AND AS I RELEASE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PADDLE THE SIGN WILL CHANGE BACK TO 'D'. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL I ALMOST GOT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT, LUCKILY I WAS TRAINED ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR MY DRIVING LESSON, SO I PUT THE CAR TO 'N' AND SHIFT BACK TO 'D' FOR THE 1ST 3 TIMES I SWITCH BACK TO 'D' THE GEAR INDICATION SIGN IS STILL SHOW 'R' WHEN I PUT TO 'D' ONLY ON THE 4TH TRY ITS RETURN BACK TO NORMAL CONDITION. WHEN ALL THIS HAPPEN I WAS CLAIMING A HILL ON I-580 BEFORE I-680 JUNCTION JUST PASS HAYWARD, CA. TRY TO IMAGING DRIVING AT 65MPH ON A HILL AND TRANSMISSION SWIFT TO REVERSE THE CAR WILL DROP FROM 65MPH TO 10MPH VERY FAST AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ALMOST CRASH INTO ME. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC THE CAR SUPPOSE TO SWITCH TO 'SAFE MODE' AND TRANSMISSION SHOULD STAY IN 3RD GEAR. IT IS STRANGE THE CAR THINK ITS MALFUNCTION IS NORMAL AND DID NOT ENGAGE TO 'SAFE MODE'. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSES THE CAR AND TELLS ME THE PROBLEM TRACE TO A NEUTRAL SWITCH (PNP SWITCH) INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. AND AFTER CONTACT NEAREST DEALER FREMONT MOTOR CARS THE PARTS DEPARTMENT CONFIRM THAT THE PNP SWITCH IS BUILD INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE GM-SOURCED 4T65EV/GT TRANSMISSIONS USUALLY SHOW SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE BY SUDDENLY SLIPPING WHILE IN GEAR. THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE FAULTS ARE WIDELY KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED. THIS CAR IS STILL DRIVABLE IT'S NOT BAD, IF DON'T ACTED UP. IT STILL THINKS IT HAS NO PROBLEM AT ALL WHICH IS VERY DANGERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282345

45,989 miles · Nov 4, 2006
Power Train

FAILURE OF 2002 VOLVO S-80 TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES BUT 10 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY (4 YEAR/ 50000 MILES). DEALER FOUND CODE 5300, TCM 0008. FOUND INTERNAL HYDRAULIC FAULT IN TRANSMISSION. SHIFT SOLENOID S1 REPLACED TRANSMISSION. A DEAL WAS WORKED OUT WHERE VOLVO, THE DEALER AND MYSELF EACH PAID 1/3 THE COST OF $4200. G…

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FAILURE OF 2002 VOLVO S-80 TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 46,000 MILES BUT 10 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY (4 YEAR/ 50000 MILES). DEALER FOUND CODE 5300, TCM 0008. FOUND INTERNAL HYDRAULIC FAULT IN TRANSMISSION. SHIFT SOLENOID S1 REPLACED TRANSMISSION. A DEAL WAS WORKED OUT WHERE VOLVO, THE DEALER AND MYSELF EACH PAID 1/3 THE COST OF $4200. GENERAL MANAGER OF DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT "VOLVO KNOWS THEY HAVE PROBLEM WITH S-80 TRANSMISSION". *NM

NHTSA ODI #10172622

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSING VECHILE TO STOP ON FREEWAY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037461

Official recalls

4

21V766000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.