Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Volvo S60, and it carries 9 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 36 | 19% |
| Electrical system | 20 | 11% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 19 | 10% |
| Tires | 16 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 5% |
| Air bags | 7 | 4% |
| Power train | 7 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Message board throttle body position sensor controls the speed of the car is having issues having a problem accelerating
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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 repl
NHTSA complaint: 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 NECES
NHTSA complaint: 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 m
NHTSA complaint: 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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 N
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
FUEL LEAK FIRE HAZARD WON'T PASS INSPECTION. GAS SMELL. CAR LEAKING WHILE PARKED.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2002 Volvo S60. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
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 Island
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 1-800-458-155
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 N
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 CAROLIN
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 71 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 70 | good |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 189 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 36 of them (19%). There are 9 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 71/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.