Message board throttle body position sensor controls the speed of the car is having issues having a problem accelerating
2002 Volvo S60 acceleration problems
20 complaints (11% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 90,000.
- owner complaints
- 20
- of this car's complaints
- 11%
- typical mileage
- 90,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Volvo S60 acceleration problems in other years
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing, and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.
- Risk
- This resulted in a high number of vehicles going into the limp home mode without need.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install the current software upgrade onto the involved vehicles. The recall began on december 29, 2006. Owners may contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 06V441000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Throttle control malfunction
On november 14, 2006 volvo submitted a defect information report to the federal safety agency concerning etm failures in model year (my) 1999 through 2001 volvo models (not including the s40 and v40), my 2002 s60 and v70 with naturally aspirated engines and my 2002 v70s.according to volvo, ?a combination of throttle positioning sensor irregularities, a dirty throttle housing and/or inefficient software calibration may cause a warning lamp to light and the subsequent onset of limp home modes.volvo further stated that,this resulted in a high number of these vehicles going into limp home mode without need.?volvo indicated that this was the most severe consequence of an etm fault in the subject vehicles.the recall remedy is a software upgrade introduced by volvo on march 16, 2006 in a customer satisfaction program.at the time of the notification 161,202 vehicles of the population of 331,301 had already had the software uploaded and were therefore not included in the population count of the recall. Odi?s analysis of complaints to odi and volvo, volvo field reports and warranty data found that etm failure could result in (1) engine stall; (2) mechanical limp mode; (3) lunging forward during low-speed driving maneuvers; and (4) faltering during high speed merges or when crossing traffic.odi identified 12 crashes related to etm failure, with 6 caused by lunging incidents, 3 caused by stalling incidents, 2 caused by mechanical limp mode and 1 from the faltering condition.odi's analysis of complaint data and information obtained from consumer interviews identified 1,289 incidents with safety related consequences (389.1 per 100,000 vehicles), including 479 involving engine stall (144.6 per 100,000 vehicles) and 729 involving mechanical limp mode (220.0 per 100,000 vehicles).odi's analysis of warranty claim narrative text shows at least 14,965 warranty claims with codes indicating an etm fault resulting in vehicle operation in mechanical limp mode (4.5% of the subject vehicles). Volvo?s recall addresses odi?s safety concerns with etm failures.odi will continue to monitor the subject vehicles to determine if additional action is required.this engineering analysis is closed.
EA05021
Throttle control malfunction
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.
PE05041
What 2002 Volvo S60 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 keyless wont work I change the thang in the back five times in one month the gear sometime don't work. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle went into limp mode and failed to accelerate over 30 MPH. The contact also stated that the acceleration pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The vehicle failed to accelerate and suddenly surged forward. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed when the failure occurred. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Recall done. But volvo says throttle body is bad,should throttle body be cover? If program is extending sweeps internally of potentiometers. Would that wear pattern from previous program wear out potentiometers,creating more problem with throttle body.volvo should replace throttle body.as a safety assurance.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the throttle failed. The contact stated that she tried to engage the accelerator pedal but the vehicle would not move. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnose that the electronic throttle module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who stated that although the vehicle was included in recall the federal safety agency campaign id number: 06v441000 (vehicle speed control) it was no longer eligible since the vehicle had surpassed the statue of limitation. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Purchased used s60 in november 2011 with 137,000 miles. A few weeks later various problems manifested: scrambled letters in dashboard message, driver door locks intermittently worked, radio self tuned to different station, speedometer giving false readings or stuck at current speed or reading zero, fuel gauge malfunction, all instruments on panel flickered, all instruments went "dark" while driving. At first restarting car would clear problem. Then frequency between failures increased. Just before complete failure - car needed to be "cold" for instruments to work - with instruments failing once engine warmed. Finally in february 2012 at about 147,021 miles the panel completely failed while driving - giving driver no readings (speed, fuel, temp, mileage, or warning indicators) and would not reset. Internet forums of volvo owners suggested it was a driver information module failure. Owners forums pinpointed 3 probable causes of a dim failure - 1. Loose connection of the motorola microchip, 2. Loose capacitor/resistor 3. Lack of protection from heat/heat transfer to individual prongs in microchip or between capacitor/resistor and the circuit board. Some electrically savvy owners fixed by reflowing/resoldering/heat protecting said components. Our local volvo dealer confirmed dim failure and quoted aprox. $1500 for a new instrument cluster and 3 hrs. Labor. We chose to send dim/instrument cluster out for a refurbishment to baa remanufacturing inc. On reinstallation warning message read "sra/airbag-service urgent". Asked dealer to clear dim code first, then from SRS module per baa-reman instructions. Dealer job description/receipt stated they cleared codes dim 0001, 0003, 0005, 0006, e003, SRS 00d4, e003. No problems with locks/radio/instrument cluster since remanufacture in the last 10,000 miles/5 months. Volvo's original dim circuit board poorly designed/assembled.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH the vehicle would go into limp mode and decelerate to 15 MPH unexpectedly. The failure recurred on an intermittent basis. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 06v441000 (vehicle speed control). Both the dealer and manufacturer denied assistance with the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000 and the current mileage was 135,000.
I was stopped at stop light waiting to turn left. Upon light turning green, I accelerated to turn left. Car, without warning, lost acceleration, steering, and braking as if in limp home mode. I was able to pull the car over to the side of the road. I then put car in park and turned off engine. Car started back up and drove without incident. There were no indicator lights. Took car to local garage and no codes came up. Then again on march 23, 2011 car again lost all acceleration and steering. This time the car was being driven approximately 40 MPH. No warning indicators were lit. Put car into park and it started without incident. Took car to dealer on march 25, 2011. The dealer said no codes came up and they were having trouble diagnosing the failure. After 4 days they called to tell me it could be the mass air flow sensor and throttle body needed to be cleaned (cost $660). However, they could not say for sure if this was the cause of the failure. I am getting the suggested repairs done. However after reading the numerous complaints describing this same failure, I feel very uneasy about driving my car. Volvo needs to address these numerous complaints as this is a major safety concern. I drive my car with two small kids in the back seat everyday. I am terrified this failure will happen again. There was a recall on my model and year car for this type of failure, however my VIN is not included.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact stated that the etm parts for the throttle module moved into limp mode which made the vehicle drive slowly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the etm parts were replaced but after a couple days, the failure occurred again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that they would upgrade the software which would fix the problem. The upgrade was performed but the failure occurred again. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 40,598 and the current mileage was 88,892. Updated 04/25/11 *bf updated 12/19/2011
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. While the vehicle was stopped and the contact attempted to accelerate, the vehicle shifted into limp home mode. The vehicle would only move 5 MPH. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted it; it performed correctly after the restart. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer three times where the software as update and the throttle modular and mass air flows were replaced. The contact referenced recall 06v441000 (vehicle speed control) was informed that the vehicle was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000 and the current mileage was approximately 98,000.
Questions about the 2002 Volvo S60 acceleration
Does the 2002 Volvo S60 have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 20 complaints about the acceleration of the 2002 Volvo S60, 11% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2002 Volvo S60 acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 90,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Volvo S60 acceleration?
Yes, 1 recall: 06V441000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volvo S60 have the most acceleration problems?
The Volvo S60 model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2001 (42 complaints), 2002 (20 complaints) and 2003 (18 complaints).
Is there a class action lawsuit over the Volvo S60?
Yes. New class action says Volvo's Google-based infotainment screens freeze and take climate and rearview camera with them (November 9, 2026).
Other 2002 Volvo S60 problems
Fuel system 69Electrical 36Tires 19Engine 17Transmission 15Airbags 12Body 6Seats 6Suspension 6Driver assistance 5Lights 5Seat belts 4Wheels 4Brakes 2Visibility 2Steering 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2002 Volvo S60?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history