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.
2002 Volvo S60 electrical complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 36 of 36, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Electrical panel fails (gas gauge says empty), passenger and rear door locks, fuel door, and trunk opening also fails. Incredibly dangerous as cannot open the doors unless pulling the door lock up manually from inside the car so therefore can't get to children in the backseat without crawling through the front seat and manually unlocking their door. Have no idea how much gas is in the car because gas gauge fails and cannot get fuel door to open consitently making it difficult to refuel. Car alarm went off in the middle of the night and could not open the car doors to turn it off because of electrical failure and therefore battery drained. It is really dangerous to not be able to lock and unlock the car doors. A child could get trapped in the vehicle or someone could get into the car for fear of locking doors and not being able to get them unlocked. This problem is all over the internet -rear electrical module failure and volvo needs to address as is a safety hazard.
Instrument cluster (known as driver information module) completely died while driving. Checked volvo forums online and see that this is a common problem. Replacement is the only option. $1500. Many people are driving without knowing their speed or fuel level. Me included. Can't afford $1500 repair bill. This should be a recall item.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle was started, a random gauge would fail on the instrument panel, including the fuel gauge, speedometer and odometer. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The VIN was not available. The current mileage was 152,000.
Volvos-60 24t took car to dealer bill gray volvo for electrical problem and transmission problem. Car was returned to me with air bag passive restraint system inoperable and dealer refuses to correct problem or to even accept responsibility for same.
Vin: [xxx]. While starting the car the last week the "engine check and service engine " warning lights lit up. I had it checked and found out the etm (electronic throttle module) is faulty. Called volvo USA and informed them of the problem but they told me my car, which is a turbo, is not part of their recall. If this type of problem is common to 360,000 volvos and warranty extended to 200,00 miles or 10 years why then are they (volvo) refusing to fix my etm problem. Since my car is experiencing the same etm malfunction, prior to their extended warranty expires, I would like to have my car be part of the volvo recall before serious consequence happens. So far nothing has been done with the problem. The warning light "engine checks and service engine" continue to lit up uninterrupted whenever the engine is running.
On a 2002 volvo s60, the driver's information module intermittently blanks out rendering the vehicle with no speedometer and fuel gauge. The speedometer (and whole module) might not work for days.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact was driving approximately 45 MPH with the air conditioner activated when it suddenly failed without warning and would only blow outside air into the vehicle cabin. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was advised that the compressor and receiver dryer would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000 and the current mileage was 170,000. Updated 11/16/10. *lj updated 5/24/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volvo s60. The contact stated that while driving 40 to 50 MPH the instrument cluster failed. She drove the vehicle to the side of the road, turned the engine on and off and the failure continued to occur. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing and they stated the repair cost would be over $1000. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileages were 162,000.
On a car that is driven 7,500 miles per year, I just spent $1,068 to replace an alternator and $157.18 for a new battery because volvo refused to have a recall or cover their known failing alternators. This cause my car to fail on the 101 freeway and left me stranded in traffic on milbrae avenue.
Sep 29,2006 my wife was driving home and the car shut off as she was making a turn. She also noted the signal lights and dash lights were acting erratically. Come monday we are scheduling a visit to the dealership. This appears to be a safety issue the reason being suppose she had been in highway traffic.
We purchased a 2002 volvo s60 1/21/06 at 1:30pm with 58542 miles on it and 62 miles later at 6:54pm we were having problems with the accelerator pedal not responding, the engine accelerating wildly and then no control over the engine as it has gone into a limp mode. We shut the car off for 10 minutes and started the car up and it drove normally so we could get home. Upon getting home and shutting the car off, the problems occurred again and the computer dispalyed no codes when plugged into diagnostic equipment. The problem happened again 1/22/06 and we called the used car dealer to have them pick the car up and they took the vehicle to their garage and I was informed 1/23/06 that there is nothing in the computer and the car is running fine right now. I informed them of the etm warranty which should be a recall and they are going to contact langhorne volvo to see if the parts can be replaced free of charge. This is a safety issue that needs a permanent resolution and not an extended warranty.
My 2002 volvo s60 stalled about 3 times in the period of a few months during the spring of 2005. It occurred only while I was driving in stop and go traffic. I was able to restart the car. I took it into the volvo dealership. They ran all kinds of tests, but could find nothing wrong. They replaced the mass airflow sensor anyway on may 10, 2005 and the problem seemed to go away - until oct 6. It stalled again while I was at a stop light. On october 19, six driving days later (I travel out of town a lot for my job), it stalled again in stop and go traffic on the freeway. I know that you have had similar complaints about this, but not for a 2002 model. I thought that it was important to tell you about my problem as well.
Thought you may be interested in my volvo s60 story ... My volvo dealer returned my s60 12 months before the lease was up because of a recurring problem where my car would not accelerate and then it would stop completely. I lost count of the number of times this happened but when my 19 year old had this happen in the middle of a downtown area I could not live with this car any longer. The dealer tried to fix the vehicle to no avail.
Car stalls on deceleration.
Recently purchased 2002 volvo s60 for my daughter, certified used. She was driving and the car just stopped running, it died in the middle of the road. Just read your article about 1999-2001 and thought you should check into all years. Volvo said it is fixed, we pick it up tomorrow, however I am very concerned that this will happen to her again. Purchased a volvo for safety, now I am very worried.
The vehicle's ignition fan remained lit after the vehicle was stopped. *bf the vehicle has been taken to the dealer but the found noting wrong.
Steering wheel froze and vehicle could not accelerate. Towed to the dealer who found out that the cause was a defect in the axle. *la when the consumer managed to pull over and placed the vehicle into park, the vehicle continued to move. On a separate occasion, the ignition chip had to be changed because the vehicle would not start.
The vehicle experienced problems with it's steering and gas pedal. When the vehicle was placed in park it continued to move. Please provide any additional information. *nm the ignition chip had to be replaced, because the vehicle failed to start. While driving, the consumer was unable to control the vehicle, the vehicle would accelerate, the steering wheel was frozen and the windows were uncontrollably moving upward and downward, when the consumer placed the gear into park, the vehicle continued to move. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was determined that there was a defect with the axle.
I have had many problems with the transmission, car will stall in traffic, car would not start at all. This car has been in service many many times. The problems persist. I have sent 9 emails to their head quarters since 12/5, no reply.
While driving at high speeds, the rear of the vehicle would spin if the vehicle was turned too far in either direction. The dealer could not determine the problem, but there was a lack of stability in the rear of the vehicle. *ak the control arm bushing was replaced. The consumer stated that the vehicle lost control,the console had failed, the locks had become inoperative, grinding noises would occur on sharp turns, and the vehicle would lose traction. *scc
1) driver's seat shifts rearward on acceleration and shifts forward on braking. Dealer has attempted to fix this problem 3 or more times, but it re-ppears shortly after repair. This is a safety issue.*ak 2) vehicle difficult to shift gears (manual transmission). Gear changes are very 'jerky', the vehicle cannot be shifted smoothly. Volvo recommends letting the clutch slip more, but this only masks the problem. 3) volvo acknowledges an electromagnetic radiation problem with this vehicle, but refuses to fix it. This is a safety issue.
Bulb position failure error message. I have brought in the vehicle for service of this problem and was told that no bulbs were out and that they checked all of the connections and everything seemed fine. Two weeks later the same error message is displaying again. Seems many other people are having the same problem and volvo seems to be just brushing off the issue instead of trying to correc it. Either there is an elecrical problem or a wiring harness problem.
2002 volvo s60 suddenly stopped on a busy two-lane highway/complete electrical power system failure/unable to re-start car/car towed to dealer/dealer able to restart car after car sat untouched on lot for several days/two different volvo dealerships looked at car and were unable to explain why failure occurred/(car also had to have brake sensor pad replaced because of intermitant cruise control failure and shifting column lock up; still experience poor am radio reception while recharging cell phone)
I purchased a 2002 volvo 2.4t at the volvo of cerritos in california on may 11, 2002. Three days after I purchased the vehicle, the car began making a loud rattling noise in the mornings.I recorded the noise and took the car in to the volvo of cerritos. I spoke to the service department and explained the problem my car had been experiencing. After a few days they called and told me that the car had a defective alternator pulley. They replaced the part and returned the car to me after six days. On saturday, june 8th, the noise returned. I contacted the dealership and was instructed to bring my car in to the service department on monday, june 10th. I spoke to the general manager jaki warren and explained my situation to her again and requested that she look in to getting me a new vehicle since it had been at the service department two times in less than 30 days for the same defective reason. She said she would contact someone at the volvo corporation and get back to me. The general manager has not returned my call as she agreed to do so earlier this week on monday. I left the car there and did not receive a call from the service department regarding the status of my car until 3 1/2 days later, thursday, 3:00pm.the service director stated he had not been able to hear the noise but had ordered some parts for what he "thought" the problem might be. I found this hard to believe being that I had heard the noise on saturday, sunday, and monday. Today he calls me at 5:00pm and tells me that he replaced the power steering pump! He said he heard the noise, yet it was not as loud as the first time. They "thought" that the power steering pump was causing the problem this time! This is absolutely absurd! My family's and my safety is at risk. Yet this matter seems to be given no sense of urgency. I should not have to be experiencing this problem with a new 2002 vehicle under 300 miles.
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