Volvo XC90 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Volvo XC90? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Volvo XC90 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Excellent | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | Back Over Prevention | Full report → |
| 2025 | Excellent | 2 | 12 | 1 | — | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2024 | Excellent | 2 | 17 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2023 | Good | 4 | 23 | — | 3 | — | Unknown Or Other | Full report → |
| 2022 | Excellent | 4 | 23 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2021 | Good | 6 | 35 | 6 | — | — | Service Brakes | Full report → |
| 2020 | Good | 7 | 21 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2019 | Good | 4 | 25 | 3 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2018 | Good | 2 | 27 | 1 | 3 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2017 | Good | 3 | 45 | — | 2 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2016 | Caution | 4 | 139 | 5 | 12 | — | Engine | Full report → |
| 2015Best | Excellent | — | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2014 | Excellent | — | 1 | — | — | — | Steering | Full report → |
| 2013 | Excellent | — | 7 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2012 | Excellent | — | 3 | — | — | — | Back Over Prevention | Full report → |
| 2011 | Excellent | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2010 | Excellent | 2 | 9 | — | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Full report → |
| 2009 | Excellent | 1 | 7 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2008 | Excellent | 3 | 16 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2007 | Excellent | 2 | 30 | — | — | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2006 | Good | 2 | 33 | 3 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2005 | Caution | 4 | 164 | — | 2 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2004Worst | Avoid | 5 | 347 | 9 | 4 | — | Electrical System | Full report → |
| 2003 | Good | 4 | 63 | — | 5 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
24 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Volvo XC90 Problems
Based on 1,057 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
Recent Safety Recalls — Volvo XC90 (2022–2026)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10198.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10329.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
Remedy: Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10217.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
Remedy: Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Showing 9 recalls from 2022–2026 model years. See the full year-specific pages for older recalls.
XC90 Years to Avoid
Best XC90 Years to Buy
Volvo XC90 Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Volvo XC90 Reliability
What year XC90 has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2004 Volvo XC90 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 347 complaints and 5 safety recalls. See the full 2004 report for specific defects.
Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
The Volvo XC90 has accumulated 1,057 owner-filed complaints and 63 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2015 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used XC90.
What are the most common XC90 problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Electrical System (210 reports), Power Train (159 reports), Engine (100 reports), Unknown Or Other (79 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my XC90 has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Volvo XC90 VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
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