VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Volvo XC902016–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Volvo XC90
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Volvo XC90 Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
7 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
7 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Volvo XC90 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 30 | 76 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | — | 90 | 42 | 73 | Good |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | — | 85 | 58 | 76 | Caution |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 | — | 70 | 72 | 71 | Avoid |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | — | 80 | 82 | 81 | Caution |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 | — | 70 | 88 | 76 | Avoid |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | — | 65 | 84 | 72 | Avoid |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | — | 70 | 74 | 71 | Avoid |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | — | 85 | 62 | 77 | Caution |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | — | 65 | 50 | 60 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 | — | 60 | 40 | 53 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the XC90 compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2022 (Buyer Score 81).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year XC90 to buy?+
The 2022 Volvo XC90 scores highest on our Buyer Score (81/100) — combining a reliability score of 80/100 with a value score of 82/100. It has 4 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which XC90 years have the most problems?+
The 2016, 2017, 2020 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2016 XC90 leads with 8 recalls and 0 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common XC90 problems?+
See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.