VolvoModel report

Volvo XC90 Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 1,531 consumer complaints across the 20 model years of the Volvo XC90 (2003–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 462. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (448 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

Best and worst XC90 years →

All XC90 model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	TSBs	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2025	29	4,500	2	0	Too new to compare	Too new
2024	37	18,750	3	80	Too new to compare	Too new
2023	41	17,000	6	141	79 · More	Too new
2022	31	11,200	4	219	50 · Typical	Rising
2021	40	21,000	6	219	61 · Typical	Rising
2020	34	25,000	7	248	48 · Typical	Rising
2019	42	50,000	6	362	23 · Fewer	Rising
2018	52	16,718	3	557	42 · Typical	Rising
2017	81	20,000	7	705	79 · More	Rising
2016	197	20,000	8	721	100 · More	Rising
2013	11	47,476	0	223	—	Not enough data
2011	19	94,000	1	221	—	Falling
2010	12	97,500	3	218	—	Not enough data
2009	7	76,000	1	215	—	Not enough data
2008	29	52,000	3	215	0 · Fewer	Falling
2007	38	75,000	2	220	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
2006	53	85,000	3	216	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2005	223	85,755	6	219	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
2004	462	86,000	6	211	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	93	74,650	5	215	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

Electrical system448 28%
Transmission and drivetrain309 19%
Engine237 15%
Fuel system190 12%
Other or unknown168 10%
Brakes111 6.8%
Engine cooling83 5.1%
Body and structure80 4.9%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

2016: “The start-stop function malfunctioned on my vehicle at a busy stop light/intersection. My wife and I felt we needed to push the car to side to keep from getting hit, despite flashers on. We had it towed to a Volvo dealer who was very helpful. They had car fixed next day. Said the computers or sensors not communicating. I asked Volvo if they were fixing all cars. They said moly said my car was now okay”

NHTSA complaint #11317984, filed 2020-03, 44,000 miles

2017: “The collision avoidance system was engaged, I was driving during a rain storm at night at 45 MPH, and the collision avoidance alarm went off without anything in front of my car, then the brakes slammed on by themselves and the car behind me had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid hitting me in the rear”

NHTSA complaint #11196537, filed 2019-04, 17,000 miles

2004: “I keep getting that the anti-skid needs to be serviced but when I got it checked they reported that they couldnt find anything wrong with the anti-skid and the error is constantly lit in the service window of the vehicle. I can feel the difference while driving in wet conditions. Is there anything specific they should look for other than advising me that its probably a sensor. I don't feel safe driving in rain.”

NHTSA complaint #11165430, filed 2019-01, 160,000 miles

Other Volvo models

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491 complaints Volvo XC70
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology