2003 Volvo XC90 Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 2%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 172,344miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the engine of the 2003 Volvo XC90, 2% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 172,344 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Driving the XC90 and suddenly there is a huge thump and clicking from the dashboard. All the dials around the spedometer stop working.. If we keep driving there are more thumps and we quickly lose engine power - it is extremely scary when it happens.. All the lights come on (inside the car), dashboard goes dead etc etc. It is extremely dangerous .. It happened to use a number of times with 3 children in the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #10810354, filed 2015-12, 230,000 miles“When this vehicle was purchased it started within 4 days to have problems with the transmission, after the transmission the transfer case began to have problems, so the vehicle was placed in the shop before the thirty days tags could expire and both parts were rebuilt by an outside company which was added to the original price tag of the vehicle. Then a year later the vehicle was placed in the shop for the turbo's had gone out on the vehicle on april 11, 2015 until current date. They are now saying the vehicle has a blown head gasket and it is still in the shop.”
NHTSA complaint #10760442, filed 2015-08, 114,687 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11032678Apr 23, 2026This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure Description and Service sections updated to clarify…
- 10171688Jan 28, 2020This is a Technical Journal: 4 Cylinder VEP engine: Castrol Edge Professional V 0W-20 Synthetic oil.
- 10157864Feb 9, 2019This is a Technical Journal: Oil in cooling system. New cleaning method developed.
- 10110147Jun 14, 2016All new Volvo engines leave the factory filled with Castrol EDGE Professional as an integral part of their delivery of high performance. Castrol EDGE Professional?s outstanding…
Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% |
| 2024 | 4 | 11% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 6 | 19% |
| 2021 | 8 | 20% |
| 2020 | 7 | 21% |
| 2019 | 10 | 24% |
| 2018 | 5 | 10% |
| 2017 | 25 | 31% |
| 2016 | 86 | 44% |
| 2013 | 2 | 18% |
| 2011 | 5 | 26% |
| 2010 | 1 | 8% |
| 2009 | 1 | 14% |
| 2008 | 6 | 21% |
| 2007 | 4 | 11% |
| 2006 | 6 | 11% |
| 2005 | 29 | 13% |
| 2004 | 28 | 6% |
| 2003 | 2 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2003 Volvo XC90
49 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsFuel system
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsBody and structure
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Volvo XC90
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology