2004 Volvo XC90 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 20about this part
- Share
- 4%of 462 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Volvo XC90, 4% of the 462 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I am concerned these 2 issues may pose a safety risk. I recently purchased this car from a friend and have had it about a month. I notice the steering is very stiff and difficult to maneuver. I was trying to find out if there were any recalls on this but having no luck. Also, when the car is in gear drive , when stopped on an incline (even the slightest hill) I notice that when I take my foot off the brake pedal the car rolls backwards! It shouldn't do that. …”
NHTSA complaint #11321055, filed 2020-04, 195,000 miles“3 hours into a 3-1/2 hour weekend road trip there was a clunk in the engine compartment. Thinking I hit a pothole, I continued on cautiously. While continuing on these unfamiliar 2 lane windy roads going 43mph (the speed limit was 55) about 2 miles from where the clunk happened my entire dash cluster stopped working. All my dome lights and leg lights came on. The car clunked harder this time. I lost power to the engine, steering was like trying to turn a tank, and the brakes were very spongy. …”
NHTSA complaint #10618859, filed 2014-08, 155,000 miles“While driving our Volvo xc-90, the entire electrical system shuts down (dashboard display, lighting, AC, power windows, power door locks, everything electrical etc.). Additionally, for a split second the engine/transmission jerks and/or stalls before resuming. The first time this happened was in 2010 and never occurred again for several years. Then suddenly on a recent trip in august 2014 this happened repeatedly and the electrical system never returned to operation during that trip. In that august 2014 occurrence we were traveling down narrow state highway 1 in big sur, california. …”
NHTSA complaint #10639901, filed 2014-09, 65,000 miles“While driving my 2004 Volvo xc-90 at night I experienced a momentary loss of control, followed by the headlights pausing and then going from high beams to low. The instrument cluster lost some of it's displays and the door locks became inoperative. The data display warned me of an urgent srs failure . I was at low speed a block from home so I crept home and the next day sent the car to triad Volvo by roll-back wrecker. Problem was failure of central electronic module. I called Volvo corporate and they seemed disinterested.”
NHTSA complaint #10241888, filed 2008-09, 60,000 miles“After driving 125 miles without incident, we left our 2004 Volvo xc 90 t6 awd parked for 4 hours before driving again. After less than a half mile at low speed, there was a thump from the front of the car, the wipers cycled, the gauges all went blank, some of the windows stopped working, the A/C went out (blower stayed on). The car stayed on, but seemed stuck in second gear and the brakes became spongy, but operable. Turn signals were inoperable and the power steering went out. The indicator light on the gear shift went out and the central locking system stopped functioning. …”
NHTSA complaint #10345228, filed 2010-07, 75,000 milesRelated recalls
- 06V155000May 5, 2006On certain passenger vehicles,the outer tie rod ball joint can deform at high loads causing a loss of the clamping force and the nut may loosen, which may…Covers: Volvo XC90 2003–2006
Related service bulletins
- 10128164Oct 25, 2017Title BLIS fault tracing . Status Released Status 2012 - Ref No US25788.1.1 en - US Date 04 - 16 Issue 2012 - Issuer - Date 01 - 19 Vida Partner 3 US 7510 Volvo Cars North…
- 10167722Mar 18, 2017VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Technical Journal TITLE : Vehicle type and platform identification REF NO : ISSUING DEPARTMENT : CAR MARKET : United States and Canada TJ…
- 10026550Sep 19, 2008Volvo: angle gear leakage and resealing for 5 cylinder awd only vehicles. Oil leaking/moisture fromthe angle gear halves can be resolved by resealing the houseing and replacing…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 7% |
| 2021 | 2 | 5% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 1 | 2% |
| 2018 | 2 | 4% |
| 2017 | 3 | 4% |
| 2016 | 7 | 4% |
| 2011 | 2 | 11% |
| 2010 | 2 | 17% |
| 2008 | 1 | 3% |
| 2007 | 4 | 11% |
| 2006 | 2 | 4% |
| 2005 | 8 | 4% |
| 2004 | 20 | 4% |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2004 Volvo XC90
158 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
145 complaintsFuel system
77 complaintsExterior lighting
32 complaintsAir bags
31 complaintsEngine
28 complaintsEngine cooling
24 complaintsSuspension
23 complaintsBrakes
19 complaintsOther or unknown
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Volvo XC90
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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