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Volvo XC90Model year report

2020 Volvo XC90 Problems

Compared with other Volvo XC90 years

Typical for this model

48/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
34filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 4 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
25 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Volvo XC90 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 2020 Volvo XC90. The part named most often is electrical system, with 11 complaints (32% of the total), followed by engine (7) and other or unknown (7). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 248 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the traction battery and 77 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 10 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 8 Volvo XC90 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 48 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Wheels (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Equipment (1), Forward collision avoidance (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “The instrument panel just stopped working. Our safety and the safety of others was/is put at risk because you are unable to see how fast you are going in the car. It also doesn’t let us know how much gas we have left in the gas tank so if the car just stalled out on a highway, it could cause a major safety issue. This is also where cruise control is run from. It’s also the panel where any and all vehicle warnings would show up so if there’s another issue in the car, we are unable to see it.”

NHTSA complaint #11658023, filed 2025-04

Engine: “I was driving when a turtle popped up on my dashboard I pulled over to Google what that meant and popped the hood cause I seen a little smoke within 3 sec the car busted in flames I ran back and grab my daughter out the back seat we were almost locked in due to the car melting the wire and flames started coming inside the car”

NHTSA complaint #11735004, filed 2026-04

Other or unknown: “The electrical rear axle system fails at around 39k miles in the Volvo XC90 with little notice. I purchased my pre owned 2020 XC90 recharge in Jan of 2023. The failure of the ERAD system Caused complete power failure instantly and the engine to cease operating at a high rate of speed (55mph) on the highway in flowing NYC traffic . After researching, I have found hundreds s of complaints of this issue as most happen just after warranty expiration . Leading me to believe that Volvo is knowingly selling cars with one product defects that could result in injury or death.”

NHTSA complaint #11555192, filed 2023-11

Brakes: “On february 5, 2020 I was involved in a minor fender bender which resulted when I drove off alight and the car in front of me did not take off and I hit it in the rear at a very low rate of speed. The auto brake did not engage. I was no more than one and a half car lengths behind and the car was moving at one to two miles per hour. When I hit the rear of the car in front of me the air bags deployed which caused me to have a slight concussion and certainly scared me. There was little if no physical damage to the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #11322553, filed 2020-04, 4,500 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

60% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,500 and 71,000 miles.

40%0–100%10–2520%25–5020%50–7520%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

202020212022202320242025202614
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Volvo XC90. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
XC90 T5 · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 17.9% risk
XC90 T5 · SUV FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 19.1% risk
XC90 T6 · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 17.9% risk
XC90 T8 · SUV AWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 15.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2020 Volvo XC90 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
XC90 AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic202723$3,550
XC90 AWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic182621$3,900
XC90 FWD2.0L 4-cyl8-speed automatic213025$3,300
XC90 AWD PHEV2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid8-speed automatic262827 gas only—

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2020 Volvo XC90 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 248 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 248 bulletins →

Other model years of the Volvo XC90

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2025294,5002526Too new to compareToo new
20243718,7503524Too new to compareToo new
20234117,000652579 · MoreToo new
20223111,200452550 · TypicalRising
20214021,000652561 · TypicalRising
20203425,000752548 · TypicalRising
20194250,000652423 · FewerRising
20185216,718352542 · TypicalRising
20178120,000752479 · MoreRising
201619720,0008524100 · MoreRising
20131147,4760—19—Not enough data
20111994,0001—18—Falling
20101297,5003—18—Not enough data
2009776,0001—17—Not enough data
20082952,0003—160 · FewerFalling
20073875,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20065385,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200522385,7556—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200446286,0006—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20039374,6505—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Volvo XC90 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Volvo XC90 have?

NHTSA recorded 34 consumer complaints for the 2020 Volvo XC90 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Volvo XC90 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 11 complaints (32% of the total), followed by engine with 7.

Has the 2020 Volvo XC90 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2020 Volvo XC90 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Volvo XC90 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 4 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Volvo XC90 get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Volvo XC90 (XC90 FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 25 mpg combined, 21 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Volvo XC90 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,000 miles and the middle half falls between 4,500 and 71,000 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.