Volvo XC90 Complaints (2024)

38 consumer complaints on file.

#11774445October 29, 2026
TIRES
As I was driving, I heard a loud pop and my right rear tire started deflating. I had not run over anything obvious in the road and the tire’s appearance led me to believe that the treads had separated. I called the Volvo dealership to get their opinion on the photo and the tire rep never returned my call. Because of the unusual tire blow, I felt it was safest to get all 4 tires replaced and the Costco tire rep thought that the blowout was unusual, too. I drove all four tires to Principle Volvo for their tire rep to inspect and their conclusion was “outside influences” caused the blow, the conclusion to which I disagree. The mileage on the tires was about 25,300 and the treads were still in good shape so I think the tires should have held up much better.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773120October 22, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving 45-50 miles per hour on a large main street in orange county with a car 6-7 car lengths ahead and the Volvo XC90 automatically forced the vehicle to stop on a dime for no apparent reason. Everyone in the car was thrown forward into the locking seatbelts. Thankfully no one was injured.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764860September 16, 2026
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Vehicle was stopped at a stop light with brake pedal pressed. Car started rolling with brake pedal pushed and repeatedly pushing the brake pedal did nothing! Car jerked three times and responded to pressing the park button. Once in park, I noticed that all warning lights came including brake warnings but the car would not turn off and it was stuck in park. Car would not come out of park but the radio and hazards worked. Police responded and advised not to take my foot off the brake until the tow truck got there. Initially, the tow truck driver could not put the car in drive or neutral or turn off vehicle. Tow truck driver was able to turn off the car and get it started again. Brakes should not just stop working in the middle of traffic in a 2 year old car with only 17k miles on it. Reporting because it appears this is a repeated Volvo issue. Per the Volvo app, all software downloads were updated and there was no error message before this happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764008September 14, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
COMPONENT / SYSTEM: Sunroof drainage system — left front sunroof drain hose and sunroof tub. The vehicle and the component are available for inspection on request. WHAT HAPPENED: On or about July 6, 2026 I observed water entering the passenger compartment at the right rear interior quarter trim panel, visible on opening the tailgate. I reported it to Volvo Car USA Customer Care by telephone the same day. On July 29, 2026, while I was driving on a highway, water dripped from the overhead panel above the rearview mirror, surrounding the interior lights, onto me. The same day I found water again at the right rear quarter trim panel and, on removing the cargo floor panel, standing water in the spare wheel well with wet carpet, carpet backing and insulation. The vehicle was at an authorized Volvo dealer from July 31 to August 13, 2026. On September 13, 2026, during heavy rain, water again entered from the overhead panel above the rearview mirror — the same location. HOW SAFETY WAS PUT AT RISK: Water entered the passenger compartment and fell onto the driver while the vehicle was being operated at highway speed, which was a distraction. Water has also accumulated in the cargo area, where the battery and fuse box compartments are located, creating a risk to electrical components. Wet carpet, padding and insulation remain a mold concern. REPRODUCED OR CONFIRMED BY A DEALER: Yes. Under repair order 403698 at an authorized Volvo dealer, the technician water tested the sunroof drains and stated on the dealership's video inspection that "the one on the left front is draining pretty slow," that it "has a slow flow through the hose that goes through the sunroof tub," and that when he poured water into the driver's side drain hose "it was overflowing a little bit into the tub where it's not supposed to go." The written repair order records only: "CLEAN SUNROOF DRAINS AND RE-WATER TEST SUNROOF DRAINS. ALL ARE DRAINING AS DESIGNED. ALL OKAY AT THIS TIME." No cause is stated on th
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11756051August 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2024 Volvo XC90 has experienced complete battery and electrical failure three times in approximately ten months. The failure pattern is identical each time. The battery discharges fully with no prior warning. A jump start restores power briefly, but the vehicle does not hold a charge and shuts down again, so it must be towed. The battery has been replaced three separate times by authorized Volvo retailers and the failure keeps recurring, which indicates the underlying cause has not been identified. Component: Electrical system, specifically a suspected parasitic current draw causing complete discharge of the 12V battery. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. Safety risk: The vehicle becomes completely inoperable without warning and has stranded me three times, requiring towing on each occasion. There is no advance indication that the battery is failing. Because the failure is sudden and unpredictable, the vehicle cannot be relied on to start in an emergency or to remain operable, and I have no confidence that a failure will not occur at a time or place that puts occupants at risk. Confirmed by dealer: Yes. Each failure was confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealer, which replaced the battery each time. Repairing dealers include Independence Volvo and University Volvo. The failures occurred in approximately October 2025, approximately March or April 2026, and [date of current failure]. The vehicle is currently at [dealer] for the third occurrence. Inspection by manufacturer or others: Volvo Car USA corporate has not inspected the vehicle. No police or insurance inspection. To my knowledge no dealer has performed or documented a parasitic draw test to locate the source of the discharge. Warning lamps or symptoms: None. There were no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or symptoms of any kind before any of the three failures. The vehicle operated normally and then would not start. Total days out of service: at least 15 days across the three times
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753550July 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The bright trim strip along the front edge of the shifter panel in the center console of my 2024 Volvo XC90 has fractured in two places, leaving an exposed jagged edge adjacent to the cupholders. That edge lacerated my fingertip on July 14, 2026 and again on July 25, 2026. On both occasions I was driving the vehicle on a highway and was reaching for a cup in the cupholder, which is ordinary use. The injury bled heavily both times and was a significant distraction while I was operating the vehicle at highway speed. Neither injury required medical treatment. The panel has never been removed, pried, or struck, and no object has been dropped on it. The vehicle has approximately 31,151 miles and was purchased as a Volvo Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in September 2025. It is scheduled for service at an authorized Volvo dealer on July 31, 2026. I have photographs of the fractured trim.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11753548July 29, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On or about July 6, 2026, I observed water entering the passenger compartment of my 2024 Volvo XC90 at the right rear interior quarter trim panel, visible on opening the tailgate. I reported this to Volvo Car USA Customer Care by telephone the same day and was told the vehicle would need to be brought to an authorized dealer. On July 29, 2026, while I was driving the vehicle on a highway, water dripped from the overhead panel above the rearview mirror, surrounding the interior lights, onto me. After parking, I inspected the vehicle and found, the same day, water again entering at the right rear interior quarter trim panel and, on removing the cargo floor panel, standing water in the spare wheel well together with wet carpet on the cargo floor panel and wet carpet backing and insulation. Water is entering the vehicle at more than one location. I am concerned about water reaching electrical components, including the battery and fuse box compartments located in the cargo area, and about mold in the carpet and insulation. The vehicle has approximately 31,151 miles and was purchased as a Volvo Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in September 2025. It is scheduled for service at an authorized Volvo dealer on July 31, 2026. I have photographs and video of these conditions.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11750273July 14, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2024 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the contact about to exit the vehicle, the vehicle rolled forward unexpectedly and crashed into the vehicle in front. The contact stated that after striking that vehicle, the vehicle independently started reversing and struck a mailbox and some trees. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop until the rear of the vehicle struck the second tree. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The rear of the vehicle was damaged, and the driver’s side rear wheel was tilted outwards at a 45-degree angle. The contact was taken to the ER and was treated for bruises and pain to the head. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a Collision Repair center by the police, but was not yet inspected. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11736880May 10, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The Infotainment Head Unit (IHU) on my 2024 Volvo XC90 has experienced repeated total system blackouts, spontaneous power-cycles, and critical thermal failures while operating at highway speeds (46–77 MPH). The IHU displays a "Cooling Infotainment System" critical warning and fails completely, resulting in total loss of the federally mandated rearview/backup camera (FMVSS 111 violation), GPS navigation, and all safety interfaces while in motion. The dealer confirmed the defect and attempted repair twice but only performed software resets rather than hardware replacement. The dealer documented "FIXED FAILED." Failures have continued and worsened after both repair attempts. Video documentation exists for all incidents (Exhibits A–H, dated May 2–7, 2026, odometer 41,900–42,151 miles). The vehicle's own diagnostic system issued a Critical Thermal Warning on the driver cluster while navigating traffic, confirming a hardware cooling defect. Two failures occurred during active driving maneuvers including a reverse maneuver and highway operation on I-20, creating immediate safety risk to the driver and public. The component is available for inspection. The defect has been confirmed by the Volvo dealer. A Texas Lemon Law complaint has been filed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736825May 10, 2026
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
At certain times during the day and evening the rear windows are hazy and sometimes hard to see out of.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736039May 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Driving on highway. Selected another route on map, but the screen lagged in response. Screen then went dark, shut off electronics on dashboard and infotainment, and AC turned off; seems like car also slowed down. Able to pull over and wait for everything to restart. Safety put at risk: sudden change in environment causing attention to shift to safely getting off road incase car shut off entirely. Previously: Infotainment has been off at start-up before; never had this problem while driving, though. One incident in drive-thru where I pressed infotainment and whole car shut off. Vehicle has been taken to dealership services for annual and as needed, codes have been ran extensively, and no faults have been found. The concerning incident occurred an hour ago so I have not brought to dealership yet, but seeing online that the problem is not just with my vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11731827April 17, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A software update (version 5.0.5) was complete on my 2024 Volvo XC90 at the end of March. The software was marketed in emails to have an enhanced infotainment display to support a safer experience. Since the upgrade, I have experienced the opposite of enhanced safety. My infotainment screen and dash displays randomly go black and it restarts itself several times a day while driving. In addition to that, the blinkers malfunction when this happens. The most important safety issue is navigation outage on the displays. The inability to rely on the Google maps navigation within Volvo, or within CarPlay, results in my having to use my phone to input and view directions, taking my eyes off the road. It also disables to cameras when I need them. On 3/31 I emailed my sales rep asking if he'd heard of others having this complaint, he did not appear to be aware and asked me to make an appt with service center. I brought the car to Volvo on 4/2 where the service check-in employees did mention they were seeing many cars coming in with the same concerns. The technician was not able to confirm the issue but said they would contact Corporate and let me know of a response, which was 15 days ago. According to online searches, multiple other Volvo drivers are experiencing the same. Since we have become so dependent on the driver assistance features, and this issue is now occurring, I have become a nervous driver in a brand of car that is marketed as one of the safest vehicles in the world. I get worried that my BLISS or lane assistance or other driver assisted features will malfunction as well. No notifications from Volvo have been received thus far. I have not contacted the Corporate offices of Volvo yet. Please take this safety issue seriously.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722469March 6, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact leased a 2024 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the infotainment screen and instrument cluster went black with the message "Critical Error - Pull Over When Safe". The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times at various speeds. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a local dealer. The contact stated that the failure occurred often, and the warning light was ignored while driving to the dealer. The contact stated that occasionally, the system was independently rebooted when the vehicle stopped. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle several times and replaced several batteries; however, the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and dispatched technicians to consult with the technicians at the dealer; however, the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11719209February 19, 2026
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
On February 17, 2026 I was driving from Sacramento, CA to Oakland, CA (approximately 100 miles). At the start of the trip, I discovered that the vehicle’s heating and climate control system was not functioning. Specifically, the heater would not turn on, and as a result, the windshield defrost system would not activate. I attempted multiple times to turn the vehicle off and restart it to see if the system would reset, but the problem persisted. I also tried manually activating the front defrost using the dashboard controls; however, the defrost function would not engage. Weather conditions were approximately 40°F with heavy rain. Because the defrost system was inoperable, the windshield and windows became fogged over during the drive. This significantly impaired my visibility. I was unable to adequately clear the windshield, creating a dangerous driving condition for the duration of the trip. This malfunction directly impacted my ability to safely operate the vehicle in cold and rainy conditions. The inability to use the defrost system created a serious safety hazard due to reduced visibility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11714266January 29, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I am reporting a serious and ongoing safety defect involving my 2024 Volvo XC90. The vehicle has experienced intermittent unintended acceleration, intermittent loss of safety and alert systems, and false obstacle detection that triggers unexpected braking or steering input. These events occur randomly and without warning, and are not tied to a specific driver, key, driving condition, or user behavior. At times, the vehicle accelerates on its own without driver input. At other times, the vehicle detects objects that are not present, causing the car to suddenly stop while reversing or swerve to avoid perceived obstacles that are not actually in the roadway. These events occur unpredictably and create a risk of collision with surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, or objects. During these occurrences, safety systems and alerts may become unavailable or inoperable, leaving the driver without audible or visual warnings. Audio alerts and system feedback have also stopped functioning during these events, further increasing the safety risk. The vehicle has been brought in for service approximately 8–9 times for various concerns, including these safety issues. Despite repeated service visits, the problems remain unresolved. Restarting the vehicle sometimes restores functionality, but the defects continue to recur unpredictably. This vehicle is used to transport young children, and these failures present a significant risk of serious injury or death. The unpredictability of the unintended acceleration, false braking/steering, and loss of safety systems makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. I am submitting this complaint due to concern for my family’s safety and the safety of others on the road, and because the manufacturer has not resolved the defect after repeated attempts. These issues have occurred since we received the car in September 2024
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11711963January 19, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The trunk fails to open via kick correctly and then has closed in the midst of using the trunk space. It has not performed the “kick to close” function since purchasing the vehicle. We have two young children and this has brought a scare a few times. We love our Volvos but this has been our only concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709427January 7, 2026
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH PLATE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK
To Whom It May Concern, I am submitting this complaint to report a repeated and unresolved safety defect in my leased Volvo vehicle involving rear passenger door lock failure, which has resulted in minor children being trapped inside the vehicle on multiple occasions Vehicle Safety Issue: The left rear passenger door fails to open from both inside and outside, despite the child lock not being engaged. This creates a serious safety risk, particularly during emergencies when occupants must exit the vehicle quickly. Incident History: [XXX]: Rear door would not open from inside or outside, trapping my two children (ages [XXX] and [XXX] ). At the same time, the infotainment system froze and the backup camera was not functioning. I reported this to Volvo service. [XXX]: The same issue occurred again, resulting in my children being locked in the rear seat. One child was experiencing leg pain, and it was extremely difficult and unsafe to remove him through the front door. The dealer stated the rear lock assembly was replaced. [XXX]: Despite prior repair and assurances, the rear door failed again, trapping my child inside the vehicle. I have video evidence showing the door cannot be opened from outside. In addition, on a separate occasion, the vehicle completely froze and could not be unlocked using either key. AAA was required to jump-start the vehicle, and I was informed that a required software installation had not occurred. Safety Concern: A rear passenger door that cannot be opened from inside or outside presents an immediate safety hazard, especially involving children, medical emergencies, accidents, or fire. A non-functional backup camera further increases the risk of injury while reversing. This issue has occurred three times, including after a component replacement, indicating a recurring defect rather than an isolated incident. I am reporting this issue so it can be reviewed for potential safety investigation and corrective action. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOI
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691492October 5, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
Safety Complaint – Volvo XC90 Electrical and Airbag Malfunction Issues I am reporting ongoing safety concerns with my Volvo XC90 related to electrical malfunctions and unexpected engine shutdowns while driving. The vehicle has suddenly turned off multiple times, including: •Once before merging onto a highway, •Once while entering a roundabout, and •Once while driving in traffic. Each incident occurred without warning and created a hazardous situation with the potential for a collision. Additionally, the vehicle displayed an airbag malfunction warning once, raising concern about the reliability of the vehicle’s safety systems. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times, but the issues persist. I am requesting a formal investigation into these failures, as they pose a significant safety risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687349September 15, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some critical functions on the center display console instrument panel are freezing up while driving - we are unable to change the drive mode while the car is in motion. This has not happened before, and it is glitching a lot lately. The display has been extremely slow and unresponsive, and the problem is multiplied as all critical functions of the car are controlled through the display panel. There were no warnings issued when we tried to change the drive mode. We had to pull over to the roadside, turn off the car for 30 seconds, then restart the car to fix the issue. We have [XXX] and [XXX] ) in the car, so this is becoming increasingly risky to drive this "safe" car by Volvo. We have reported such issues with the display to our Volvo service unit multiple times, and the car has been returned to us with such issues still lingering (despite the service reloading/updating the software multiple times) for the last 6 months since March of this year. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677665July 31, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Several times a month the infotainment system on my car completely freezes. When this happens, my blinkers do not work, my CarPlay does not work, I cannot use voice commands, I cannot play the radio or answer calls, the backup and parking sensors do not make an audible sound. The only way to fix this is to hold down the home button to restart the entire system which does take a few minutes so not ideal to do while driving. Turning the car off and back on does not even fix it. This is an extreme safety issue, as when this happens I am driving without the use of blinkers until my system finishes restarting. Not only am I unable to use blinkers, but I am unable to make calls over Bluetooth or CarPlay which is incredibly dangerous in the event of an emergency. I am unable to park or backup and be able to hear the beep of the sensors. I cannot hear the audio of my gps. It happens out of the blue and is so unsafe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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