Volvo XC90 Complaints

162 consumer complaints on file.

#11726315March 23, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I am reporting a failure of the fuel pump system in my Volvo vehicle, which currently has approximately 60,000 miles. The failed component is available for inspection upon request. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership, which diagnosed the fuel pump as defective and requiring replacement. This appears to be a premature failure given the mileage and proper maintenance of the vehicle. This failure presents a serious safety risk. A faulty fuel pump can cause the vehicle to stall unexpectedly while driving, increasing the risk of a crash, especially at highway speeds or in traffic. Loss of engine power without warning places not only the driver and passengers at risk, but also other motorists on the road. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced symptoms consistent with fuel system issues, including difficulty starting and intermittent performance irregularities. These symptoms escalated until the vehicle became unreliable to operate. The problem has been confirmed by the manufacturer’s authorized service center, and the vehicle has been inspected accordingly. No external factors or misuse contributed to this failure. It is my understanding that Volvo has issued recalls and/or acknowledged similar fuel pump defects in other vehicles of comparable models and years. Based on the nature of this failure and its alignment with known issues, I believe this vehicle should be evaluated for inclusion under an existing recall or be subject to further investigation. Given the safety implications of fuel system failures, I respectfully request that this issue be formally reviewed to determine whether a broader defect trend exists that could impact other vehicles. The failure occurred at relatively low mileage and under normal operating conditions, raising concern of a systemic defect rather than normal wear and tear.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725373March 18, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle was recalled for a faulty battery module. I turned the car into the dealer (Palo Alto Volvo in Palo Alto, Ca) on December 18 and the dealer has not been able to provide any ETA on repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725292March 18, 2026
SEATS
I drove the car (2021 Volvo XC 90) without incident on Sunday March 8, 2026 and at the end of the day parked the car in my garage. Monday morning, I came out to use the car and found that the seat back on the driver’s side had folded all the way forward and was immovable in a position that was unsafe to drive. Had the seat spontaneously folded all the way forward while I was driving, it would have pitched my body into the steering wheel and the results could have been catastrophic. At the time of the incident my car was approximately four years and seven months old from date of purchase with just 30,315 miles on it. Volvo reported that the seat-back motor had failed and needed to be replaced. The Cost was $1249.82. Volvo offered no explanation of the seat-back motor failure but stated they were aware of one other similar incident. I have no details of that incident. I have photos of the seat position and the seat-back motor after it was removed, but was unable to upload them. I still have the seat back motor in the same condition it was in as provided to me by Volvo Cars of Sarasota.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11725183March 18, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
I am writing to report a serious safety concern related to a recent over-the-air software update for my 2025 Volvo XC90. On March 10, 2026, I was prompted to install a software update and scheduled it to complete overnight. The following morning, the vehicle interface indicated that the update had been successfully completed. Additionally, during a routine service visit on March 12, 2026, dealership personnel also believed the update had been properly installed. However, on March 15, 2026, while driving, I experienced a critical and dangerous failure: my brakes became unresponsive, and I was unable to stop the vehicle using the brake pedal. Multiple warning lights appeared simultaneously. Fortunately, I was near my home and was able to safely bring the vehicle to a stop by coasting through nearby streets. This situation could have resulted in a catastrophic accident had it occurred on a highway or in heavy traffic, particularly as my daughter was in the vehicle at the time. The vehicle was subsequently towed to the dealership. I was informed that during the initial installation attempt, the battery voltage dropped below the required level, causing the update to pause. Critically, I received no notification that the update had failed or was incomplete, and the vehicle interface continued to indicate that the update had been successfully installed. Upon inspection on March 16, 2026, the dealership determined that the software update resumed and completed installation on March 15—while I was actively operating the vehicle. At that time, the vehicle lost communication with its electronic systems, resulting in the loss of braking functionality. This sequence of events raises a significant safety concern. A software update that can pause due to low battery voltage and later resume without any notification—particularly while the vehicle is in operation—creates an unacceptable risk to drivers, passengers, and the public.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724553March 16, 2026
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while retrieving items from the trunk, the contact became aware that there was water leaking into the cargo area. The contact stated that the holders were full of water. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the sunroof drain hose needed to be replaced and sealed, and the flooring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11724066March 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon shifting to Drive(D) while the vehicle was on an incline, the vehicle rolled back before moving forward as intended. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring, causing the vehicle to hit a garage door and a brick mailbox on two different occasions. The contact stated that the tailgate was opened and sustained a dent when the vehicle hit the garage door. The contact stated that upon shifting to Reverse(R) on a decline, the vehicle rolled forward before reversing as intended. The contact stated that the failure had caused the vehicle to hit two pedestrians. There were no reported injuries. No police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions, and several unknown repairs were performed; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had experienced difficulty starting on several occasions, leaving the contact stranded while the contact was in the process of taking his son to the emergency room. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The message "Press Knob To Start" was displayed. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stopped. The message "Hybrid System Failure - Service Required" was displayed, and the message "Performance Reduced" was displayed along with a turtle. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH while driving. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where unknown repairs were performed; however the failure persisted. The dealer had recommended the vehicle sale due to the persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to Park Place Volvo(3515 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75209), where the battery cells were recharged, and the hybrid system module and an unknown hybrid system part were replaced; however, the failure persisted.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723331March 10, 2026
Other/I am not sure
I am filing this complaint regarding misleading and inconsistent safety labeling on the Nuna REVV convertible car seat. The car seat’s physical sticker, the Nuna website product page, and the user manual all contain conflicting information about the height and weight limits for different installation configurations (vehicle belt vs. lower anchor, rear-facing vs. forward-facing). Specifically: • The website listed rear-facing use with vehicle belt as 5–30 lbs with a height range of 18–34 inches, and lower anchor belt as 5–30 lbs. The sticker on the seat displayed the height limit only for certain configurations, suggesting height was not a factor for others. • After I raised the discrepancy, Nuna’s own customer service team initially told me the sticker was correct and the lower anchor configuration had different limits. They later reversed course after consulting their CPST team, confirming that the rear-facing maximum is 30 lbs OR 34 inches for ALL installation methods — contradicting what both the sticker and website indicated. • This means both the NHTSA-approved sticker on the seat and the website contained incorrect or misleading information at the time of purchase. My [XXX] son ([XXX]) has been using this seat rear-facing based on the published specifications, but is actually over the height limit. This is a serious safety concern. Car seat labels are NHTSA-regulated and are the primary resource parents use to determine safe use. Conflicting information between the label, manual, and website creates a situation where children may be used outside the seat’s tested parameters without their parents’ knowledge. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the labeling on the Nuna REVV to determine whether it meets federal safety labeling standards and whether a corrective action or recall is warranted. 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
#11723187March 10, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
Driving on a 45 mph road and brakes felt squishy, like air was going out of them. It was slow to stop and had to pump then stomp to get it to stop before crashing. Was fortunate to not hit anything. Pulled into gas station and had it towed to Volvo. There were no warning lights or other indication of problem- the brakes just failed. Volvo said the vacuum pump failed which pushed oil into the brake booster causing it to fail. The car has 74,000 miles and has been serviced regularly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11722681March 7, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
My 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge has experienced multiple hybrid system failures under Volvo's factory 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid warranty, with fewer than 45,000 miles on the odometer. The high-voltage battery modules have failed multiple times, directly related to recall R10312 (NHTSA 25V-179), which identifies a supplier process deviation in LG battery modules creating a risk of internal short circuit and thermal runaway — an acknowledged fire risk. Critically, my vehicle has suffered two actual battery module failures, not preemptive recall replacements. This places my vehicle in a substantially higher risk category than others in the recall population with no prior symptoms. A vehicle that has already experienced the exact failure mode identified in a safety recall presents a materially greater ongoing safety risk. Additionally, my vehicle suffered a complete ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) failure — a known defect that Volvo acknowledged by releasing a redesigned ERAD2 unit, confirming awareness of this systemic issue. These repeated failures left my vehicle un-drivable and parked at the dealership for more than 6 months, with replacement parts repeatedly placed on backorder, causing severe and prolonged loss of use. I filed a formal complaint with Volvo Customer Care requesting a vehicle buyback. After months of inadequate communication, Volvo declined to buy back the vehicle or offer reasonable trade-in accommodation. Instead, Volvo offered a nominal monetary concession contingent on signing an NDA, which I declined as insufficient given the documented safety risk, repeated failures of a recalled component, extended loss of use, nor out of pocket car rental expenses. I am filing this complaint to ensure my vehicle's actual failures are part of the NHTSA record for R10312/25V-179, and to request NHTSA evaluate whether Volvo's response to owners who have experienced actual failures — rather than preemptive recall repairs — warrants further regulatory scrutiny.
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
#11720490February 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In the middle of a cold snowstorm the screen froze and started glitching. As I was trying to change the drive mode to all wheel drive the ESC off button triggered and ESC stayed off without AWD mode and screen was unresponsive. Had to pull over and turn car off and back on for screen to reset.
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
#11717923February 13, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The ERAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) transmission on my 2021 XC90 T8 Recharge has suffered an internal failure at approximately 112,550 miles. The vehicle makes loud grinding and slamming noises from the rear drivetrain and locks up when attempting to drive, making the vehicle completely undrivable. The dealership (Volvo Cars Gilbert, AZ) diagnosed the ERAD clutch as slamming and suspects internal gears are missing teeth. A software update was attempted but did not resolve the mechanical failure. The ERAD transmission needs full replacement at a quoted cost of $5,211.56 (part number 32324105-9). This is a known failure point on the T8 platform and Volvo has redesigned this component (ERAD2) for newer models due to reliability issues with the original design. This failure presents a safety concern as the rear drivetrain can lock up unexpectedly during driving. This ERAD failure occurred alongside two other hybrid system component failures within a 3 month period: the High Voltage Coolant Heater (HVCH) and the vehicle batteries (VCM and main), suggesting a systemic hybrid system reliability problem.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717189February 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Our rear backup camera is no longer working. I see that other years have been recalled for the same issue, but our 2021 XC90 is not covered under the recall. It seems to be the same issue.
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
#11714120January 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While the vehicle was parked, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded. Using the buttons on the trunk, I shut the trunk and locked the car. A few moments later, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded again. This continued for 40 minutes. Today, if I place a battery in the main black key fob, the trunk will open with the car running. I have an appointment next week at the dealer, however, most correspondence with Volvo has been by phone during the time it occurred. Both key fobs are not recognized by the vehicle unless specifically placed in a vertical direction in the cup holder. While driving, I receive messages that the key is not detected (although, I understand the car should NOT shut off while running after started and this has NOT occurred thankfully.). I will provide further documentation once available but want to report in case others experience this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713277January 25, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The aluminum trim on the center console of my 2022 Volvo xc90 has started peeling. The exposed edges are sharp and cut my fingers whenever I move my hands near the console. This issue is very common among this model and presents a serious safety hazard during normal vehicle use.
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
#11711088January 15, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the camera was leggy and was inoperable while in reverse. While in a parking lot and driveway, the camera was inoperable. While on flat surfaces, the parking brake engaged without application. The driver had to manually release the brake. The vehicle was restarted, and the camera worked at times. While reversing, she bumped/crashed into a piece of metal in the driveway left by workers. There was no alert indicating that there was an object there. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, fire, or police report filed. The Google Assistant was glitching and went into Spanish mode. While using the turn signal, there was no sound. There was no air conditioning; the center screen had frozen. The cross-traffic sensor alert was triggered, causing the auto brake system to engage when there was no object, windy weather, or rain. While using a loaner, the vehicle has similar symptoms. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to the local dealer on seven occasions for software issues, and a computer processor chip was installed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and they opened a case. The failure mileage was 100.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11710393January 12, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On the morning of January 12, 2026, I attempted to unplug my 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge (plug-in hybrid) from my home charging station in order to drive to an appointment. I had turned on the climate control remotely from the Volvo app while inside the house. When I went to unplug the vehicle, the charging connector was locked in the vehicle’s charging port and could not be removed. I contacted Volvo customer service, who instructed me to try several troubleshooting steps, including locking and unlocking the vehicle multiple times with the key fob and resetting the infotainment system. These steps did not resolve the issue. Because the charging plug remained locked, I was unable to use my vehicle and had to borrow a neighbor’s car, causing me to arrive late to a scheduled appointment. While away from home, I contacted my Volvo dealer, whose service representative advised me to use force to remove the plug, stating it would likely break the internal clip in the charging port. When I returned home several hours later and unlocked the vehicle, the charging plug released normally without any physical intervention. This suggests a software or electronic malfunction rather than a mechanical obstruction. The incident temporarily immobilized the vehicle and could pose a safety or reliability concern if it occurs in other situations. Furthermore, we have been experiencing intermittent issues with the infotainment system, including the backup cameras not coming on, random radio stations playing and complete blackout of the screen and/or flickering. The last software update was completed on Aug 15, 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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