Volvo XC90 Complaints

1,540 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#11724311March 14, 2026
WHEELS
My tire somehow got a nail in it. I drove straight to Volvo when noticing the issue around 730am on 3/13/26. At 745am I spoke with [XXX] at Schumacher Volvo, he advised that they were too busy today to assist me. I advised I was afraid to drive with this and needed help and he told me to buy a tire lock kit and I could do it at another tire store. When I went to the parts department they advised the brake lock would not work and the only way to fix my tire would be to have Volvo remove the special lock nuts or replace them with common ones. Of course x they had no time to do this so they left me with zero options or ability to fix my car. I was forced to drive 30+ minutes home with zero solution. Completely unsafe and unfair I have absolutely no way to resolve this issue with my car. Unacceptable and scary considering Volvo claims they are all about safety but no concerns letting a single mother and her 2 children drive in a tire with a nail. XXX, 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
#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
#11721075February 27, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car started smoking on the road, I parked it. It smoked, Then it caught on fire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11720776February 26, 2026
SEAT BELTS
2ND row, center seat, seatbelt lock will not work, will not latch/lock, cannot use seatbelt. Since owning car, the seatbelt locked intermittently, as of today, it does not work at all.
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
#11719068February 19, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owned a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-52 MPH, there smoke coming from the front passenger’s side wheel well of the vehicle. The contact stated that an off-duty Police Officer witnessed the failure and activated the Emergency Lights, allowing the contact to safely pull off the highway The contact immediately pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The grandson seated in the front passenger’s seat immediately exited the vehicle and the contact was able to unbuckle and removed the [XXX] from the second-row middle seat. The contact stated that moments later there were explosions, and there was black smoke and flames engulfing the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries sustained; however, all three occupants of the vehicle experienced emotional trauma from the vehicle catching on fire. Medical attention was not needed. A Police Report was filed at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The contact stated that the car seat in the rear of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was examined by an Insurance Adjuster, and it was determined that the fire had started in the engine compartment. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 61,511. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
3
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
#11718017February 14, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle: 2017 Volvo XC-90 Component: Door latch / door lock mechanism Both passenger-side door latches failed within approximately three weeks of each other due to internal corrosion/rust, as confirmed by Volvo diagnostics. The affected doors cannot be opened from inside or outside, including by key fob or interior door controls. This condition presents a serious safety risk, including potential occupant entrapment in the event of an accident, fire, or emergency evacuation. The vehicle has been well maintained, garage kept, and has not been exposed to flooding. Volvo Cars USA and an authorized dealership acknowledged the failures; however, Volvo declined assistance. The dealership offered partial labor coverage while the owner paid for parts to restore vehicle safety. Because this involves a critical safety component and occurred on multiple doors in close succession, I believe this represents a design or material defect, not normal wear, and warrants formal investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717769February 13, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES
Vehicle: 2020 Volvo XC90 Mileage at first incident: ~60,000 miles Mileage at second incident: ~70,000 miles In July 2025, while my wife was driving our 2020 Volvo XC90 the vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of braking. The brake pedal did not provide stopping power, and the vehicle had to be steered off the roadway in order to come to a stop and avoid a serious accident. The incident created a serious safety risk. The vehicle was taken to an Wynn Volvo PA dealer and the brake booster and master cylinder were replaced at our expense (approximately $2,500). After the repair, the brake pedal initially felt abnormally soft and required a return visit for correct repair. Approximately six months later, in January 2026, while my teenage son was driving the same vehicle, the vehicle again experienced a complete loss of braking. Braking performance was lost without warning. He narrowly avoided a serious accident. The vehicle was brought to Wynn Volvo in PA and the hydraulic control unit (brake control module) was diagnosed as failed. Repair cost is approximately $3,000. This vehicle has now experienced two separate complete brake failures involving different hydraulic braking components within six months -- with both my wife and son narrowly avoiding serious accidents. Given that this is a safety-critical braking system failure with repeat occurrence, I am filing this complaint for investigation.
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
#11716016February 5, 2026
ENGINE
The catillatic converter exploded as we started the vehicle .was a very loud explosion..no fire but lots of smoke.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volvo XC90