Volvo XC90 Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. 176 of the 655 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2025 Volvo XC90 (26.9%) name the engine, near the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Engine complaints
176
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
26.9%
of 655 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
3
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Volvo XC90 engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | 27.6% | 1 | 08V206000 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 14.3% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 8.3% | 0 | — | 12 |
| 2011 | 7 | 36.8% | 1 | — | 12 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0% | 0 | — | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 18.2% | 1 | — | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 25% | 0 | — | 10 |
| 2016WORST | 89 | 44.9% | 9 | 19V308000 | 0 |
| 2017WORST | 26 | 31.3% | 8 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 11.5% | 0 | — | 34 |
| 2019WORST | 11 | 26.2% | 4 | — | 27 |
| 2020 | 7 | 20% | 2 | — | 19 |
| 2021 | 3 | 16.7% | 0 | — | 28 |
| 2022 | 7 | 22.6% | 1 | 22V793000 | 16 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2.4% | 0 | 22V793000 | 5 |
| 2024 | 4 | 10.5% | 0 | — | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6.3% | 0 | — | — |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2015: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Volvo XC90 engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 176 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Volvo XC90 years to avoid for the engine
2016 Volvo XC90
89 engine complaints (44.9% of the year's 198). Most often described: oil consumption or oil leaks. Covered by engine recall 19V308000.
2017 Volvo XC90
26 engine complaints (31.3% of the year's 83). Most often described: overheating or coolant loss.
2019 Volvo XC90
11 engine complaints (26.2% of the year's 42). Most often described: smoke, burning smell or fire.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Volvo XC90 years to avoid.
Volvo XC90 engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Volvo XC90 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 22V793000 · 2022-10-20 · 2022–2023 models
An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
- 19V308000 · 2019-04-17 · 2016 models
Exposure to heat and humidity may cause the engine coolant bleeder hose to crack, resulting in a coolant leak.
- 08V206000 · 2008-05-06 · 2008 models
VOLVO IS RECALLING 102 MY 2008 XC90 AND S80 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT BOLTS TO THE ENGINE MOUNT.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 89 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Volvo XC90, 44.9% of all 198 complaints for that year. The most common description is "oil consumption or oil leaks" (32 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 19V308000. 9 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2017 Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 26 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2017 Volvo XC90, 31.3% of all 83 complaints for that year. The most common description is "overheating or coolant loss" (14 complaints). 8 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2019 Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 11 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Volvo XC90, 26.2% of all 42 complaints for that year. The most common description is "smoke, burning smell or fire" (3 complaints). 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Volvo XC90 years have the most engine complaints?
2016 (89), 2017 (26) and 2019 (11), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Volvo XC90 engine problems?
In the 176 engine complaints, owners most often describe smoke, burning smell or fire (26.1%), overheating or coolant loss (21%) and oil consumption or oil leaks (19.9%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Volvo XC90 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration