Volvo XC90 Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 663 complaints about the Volvo XC90 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system and the engine, and NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the XC90 to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016 and 2017 as years to avoid and rates 2011 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
663
NHTSA owner complaints (2008–2026)
24
Complaints citing a crash
29
Recall campaigns
2
Years to avoid
Most-reported Volvo XC90 problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2008–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 194 | 29% | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| Engine | 168 | 25% | 2 | 22 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 70 | 11% | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 56 | 8% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Body structure | 51 | 8% | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 49 | 7% | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Backup camera / back-over prevention | 40 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 33 | 5% | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Of all 663 complaints, 24 (4%) report a crash, 30 (5%) a fire and 25 (4%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (203 complaints), the most-reported areas are the electrical system (71), the backup camera (34), the engine (25), the brakes (23).
Volvo XC90 complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each XC90 model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 29 | 3 | Electrical system | — |
| 2009 | 7 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
| 2010 | 12 | 3 | Fuel / propulsion system | — |
| 2011 | 19 | 1 | Engine | Better year |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | Steering | — |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | Air bags | — |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | Suspension | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
| 2016 | 198 | 8 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2017 | 83 | 7 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2018 | 52 | 3 | Electrical system | — |
| 2019 | 42 | 6 | Electrical system | — |
| 2020 | 35 | 7 | Electrical system | — |
| 2021 | 18 | 7 | Electrical system | — |
| 2022 | 31 | 4 | Electrical system | — |
| 2023 | 41 | 6 | Backup camera / back-over prevention | — |
| 2024(new) | 38 | 3 | Electrical system | — |
| 2025(new) | 32 | 2 | Electrical system | — |
| 2026(new) | 8 | 0 | Engine | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Volvo XC90 recalls
NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns across Volvo XC90 model years 2008–2026. The ones below cover the most model years. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23V827000Dec 7, 2023 | 2015–2024 | Seat belts — critical fasteners | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly. |
| 21V273000Apr 21, 2021 | 2016–2020 | Electrical system — software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible. |
| 23V001000Jan 5, 2023 | 2019–2022 | Steering | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox… |
| 25V908000Dec 23, 2025 | 2023–2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when… |
| 25V282000May 8, 2025 | 2023–2025 | Backup camera / back-over prevention — software | Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is… |
Best and worst XC90 years
- Years to avoid: 2016 and 2017.
- Better years: 2011.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
Volvo XC90 years to avoid: the verdict for every model year →
What to inspect on a used Volvo XC90
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Backup camera: shift into reverse and make sure the image comes up quickly and clearly every time.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Volvo XC90 can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Volvo XC90 reliability FAQ
Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
Across model years 2008–2026, owners filed 663 complaints about the Volvo XC90 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system and the engine, and NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the XC90 to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016 and 2017 as years to avoid and rates 2011 as a better year. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Volvo XC90 problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2008–2026, the most-reported areas are the electrical system (194), the engine (168), the brakes (70) and the fuel system (56). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the electrical system, the backup camera and the engine. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Volvo XC90 should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2016 and 2017 as years to avoid and rates 2011 as a better year. Each model year is compared only with other XC90 years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Volvo XC90 last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 0.7% of 8,150 used XC90 listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 4.4% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 4.9% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Volvo XC90 have?
NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns covering Volvo XC90 model years 2008–2026. The one covering the most model years is 23V827000 (seat belts, 2015–2024). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Volvo XC90?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure XC90 reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Volvo XC90, model years 2008–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Year flags compare each XC90 model year only with other XC90 years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the XC90 compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.