2004 Volvo XC90 Reliability
The 2004 Volvo XC90 has 462 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby XC90 model years (2003–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the XC90's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
462
NHTSA owner complaints
6
Recall campaigns
9
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2004 Volvo XC90 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 model year, filed between 2003 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 158 | 34% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 145 | 31% |
| Fuel system | 42 | 9% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 34 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 32 | 7% |
| Air bags | 31 | 7% |
| Engine | 28 | 6% |
| Engine & cooling | 24 | 5% |
2004 Volvo XC90 recalls
6 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2004 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03V391000 | Oct 10, 2003 | Seat belts — rear/other | On certain sport utility vehicles, the seat belt attachment(s) for the second and third row seat(s) may not have been fitted properly. |
| 03V434000 | Nov 4, 2003 | Wheels | On certain sport utility vehicles, the front wheel speed sensors may be defective, causing an erroneous wheel speed signal. |
| 06V144000 | Apr 28, 2006 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer | On certain vehicles, if the wiper arm is activated in extreme winter weather conditions and without lifting the wiper arms and cleaning the windshield prior to moving, the wiper arm might slip on its driveshaft, resulting in an inability to move the wipers… |
| 06V155000 | May 5, 2006 | Steering — linkages / tie rod assembly | On certain passenger vehicles,the outer tie rod ball joint can deform at high loads causing a loss of the clamping force and the nut may loosen, which may eventually lead to a fatigue fracture of the outer tie rod ball joint. |
| 09V483000 | Dec 18, 2009 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 XC90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana,… |
| 10V566000 | Nov 8, 2010 | Equipment — electrical / navigational system(global positioning system) | Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat. |
How the 2004 compares with nearby XC90 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year XC90 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 96 | 5 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2004 (this page) | 462 | 6 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2005 | 223 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2006 | 53 | 3 | Electrical system | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2004 Volvo XC90
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 6 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2004 Volvo XC90 can be better or worse than its model year. 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.
2004 Volvo XC90 reliability FAQ
Is the 2004 Volvo XC90 reliable?
The 2004 Volvo XC90 has 462 owner complaints and 6 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain / transmission. Compared with nearby XC90 model years (2003–2006), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the XC90's typical year.
What are the most common 2004 Volvo XC90 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Volvo XC90 are electrical system (158), powertrain / transmission (145), fuel system (42), fuel / propulsion system (34). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2004 Volvo XC90 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2004 Volvo XC90, including 03V391000 (seat belts — rear/other) and 03V434000 (wheels). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2004 Volvo XC90 compare with the 2003 and 2005 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2003 has 96 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2005 has 223 complaints and 6 recalls (avoid). The 2004 has 462 complaints and 6 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2004 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.
More Volvo XC90 research
Other Volvo XC90 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2004 XC90, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.