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FaultScore report

2013 Volvo XC90 problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2013 Volvo XC90 with NHTSA between 2013 and 2019. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 20 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Volvo XC90 All 2013 cars
C

FaultScore 44/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Volvo XC90.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

3

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

36,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

33%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 6 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 57 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 6
Against the median year of the Volvo XC90. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
23.1% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 57
33% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2013 compares with every other Volvo XC90

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2013 Volvo XC90

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Airbags 3 23.1%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 130,000 mi

Body & Structure 2 15.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 51,750 mi

Electrical System 2 15.4%

Median failure at 44,725 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 15.4%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 24,250 mi

Other & Unspecified 1 7.7%

Median failure at 28,000 miles

Stability & Traction Control 1 7.7%
Wheels 1 7.7%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 7.7%

Median failure at 110,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 8.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 6 50.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 2 16.7%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 3 25.0%

NHTSA crash tests

The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.

Configuration Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Volvo XC90 SUV FWD — — —
19.1% risk
2013 Volvo XC90 SUV AWD — — —
17.9% risk

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2013 peak 3 Mar 2019

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

AIR BAGS

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

ENGINE

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 139,700 miles Aberdeen, MD

AIR BAGS

MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MY DASH MESSAGE IS: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT. I TOOK IT TO KOONS VOLVO OF OWINGS MILLS, INC TO BE SERVICED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY WEIGHT SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED WORKING. HE JUST SAID IT COULD JUST HAPPEN. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHAT DOES IT DO AND HE SAID THAT IT WEIGHS PASSENGERS FOR THE CORRECT PRESSURE OF THE AIRBAG IN CASE IT IS DEPLOYED. HE ALSO SAID THAT MY COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT IT WHICH MEANS THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AS WELL AS THE SIDE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $2,249 WHICH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. THIS APPEARS TO BE MORE OF A DEFECT AND NOT WEAR AND TEAR. VOLVO ADVERTISES IT'S SAFETY FEATURES WHICH ATTRACTED ME TO PURCHASE ONE. THEY DON'T TELL YOU THAT THE SAFETY FEATURES MAY NOT WORK WHEN YOU NEED THEM. I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER SERVICE STATION IN ALEXANDRIA, VA THAT THIS IS A COMMON REPAIR THAT HE PERFORMS ON VOLVOS. I SAW THE AIRBAG LIGHT ONE MORNING WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS NOT THERE THE NIGHT BEFORE.

NHTSA complaint #11190590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Omaha, NE

AIR BAGS

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR THE OTHER OWNER WAS IN THE FAMILY AND THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BEING THAT THIS IS SUCH A CRUCIAL COMPONENT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING IF IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED I WANTED TO ALERT NHTSA AND SEE IF IT WERE A MORE WIDESPREAD CONCERN. I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR MY CONCERN.

NHTSA complaint #11152289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 67,000 miles Okmulgee, OK

STRUCTURE:BODY

I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN OLD HIGHWAY AT 45MPH. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED WHILE IN MOTION WHILE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE DOOR DID NOT FLY OPEN, I THINK LOCKING MECHANISM HELPED KEEP THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OUT. THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE RUSH OF AIR COMING THROUGH MY DOOR AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVER'S DOOR WAS OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK AND PULL MY DOOR BACK INTO THE CLOSED POSITION WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA complaint #11063755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

AIR BAGS

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

STRUCTURE:BODY

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles East Windsor, NJ Fire

ENGINE

HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295 NEAR PRINCETON NJ. I HOPE OTHERS CAN LEARN FROM THIS DEBACLE AND GET SOME HELP IF THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM WITH 2013 XC90. THEY DID HAVE A RECALL FOR THE 2010 XC90 FOR THE SAME REASON. I FEEL THE CAUSE WAS EITHER AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT OR A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #11006405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Wallingford, PA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE XC90 I JUST BOUGHT FROM A DEALER AS IS TWO DAYS AGO HAS SOME LEAKING OF FUEL. I SUSPECT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT BRING THE CAR TO VOLVO DEALER TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE TO PAY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT.

NHTSA complaint #10938673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,451 miles Killeen, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY IT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BAD. EVERYTHING JUST GOES OUT. ITS STATIONARY AT THE BECAUSE I HAVE NO LIGHTS OR ONE LIGHT WONT GO OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10924786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Naperville, GA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ANTI SKID WARNING LIGHTS ARE COMING UP

NHTSA complaint #10897498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 31,000 miles Overland Park, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO VOLVO TWICE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING.

NHTSA complaint #10861229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Cleveland, TN

WHEELS

CONTINENTAL FACTORY EQUIPPED TIRES ARE WORN TO THE POINT OF NEED FOR REPLACEMENT AT 25,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY A 65 YEAR OLD LADY AND IN MOST PART IN TOWN AT 45 MPH OR LESS. IT IS MAINTAINED BY THE SELLING VOLVO DEALER. TIRES ARE TMPS MONITORED AND PROPER INFLATION IS MAINTAINED. WITH NO SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN TREAD WEAR IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR TIRE PLACEMENTS THERE IS NO REASON FOR PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ONE OF THE FOUR TIRES HAVE A BUMP WHEN COLD THAT DISAPPEARS WHEN THE TIRES WARM UP. WHY ONLY ONE. I FEEL THAT CONTINENTAL TIRE COMPANY SHOULD ADJUST THE TIRES FOR PREMATURE TREAD WEAR....

NHTSA complaint #10821489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,000 miles Bayville, NY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10819490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Hamilton, GA

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT STARTED TO SMOKE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD TO BE CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VOLVO SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10502462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.