111 of the
2,267 complaints filed about the Volvo XC90
are about the braking system —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" "Gear Lever Locked" and related electrical system symptoms), the service manager at Volvo Cars Brooklyn was able to remotely diagnose the likely cause by telephone, before the vehicle was even towed to the shop, specifically instructing the owner to check for dampness under the driver's floor mat, which was confirmed to be present. This indicates the symptom pattern described (sunroof leak leading to corrosion affecting the transmission, brakes, and electrical system) was already recognized and familiar to Volvo Cars Brooklyn's service staff, not a novel or difficult-to-diagnose issue. Additionally, the owner was informed that multiple other Volvo vehicles were present at Volvo Cars Brooklyn on the same day for repair of the same reported issue. Once arriving at the dealership, the service manager tole us that he had, "Just totaled a vehicle for the same issue." This suggests the underlying defect is not an isolated occurrence, but a broader, recurring pattern affecting multiple vehicles of this platform. This supplemental information is provided to support NHTSA's assessment of whether a safety-related defect trend exists affecting this vehicle platform, consistent with the pattern described in the original complaint and in other publicly available consumer complaints regarding sunroof-related water intrusion on the Volvo XC90.
NHTSA complaint #11759327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on August 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" and "Gear Lever Locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 Volvo XC90 to be towed to Volvo Cars Brooklyn on August 11, 2026. At that time, dampness was discovered under the driver’s floor mat, leading to the discovery of a sunroof leak and resulting water intrusion. The dealership represented the vehicle as fully repaired and safe to drive. The same safety-critical malfunction occurred later that night, while driving about 90 miles away from the dealership, with the same warnings appearing, confirming that the original repair failed to address the underlying issue. Loss of normal transmission and braking function while the vehicle was in motion directly affected the driver's ability to control the vehicle. The vehicle was towed for a second time on the morning of August 12, 2026, to Volvo Cars Brooklyn, where it was confirmed that module corrosion caused by the original sunroof leak had not been properly diagnosed or corrected during the first service visit, and that this corrosion had disrupted signals to the vehicle’s electrical, braking, and transmission systems. The dealership completed a corrective repair on August 12, 2026, replacing the OFM module and removing water, following the second incident. The vehicle has not been separately inspected by Volvo’s manufacturer-level engineering team. This failure is consistent with a broader, documented pattern affecting this vehicle platform. Volvo has previously issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing a sunroof-related water leak on an earlier model year of this platform. While that bulletin does not specifically cover the 2018 model year, numerous 2018 model year owners have independently reported the same failure pattern, a failed sunroof seal, often linked to clogged sunroof drains.
NHTSA complaint #11759206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT & AVAILABILITY: The primary brake booster assembly and vacuum pump failed twice. The vehicle remains fully assembled and grounded at Volvo Cars White Plains, available for immediate inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: Both incidents involved primary braking system failure while traveling downhill. During the second failure on August 4, 2026, the vehicle completely overshot a residential intersection, crossed a perpendicular road, and overran the pavement, coming to a stop at the edge of the opposite traffic lane directly where a sharp hill forms and drops off. DEALER CONFIRMATION: The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by the authorized dealer service center (Volvo Cars White Plains) following flatbed towing on both June 5, 2026, and August 4, 2026. After the second failure, the service supervisor explicitly stated that because the identical system failure recurred, they would need corporate approval for a secondary repair. INSPECTION STATUS: The vehicle components were inspected and diagnosed by the manufacturer-certified dealership network. No independent third-party teardown has been authorized to preserve component evidence. WARNING SYMPTOMS & PRIOR INCIDENTS: The primary failure initially occurred on June 5, 2026, while driving downhill, requiring full-force manual pedal pressure to stop. Following a dealer replacement of both components under a single repair cost, the identical mechanical failure recurred three weeks later on August 4, 2026. Crucially, prior to both the first and second incidents, there were absolutely no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or symptoms of any kind before the component malfunction occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11758396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the contact about to exit the vehicle, the vehicle rolled forward unexpectedly and crashed into the vehicle in front. The contact stated that after striking that vehicle, the vehicle independently started reversing and struck a mailbox and some trees. The brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop until the rear of the vehicle struck the second tree. The contact stated that none of the air bags deployed. The rear of the vehicle was damaged, and the driver’s side rear wheel was tilted outwards at a 45-degree angle. The contact was taken to the ER and was treated for bruises and pain to the head. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a Collision Repair center by the police, but was not yet inspected. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #11750273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VIN: [XXX] •Make/Model/Year: 2018 Volvo XC90 •Mileage at time of each incident (58,385 / 58,480 / 68,261) •Approximate dates of each incident Vehicle has experienced recurring brake system failures. First, a seized rear brake caliper (Sept 2025) requiring caliper/rotor/pad replacement. Four days later, brake pedal became stiff and hard to depress; brake booster diagnosed as internally failed and replaced. Approximately 9 months and 9,800 miles later, vehicle experienced complete loss of braking ability while driving — brake pedal would not stop the vehicle, driver had to use the parking brake to stop, vehicle was towed to dealer. All repairs performed at authorized Volvo dealer. This is a repeat failure of the same brake system after a documented repair. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11748675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] CT, the vehicle experienced a sudden multi-system safety and actual brake failure while in a parking-lot/low-speed setting near [XXX} in Austin, Texas. The vehicle displayed multiple urgent warning messages and indicators, including power steering failure / stop safely, brake/ABS warning, SRS airbag service urgent warning, stability/traction warning, battery/electrical warning, check-engine warning, and tire-pressure warning. The vehicle ended in an irregular/distressed parking position after trying to locate a concrete block to force stop the car due to ABSOLUTE BRAKE FAILURE, E BRAKE SEEMED TO NOT WORK EITHER. The concern is not simply that a warning light appeared. The event involved steering, braking, airbag/SRS, stability, and electrical warnings at the same time, making the vehicle unsafe to operate AND SOMEHOW THE BRAKES WEREN’T OPERATING DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNCITONING. Photos were taken of the warning messages and vehicle position. Prior related history: This vehicle has prior safety-system history involving SRS Airbag Service Urgent warnings and braking/vehicle malfunction and movement concerns. Earlier review and discussion involved Volvo engineering, VDDM replacement, CAN/network concerns, calibration requirements, voltage/12V battery considerations, software/module updates, and post-repair validation. The VDDM is understood to participate in vehicle dynamics, stability control, brake coordination, and PHEV regenerative/hydraulic brake interaction. Prior documentation also raised concern that intermittent brake, SRS, VDDM, CAN, and calibration issues may not reproduce during a short dealer test drive. Safety risk: The safety risk is that the vehicle may experience sudden or intermittent loss, degradation, or warning of systems involved in steering, braking, stability control, and airbag readiness. A simultaneous power steeri INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA
NHTSA complaint #11746058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was parallel parked. I put the vehicle in reverse to pull out. When I’d gone a few feet in reverse I baked and the brakes were HARD and failed to stop the car immediately. I nearly hit the car behind me. He/she honked at me, that’s how close I was. It happened three times. I think in all three incidents I was going in reverse. I had the dealership look at the vehicle but they could not replicate the issue. So they claim that it is safe to drive!
NHTSA complaint #11742823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while her son-in-law was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firmly depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the vacuum hose had detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #11742110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, I experienced a sudden loss of braking assist with no warning. The brake pedal became extremely hard to press, accompanied by a hissing/air sound. Despite applying full pressure, the vehicle did not slow as expected and continued moving. At one point, after stopping, the vehicle began to move forward again while my foot remained firmly on the brake. The issue occurred immediately upon or shortly after starting the vehicle, with no prior warning indicators. This created a serious safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11732913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Volvo's XC90 brakes have failed twice. At around 95,000 miles, my brakes stopped working, and then I had them repair it. They charged me close to $3,500, which they said they were able to cover under warranty, and I only had to pay the deductible, which I don't remember. In less than nine months, at about 104,000 miles, the same problem persists. Both times I was driving the car, by God's grace and luckily, I was under 10 mph. I literally parked and started driving after that, and I realized the brakes weren't working again. I'm just thankful to the Almighty that I was not at 55 or 60 mph on a freeway when the brake stopped working.
NHTSA complaint #11731985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11725183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11723187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11717769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On thanksgiving day i drove to train station in the morning, and had no issue. After work i got in the car started to drive, i was going 25-35 miles per hour in the maplewood township, and i wanted to slow down just in case i dont see any kid or person at dark. I almost had no brake! I was so scared and i pushed th brake pedal so hard, i was very dangerous for the society at this moment. I just wish i was not on the highway going higher speed, or there were no people around! I really cannot trust this car anymore, i could have hit something!!!
NHTSA complaint #11701873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond unless the brake pedal had been released for 2-3 seconds. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and releasing the brake pedal to reverse out of the driveway, the vehicle rolled back at a faster speed, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended upon depression of the brake pedal. The contact noticed a pattern with the brakes malfunction. The contact stated that the brake pedal required to be depressed 2-3 seconds after the first depression for the brakes to operate as intended. The contact stated that he was a master mechanic and had concluded that the failure was considered a safety issue because the vehicle was only designed with electronic braking, which left the driver with no manual option for braking. The contact stated that the failure had only occurred upon starting the vehicle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V392000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brakes had failed and Software Update Number: 3.5.14 was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was confirmed that the repair was not covered under the recall or under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
NHTSA complaint #11701862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond unless the brake pedal had been released for 2-3 seconds. Additionally, the contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and releasing the brake pedal to reverse out of the driveway, the vehicle rolled back at a faster speed, and the vehicle failed to respond as intended upon depression of the brake pedal. The contact noticed a pattern with the brakes malfunction. The contact stated that the brake pedal required to be depressed 2-3 seconds after the first depression for the brakes to operate as intended. The contact stated that he was a master mechanic and had concluded that the failure was considered a safety issue because the vehicle was only designed with electronic braking, which left the driver with no manual option for braking. The contact stated that the failure had only occurred upon starting the vehicle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V392000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brakes had failed and Software Update Number: 3.5.14 was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and it was confirmed that the repair was not covered under the recall or under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 78,500.
NHTSA complaint #11701862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On November 5, 2025, while driving my 2017 Volvo XC90, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of braking assist. When I pressed the brake pedal, I heard a loud hissing noise coming from under the dashboard, and the car would not stop. The brake would not work and the vehicle would not slow or stop unless I stood up and used my full body weight to press it. A licensed mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed this is consistent with loss of vacuum pressure from the brake booster/failure of the vacuum brake booster, the component that provides power assist to the braking system. The booster, brake pump, hose from booster to pump and brake pedal clip were replaced, with an estimated cost of $2,858. The mechanic also advised that this failure is not uncommon in Volvo XC90 models. After the incident, I researched similar complaints and found numerous reports on NHTSA and [XXX] describing **identical symptoms—hard brake pedal and hissing sound due to vacuum booster failure—**in the 2016–2019 XC90. For example, one owner reported “hard pedal, no assist, hissing sound behind dash” [XXX] , Volvo XC90 2017 Brakes section, accessed Nov 2025). No warning lights or error messages appeared before or during the event. The problem occurred suddenly and without prior symptoms. This defect posed a serious safety risk to me, my passengers, and other drivers, as it severely reduced braking ability and required excessive force to stop the vehicle. Under other conditions, this issue could easily have resulted in a crash. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11699448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the brakes completely failed without any warning. There were no signs, alerts, or symptoms prior to the failure. The braking ability was suddenly and entirely lost, creating an extremely dangerous situation. Upon inspection, it was determined that the brake booster had failed. This component failure directly caused the complete loss of braking power. Because this occurred without warning or prior indication and such an unexpected failure not only poses a significant safety risk to the driver and passengers but endangers everyone on the road, and it represents a severe safety hazard. A sudden brake booster failure can easily lead to loss of vehicle control, accidents, injury, or even fatalities. Immediate action is required to address this serious issue that threatens public safety.
NHTSA complaint #11689054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The button to initiate the parking brake frequently does not work. With my foot firmly on the brake, I have had to push the Park button many times to put the vehicle in park. I have video of this incident. Other times, when not expecting it or recording video I have pressed the park button and not realized the vehicle didn’t go into park. When I released my foot on the brake the vehicle rolled forward. Thankfully no one or other vehicle was directly in front of the car.
NHTSA complaint #11688622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
To Whom It May Concern, I am filing a complaint against Volvo Car USA for unresolved defects in my 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 Recharge, purchased in Indiana. The vehicle’s control systems—infotainment, climate control, navigation, backup camera, and reverse braking—are defective, impairing its use, value, and safety, despite maintenance and updates. Study and searches on owner forums and social media discovered that those issues are widespread among the 2023 model year of Volvo XC-90 T8. Issues: Backup camera often shows “unavailable” when reversing, posing safety risks. -Volvo did a software recall in May, 2025. The issue seemed largely resolved. Automatic reverse braking (ARB) falsely triggers, causing abrupt stops. No permanent adjustment exists. -The issue persists even after multiple software updates including the recall mentioned above. The false ARB activations made drivers and passengers traumatized and panicked for "hitting or being hit by other vehicles or objects. Infotainment and climate control system lags (5+ minutes to respond), displays errors, and is unreliable. That became a bigger problem during inclement weather that driver and passengers may suffer injury from the extreme cold or hot conditions for a long period of time. This is even more dangerous when there are elderlies, pregnant women, or children in the vehicle. This issue was not resolved even after multiple software updates. Further research indicated the issue was not only from software but also from hardware (including but not limited to the CPU chips, RAM, etc. LTE connection is unstable 50% of the time, affecting navigation or emergency assistance. Volvo uses safety and emergency assistance as one of the selling points for its vehicles. However, the instability of its LTE connection makes the "SOS call" unreliable or not functional when customers are in danger. Even after multiple visits of Volvo dealer and contact of Volvo customer care, there is no solution.
NHTSA complaint #11668705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.