53 of the
2,252 complaints filed about the Volvo XC90
are about the suspension —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
The suspension module failed due to water accumulation on floorboards. Suspect other electronics may be at risk. Water ingress cause by a combination of what dealer said was a worn out sunroof gasket and two of four drains that became plugged. Further examination from dealer found the plugged drains were crimped from when the vehicle was manufactured. The dealer blamed the excessive water ingress was further allowed by a failed sunroof seal. The vehicle has always been serviced by the dealer and problem areas like that were either not inspected or not reported. The seal appears as good as the day we purchased vehicle from dealer. It seems it needs a more expert eye to detect how it fails. The result was standing water in the floor boards and body cavities, which then caused the suspension module to fail. The entire interior had to be disassembled to verify there was no further electrical damage. The dashboard and other interior pieces needed to be removed to replace or correct the drains. This appears to be a common problem with this model although no service advisories seem to have been issued. Total estimated damage is about $5200. Vehicle has only 60K miles. Volvo has rejected responsibility for the compromised drain and failed sunroof seal. Service documentation attached, not including the estimated $1700 to remove dash for repairs.
NHTSA complaint #11736779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle is slightly off-balance no matter if I do an alignment ball joints seem to always get affected. I’m not sure if the hydraulics are working correctly. Yesterday I just started leaking antifreeze fluid.
NHTSA complaint #11648529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Received a Suspension Service Required message on the gauge cluster. Online searching led to this from the NHTSA website: [XXX] I contest it is not accurate and it did not go far enough to protect consumers. Per the above, there is a logical condition in order to take advantage of the warranty which requires precisely 2 error codes to “prove” that the air suspension compressor needs to be replaced and can be covered under the warranty. My compressor fuse had blown per the bulletin. I replaced the fuse and the compressor started to work again. The error went away. I was still concerned of the safety of the vehicle (something caused the fuse to blow). I took it to the dealer to have them scan the codes to confirm the above warranty would cover the cost to replace the compressor - which by the way the entire intent of the warranty is to convey that the compressor is known to have a design defect. What this warranty is NOT is an exhaustive fault tree analysis to show all the causal paths that can lead to the root cause. However, because Volvo identifies one single logical fault path - I was not able to have my compressor covered under warranty. The reason the dealership gave me was that both error codes in the warranty would have had to come up in their scan in order to take advantage of it - and mine only showed 1 of the codes. Then I requested a quote and what was needed to fix the problem so that I could pay for it. Their quote was $1,088 for them to replace the air compressor and relay. Stop right there. That quote I received from Volvo was a clear cut and dry admission (from Volvo themselves) that only having received 1 error code is enough to justify the warranty - because one or both error codes leads to the same recommended replacement. Even still, I’m forced to pay for a known defective part that presents a safety issue. Not fair. This should have been a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11566797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The 2017 Volvo xc90 hybrid regularly experiences these two issues when it is below freezing in Montana: 1) doors do not catch in the latch so they do not close and/or will fly open when turning. This occurs every time the temperature is below zero. 2) when below zero temperature occurs,
NHTSA complaint #11523326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On April 29th 2023 while washing my Volvo XC90 I opened the trunk to clean out the crevasses around the car. As I continued to wipe down/dry the vehicle I placed my hand at the top of the trunk opening and moved my way downwards to wipe the bumper and side of car. Unfortunately, the handsfree tailgate feature activated and the trunk began to close on my hand. Due to my hand being so close to the the spring and the speed in which the trunk door closed I was unable to move my hand fast enough. My Middle, Index and pinky finger were all crushed inside of the car trunk. No one was able to render aid to me for several minutes. I was able to contort my body enough to push the trunk button and unlock it but the gate itself would not lift. I even in a state of panic tried to kick under the car to initiate the lift, I tried lifting as best I could to get relief off of my hands. Finally about 5 minutes later a passerby came and rendered aid to me and he had to manually lift the trunk up to free my fingers. The experience has been traumatic and I am taking all necessary steps via the Volvo dealership and Volvo to have this matter checked out and resolved. The car has no sensors around the trunk with the exception of something blocking it from closing completely. Also, if you are not carefully and are leaning into the trunk and trip the handsfree tailgate sensor it can close on you if you are leaning into the trunk - this is an issue I saw with my XC60 (2021) that clearly was not resolved. I did go to the ER and wound up with thankfully a bruised hand/tendons but no broken bones but I will need to follow up with a hand surgeon to ensure I do not have tendon/nerve damage.
NHTSA complaint #11519908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front air strut needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11494753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The air suspension dust covers on the rear air springs were originally installed from the factory using substandard plastic zip ties that are known to slip off. This is a known design flaw and is even documented by Volvo via technical journal and reported to the NHTSA as follows. NHTSA ID Number: 10158664 Manufacturer Communication Number: TJ30517.6.0-2019 All vehicles with this design flaw are at risk failure of the rear air springs. The manufacturer has taken a wait and see approach to pass on the cost of repairs to customers. One of the air springs was found to have its dust cover slip off and was confirmed by a Volvo dealer. This was caused due to use of plastic zip ties rather than crimped metal straps which have been used as a repair documented by the manufacturer and used in newer version of the air springs. The cost of repair for each spring affected is $1300-1500 and at the time of repair the require that the unaffected air spring be remediated with a metal strap to prevent failure which could lead to unexpected and catastrophic air spring collapse. I obtained two quotes from two Volvo dealers. Volvo has already voluntarily extended the warranty on another associated component for their air suspension system which they know to have a manufacturing flaw. This air spring design flaw should also be included or added as a separate voluntary or mandatory campaign. Fortunately, I noticed this failure while replacing winter tires for summer tires and was able to preemptively get this assessed by my servicing dealer. They explained the severity of the issue and recommended as per Volvo's Technical Journal to replace the entire air spring as it was compromised due to road debris exposure from having its dust cover drop. A component failure due to an inappropriate restraint being used to retain a safety shield around the air spring could lead to loss of control.
NHTSA complaint #11463566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED A NEW 2020 XC90 T6 INSCRIPTION WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. FROM THE FIRST TIME PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, THERE WAS A DISTINCT, MUFFLED, AGGRESSIVE "THUMP" IN THE FRONT AND REAR END. THE SOUND IS INDEPENDENTLY FROM THE FRONT OR REAR SUSPENSION, DEPENDING ON WHICH IS GOING OVER A BUMP. THIS OCCURS CONSISTENTLY WHEN IN SLOW SPEEDS AND GOING OVER AN ABRUPT BUMP, SUCH AS A SPEED BUMP OR AN AGGRESSIVE CUT OUT IN A DRIVEWAY WHICH IS MADE FOR WATER RUN OFF. ONCE THE SUSPENSION COMPRESSES, THE THUMP OCCURS ON DECOMPRESSION (REBOUND). I TOOK IT INTO THE ORIGINAL DEALER (VOLVO OF TUCSON). A 2019 XC90 T8 MOMENTUM (WITH AIR SUSPENSION) WAS GIVEN AS A LOANER. AS EXPECTED, THE LOANER VEHICLE MADE THE EXACT SAME THUMP SOUND FROM THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION OVER THE EXACT SAME BUMPS. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SOUND ON MY CAR. I PROVIDED THEM WITH NHTSA ID #'S: 10148803 AND 10128173 (VOLVO BULLETIN #'S: TJ32978 AND TJ3303.1.1). NO RESPONSE YET AS TO THE PROBLEM OR CORRECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11329741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SPRING BROKE ON FRONT STRUT AND SLICED INTO THE INNER SIDEWALL OF TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOWOUT. VEHICLE HAS BEING DRIVEN ON A DIRT LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED (10 MPH). IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MAIN ROAD, THE VOLVO XC90 WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT-OF-CONTROL !
NHTSA complaint #11218833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I KEEP GETTING THAT THE ANTI-SKID NEEDS TO BE SERVICED BUT WHEN I GOT IT CHECKED THEY REPORTED THAT THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTI-SKID AND THE ERROR IS CONSTANTLY LIT IN THE SERVICE WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE. I CAN FEEL THE DIFFERENCE WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THEY SHOULD LOOK FOR OTHER THAN ADVISING ME THAT ITS PROBABLY A SENSOR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN RAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11165430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRIPPEN VOLVO (8300 W. SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING) ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT
NHTSA complaint #11150156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STATE NEEDS SERVICE. THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS INTERMITTANTLY AND THE TCS (TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM) SOMETIMES FAILS TO COME ON. LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, ONLY SOME OF THE TIME. PURCHASED VEHICLE WITH 180.000 MILES
NHTSA complaint #11004766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THIS CAR IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.- UP UNTIL RECENTLY, THESE WERE THE ONLY PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR. FIRST THE STRUT ENGINE MOUNT BRACE AND TORQUE RODS NEEDED REPLACING, THEN AT 155,000 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE FRONT BALL JOINT,CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS REPLACED. AT 158,000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR KNUCKLE AND WHEEL BEARINGS. NOW AT 189,000 I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY OUTER TIE RODS. I HAD JUST THOUGHT THESE WERE EXPECTED WEAR AND TEAR FOR A HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE, BUT I SAW THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS FOR FAILURES OF THESE PARTS IN SOME VERSIONS OF MY CAR. I CHECKED WITH VOLVO AND THEY CLAIMED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS. BUT I DO FIND IT SUSPICIOUS THAT I NOW AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT SO MANY "OTHER VERSIONS" OF MY MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAD. SHOULD MY CAR HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS? HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHICH ONES HAVE A PROBLEM AND WHICH ONES DO NOT? THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10702290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY TRAVELED OUT OF LANE. IN ADDITION, THE ANTI SKID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. KMJ
NHTSA complaint #10681108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT 12/12/2013 WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR THE DEALER HAD THE RADIO ON AND I NEVER SUSPECTED ANY NOISE AT THE TIME.AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR I KEPT HEARING THIS KNOCKING NOISE AT FIRST I THOUGHT IS WAS THE SKI RACK MAKING THE NOISE THEN WHEN MY HUSBAND DROVE IT HE SAID IT WAS COMING FROM THE TIRES SO I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECK IT A OUT AND FOUND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS THE SUSPENSION,INNER TIE RODS,AXLES,SWAY BAR, STEERING,BUSHINGS ETC HIS REPLY WAS HOW DID THIS CAR PASS INSPECTION WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS AVAILABLE TAKE THE CAR BACK AND ASK THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEMS.I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND ASK THE DEALER TO COMPLY THEY WOULD NOT I TOLD THEM THEY HAD RECEIVED A FAULTY INSPECTIONS ON THE CAR SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC SAME RESPONSE. I THEN CALLED THE SAFETY INSPECTORS AND THEY CAME OUT TO CHECK OUT THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING. I THEN TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ADDED A CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT. I THEN ASKED THE INSPECTOR TO COME AND LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT VOLVO FOUND THAT THE SAFETY INSPECTORS MISSED HE AGREED AND SAW BUT ONLY WROTE A REPORT I STILL HAVE A BROKE CAR THAT WAS FAULTY INSPECTED. I WANT THE DEALER TO FIX MY PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE REFUSED I COULD SUE THEM FOR GETTING A FAULTY INSPECTION AND SELLING A LEMON BUT I FELL LIKE I AM STUCK I NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO DO FROM HERE I HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR SEVERAL THINGS THE RACK AND PINION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT I HAVE TO FIX BUT EXPENSIVE AND THE BUSHINGS AND TIE RODS ARE GOING TO BE THE NEXT THING I REPAIR I REALLY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THEM I AM PAYING 7000.00 FOR A USED CAR AND I FELL THAT THE DEALER AND THE INSPECTORS ARE CROOKS AND USED A FAULTY INSPECTION TO SELL A BROKE CAR PLEASE HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10564127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER CAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND COULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THIS PUT MY CHILDREN AND I IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE BACK INTO MY OWN LANE IN TIME, IT WAS A VERY SCARY 10 OR 15 SECONDS. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT HAVE DRIVEN IT ON SHORT TRIPS AROUND TOWN. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP SOME IN NORMAL DRIVING. I'M TAKING IT TO VOLVO SERVICE TOMORROW BUT SOME QUICK RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SUV, AND THAT VOLVO IS COMPLETELY AWARE OF IT. IN FACT, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON I SPOKE WITH FROM VOLVO N.AM SAID "IT'S AN EPIDEMIC", AND THE SERVICE WRITER FOR NORTHPOINT VOLVO HAS SEEN IT MANY, MANY TIMES. IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR AS MUCH AS $8500 FOR A TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN MORE FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE AXLES AS WELL AS A NEW RADIATOR, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE WHOLE PROBLEM DUE TO FLUID CONTAMINATION (GLYCOL INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID). I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW, BUT I HAD CERTAINLY WONDERED WHY MY $48,000 VEHICLE HAD PLUMMETED IN VALUE COMPARED TO OTHER CARS! THIS IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BUT ALSO A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THE MANY PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THIS SUV BASED ON AN EXPECTATION OF QUALITY AT LEAST IN LINE WITH MINIMUM INDUSTRY STANDARDS. CLEARLY THIS COMPANY IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND A RECALL IS IN ORDER.
NHTSA complaint #10458080 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND HEARD LOUD SOUND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. VOLVO SAYS THE FOLLOWING IS BROKEN: LOWER CONTROL ARM, CV AXLE, ROTOR AND DAMAGED RIM. WE HAD BEEN PARKED AND WERE ATTEMPTING TO LEAVING PARKING LOT(.BARELY MOVING) COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED. WE HAVE CONSTANTLY SPENT MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE AND THAT WHEN THE RECALLS WERE MADE THERE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN A FRACTURE. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS. NO ROUGH ROADS. WE HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY DAMAGE. THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT ALLOW PROPER SELECTION UNDER VOLVO AND MAKE TO ALLOW SELECTION OF THE SUSPENSION/CONTROL ARM / ROTORS / AXLE / TIRE RIMS / BALL JOINT, ALL OF WHICH WERE DAMAGED IN THIS 4 MPH ACCIDENT. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT 65 MPH I HAVE NO DOUBT ME AND MY FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED.
NHTSA complaint #10352913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 VOLVO XC 90 AND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING, AS WELL AS MOTOR MOUNTS, WHEEL BEARING BOOTS, ETC. DEALER KNOWS ABOUT THESE RECURRING ISSUES WITH OTHERS OF SAME YEAR, BUT CLAIMS IT IS ONLY MY ISSUE. PURCHASE PRICE WAS ~$55K AND WITH ONLY 90K MILES I SHOULD NOT NOW HAVE TO SPEND ~$5K FOR A NEW TRANNY. RIP-OFF
NHTSA complaint #10339228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.