47 of the
2,252 complaints filed about the Volvo XC90
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
47
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and or while the vehicle was parked, the A/C unit became inoperable, and the defogger failed to clear the front windshield. The contact stated that the A/C was shifted to the MAX setting to operate as needed to defrost the windshield with an abnormal odor blowing through the vents. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the front evaporator core needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #11749584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and or while the vehicle was parked, the A/C unit became inoperable, and the defogger failed to clear the front windshield. The contact stated that the A/C was shifted to the MAX setting to operate as needed to defrost the windshield with an abnormal odor blowing through the vents. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the front evaporator core needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #11749584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front and rear evaporator core of my 2019 Volvo XC90 has failed and I no longer have air conditioning. This issue was diagnosed by a dealer. The evaporator core failure is a massive, widely documented issue specifically targeting the 2016–2020 Volvo SPA-platform models. According to my research, Volvo sold approx. 370,000 vehicles in the US during this period. At roughly $5,000 per vehicle, the owners are being asked to spend over a billion dollars on this known, product defect. Volvo is fully aware of this defect, yet they refuse to cover the full cost of the repair. They issued an official Technical Journal (TJ 35912.1.0) admitting that the system over-cools, causing the evaporator to freeze, expand, and crack. When technicians perform this repair, Volvo explicitly mandates installing a retroactive "jumper cable" resistor harness (Part No. 32241228) to prevent the replacement core from cracking again. The question for you is this: Is this a vehicle safety concern. We might consider why one would need air conditioning in the first place. Is it only for comfort or could it sufficiently cool air to help venerable people form having health issues (e.g., elderly, those with asthma). A recent Lancet study, for example, showed heat related deaths in Europe rising to 63,000 per year. This may be extreme, but if one lives in a southern state where temperatures climb to 100s or even a northern state where this routinely occurs in July and August, lack of A/C could be a serious health and safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11741732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while parked and occupied in the vehicle or while driving various speeds, the contact noticed when attempting to turn the air conditioner on she noticed that the a/c unit was not working as intended in the vehicle. The contact mention she can hear a clicking noise coming from the air conditioner. An independent mechanic and A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they recharged the vehicle and no diagnoses, the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear air conditioner vapor needed to be replaced, the vehicle was then taken back to the dealer where they informed her the rear and front vapor needed to be replaced .The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mention these failures have occurred on several different occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they offered her one thousand dollars out of the seven thousand. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11740350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle experienced a major electrical system malfunction involving multiple critical components. The issue began with the Volvo On Call system light remaining illuminated continuously, which suggested a possible communication or battery-related fault. Shortly after, additional systems failed, including the turn signal system, windshield wipers, and high beam headlights. These components are currently non-functional and can be made available for inspection upon request. The failure significantly impacted vehicle safety. The loss of turn signals made it impossible to properly indicate lane changes or turns to other drivers, increasing the risk of collisions. The failure of the windshield wipers created a serious hazard in adverse weather conditions, reducing visibility. Additionally, the loss of high beam headlights limited nighttime driving visibility. While daytime running lights and hazard lights remain functional, they are not sufficient substitutes for the failed systems. The problem has been consistent and reproducible. Each time the vehicle is operated, the same warning messages appear, including “Turn Indicator System Malfunction” and “Wiper Failure – Service Required,” and the affected systems do not respond. At this time, the issue has not yet been formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but diagnostics codes (including communication-related fault codes) have been observed. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. However, based on the symptoms, the issue appears to involve a failure in the vehicle’s central electronic or communication control systems. Prior to the complete failure, warning signs were present. The Volvo On Call light remained on persistently, indicating a potential underlying electrical or module communication issue. This warning appeared before the loss of the turn signals, wipers, and high beams, suggesting a progressive system failure.
NHTSA complaint #11725903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while retrieving items from the trunk, the contact became aware that there was water leaking into the cargo area. The contact stated that the holders were full of water. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the sunroof drain hose needed to be replaced and sealed, and the flooring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11724553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 17, 2026 I was driving from Sacramento, CA to Oakland, CA (approximately 100 miles). At the start of the trip, I discovered that the vehicle’s heating and climate control system was not functioning. Specifically, the heater would not turn on, and as a result, the windshield defrost system would not activate. I attempted multiple times to turn the vehicle off and restart it to see if the system would reset, but the problem persisted. I also tried manually activating the front defrost using the dashboard controls; however, the defrost function would not engage. Weather conditions were approximately 40°F with heavy rain. Because the defrost system was inoperable, the windshield and windows became fogged over during the drive. This significantly impaired my visibility. I was unable to adequately clear the windshield, creating a dangerous driving condition for the duration of the trip. This malfunction directly impacted my ability to safely operate the vehicle in cold and rainy conditions. The inability to use the defrost system created a serious safety hazard due to reduced visibility.
NHTSA complaint #11719209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the vehicle under normal conditions, a sudden electrical fire occurred, requiring immediate evacuation. The vehicle was pulled over safely and the driver exited before the fire escalated. The fire department responded and the vehicle was declared a total loss due to fire damage. The failure is believed to have originated from an electrical short involving the climate control/defroster system. The affected wiring and components were destroyed by the fire and are not available for inspection. The day prior to the fire, the fuse controlling both the climate control system and the instrument cluster blew twice when the defroster was activated. The fuse was replaced, and the defroster was not used again. At the time of the fire, the defroster systems was not operating. There were no warning lights or alerts immediately prior to the fire. The fire occurred while the vehicle was in motion, creating a serious safety risk to the occupant and surrounding traffic. The incident has not been reproduced or inspected by a dealer. The vehicle was inspected by the fire department. No manufacturer inspection has occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11715108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rear passenger windows have a defective haze in the glass that distorts and reduces clarity of visibility. Issue reported to dealership and VOLVO USA yet no resolution. Research indicates that this is a concern with various models - some dealers are replacing the glass, others claim this is normal.
NHTSA complaint #11701532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We lease this car from Volvo and are the first and only owners of the vehicle. No history of collision or accidents. The vehicle has a rear backup camera. The camera system also allows the option to select a 360-degree, top down "birds-eye" view of the entire vehicle. The backup camera turns on automatically when the car is shifted into reverse and originally provided a normal view directly behind the vehicle that extended at least a car length or more. At some point, we noticed that the rear backup camera view changed and was angled sharply down to the ground, including a partial view of our rear license plate and back bumper. The view now extends less than 7 feet behind the vehicle, angled down from the height of the camera (40-inches) so we can only see inches above the ground just a few feet behind the car. We can no longer see approaching vehicles, pedestrians, or any obstacles. The service technicians suggested this change in camera angle resulted from a routine system software update that was automatically downloaded to the vehicle. I don't know exactly when that occurred. On June 27, 2025 we received a safety recall notice from Volvo - Recall R10320 - warning us that the rear-view camera image may not show during the start of a backing event. We installed the recommended "Over the Air" software update, but that did not resolve our problem. I took the car to a local Volvo dealership on 9/26/25. They tried software upgrades and reboots, confirmed that the camera hardware was operating correctly, and told me that they could not fix it. They suggested I file a complaint with Volvo. I did that on 10/3/25. The only response to my claim was to "contact your dealer to make an appointment," which I told them I had already done. I have followed up twice since and Volvo has not responded further to this complaint ID #: 251002-000556. The incident date provided below is approximate. I don't recall when exactly the camera view changed.
NHTSA complaint #11697931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was backing out of my drive. It was an early morning and it was very foggy. The windows were foggy and not totally defrosted yet. My camera wasnt showing everything around but we were having constant upgrade issues during this week of October 5th through the 10th. My automatic braking never activated even though it was turned on. I ran into a cattle feeder overhang. I never seen it in my camera view. The windows seem to have a really bad fog to them. My back driver tail-light got broken and back driver panel got dented and scratched. There are probably more things involved as its in the shop as I am typing this out. The adjustor had to send another estimate to my insurance company for more damages done. I haven't gotten word back from them yet. But, it's over $3,000. All of the issues seemed to resolve after the update was finished after that week. My automatic braking worked after that.
NHTSA complaint #11697846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the A/C unit failed to operate as needed, causing the HVAC system to become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, which showed that the evaporator core inside the HVAC system was cracked and needed to be replaced. The contact attempted to have the part replaced; however, the contact was informed that the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11663103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after stopping and parking the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact's fiancée arrived on the scene and was able to turn off the vehicle; however, the vehicle later failed to restart, and the gear shifter seized. The message "Gear Lever Lock" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the panoramic sunroof seal strip had a gap, allowing debris and water into the vehicle, clogging the drain, and rendering the vehicle inoperable. The mechanic disassembled the entire interior and allowed it to dry before reassembling. The contact was informed that the front passenger’s side air bag sensor, seat belt buckle, and seat belt tensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: TJ 35503.3.0 (Panoramic sunroof, sealing strip has a gap). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11635297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. There was an abnormal odor of mold inside the vehicle. The carpet was not wet. There was an abnormal swishing sound detected inside the vehicle. After it rained, the contact noticed that the passenger side front floorboard had an accumulation of water a quarter inch deep. The contact noticed the water was leaking on the airbag from the exterior A-pillar. The contact moved the headliner, and the rubber boot was intact. The call/SOS warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed about diagnostic testing and scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #11632722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This morning and a few days ago, ice cold water was dripping onto my control display pad and on me. The leakage came from the ourside down the plastic compartment behind my rearview mirror. This was distracting while I was driving since there was now water on me, and it was shorting out and affecting my control display. It would continue to be buggy while driving. I believe this issue is a result from a cracked seal between the windshield and the car body. I have seen other documented cases on volvo forums.
NHTSA complaint #11602688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car has a factory fault with the Windshield Wiper or Turn Signal contact switch, which is causing the inability to use the left/right signal and the wipers. The entire part is factory faulty, rendering the vehicle unable to operate safely. This affects visibility during wet conditions because the wipers cannot be activated due to the malfunctioning switch, which can lead to serious accidents. Additionally, malfunctioning left/right turning signals can also cause serious accidents, as it is a crucial function. Yes, the vehicle is available upon request. I contacted Volvo, but they declined to fix the issue. They have published a technical bulletin regarding the problem but are not recalling the vehicles. Many other Volvo models have the same factory defect, as can be found on the internet. The technical bulletin confirms their fault. I have attached the file. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. Yes, the vehicle shows a "turn indicator malfunction" message on the main screen. This issue started around 89k miles.
NHTSA complaint #11578824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Heat does not work in Hybrid Vehicle. Prevents windshield from being able to be defrosted in winter. Should be covered under warranty, however when I took it to the dealer they report that multiple Volvo have this problem and there is a part shortage. Because of this problem, the vehicle is unsafe to drive the vehicle in the winter because it won't generate enough heat to melt the snow and ice that hits the windshield.
NHTSA complaint #11564107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wipers began to turn on randomly without driver command causing distractions in a vehicle with 38,000 miles. There is a technical service bulletin about this issue (32366). It is known that the wipers will completely fail to work after an unknown, but rather short interval. Failed windshield wipers would render the vehicle unsafe to operate, therefore we elected for Immediate repair. The repair was in excess of $1,500 and the manufacturer refused to pay for the repair out of warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11549503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The rearview camera on the Volvo continually freezes, is delayed to start or blacks out. Since I have had the car for the last year there have been multiple times a week where reverse is selected and the rearview camera loads, then when I start backing the camera image freezes two to three times before jumping and resuming normal operation. I've also experienced where the camera image is displayed, then the screen temporarily blacks out for a second and then the image is displayed again. This happen most notably when the car is unlocked and then immediately shifted into reverse. I've brought this into show the repair shop but they state it is normal behavior or they can't replicate the issue (even though I've provided them a video of the issue happening). After a year it's getting very dangerous as backing into tight spaces, a delay or black out can cause me to hit something or someone thinking I'm further away then I really am. When the car is in a deep sleep (not driven for a few days), then the camera can take upwards of 15+ seconds to load after turning on the car and selecting reverse.
NHTSA complaint #11543044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.