NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
49 reportsClear category filter93,000 miles · Oct 17, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING ON ITS OWN. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AS WELL AS AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING, "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT." THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SURGING ON ITS OWN. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, AS WELL AS AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING, "TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT." THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION ALONG WITH SHARDS OF METAL IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED, ALTHOUGH ONE HAD JUST BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ESTIMATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST OVER $6,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #10245800
61,300 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Power Train
MY VEHICLE HAS 61,400 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OUT OF THE BLUE IT STARTED SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR CAUSING EXTREMELY HIGH REVVING AND THE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS OF THIS DEFECT. DEALER SAYS A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NEEDED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10245465
50,000 miles · Sep 29, 2008
Power Train
2003 VOLVO XC90 - TRANSMISSION FAILURE @ ~ 30,000. RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND ACCELERATION. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT ~80,000 WAS INFORMED THAT TRANSMISSION WAS AGAIN FAILING (DURING ROUTINE SERVICE) AND AGAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243918
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2008
Power Train
RIGHT WHEEL AXEL BEARING FAILED. VEHICLE MILES 61,000. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242331
76,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER 76,000 MILES. ALSO HIGH PITCH SQUEAL COMES FROM REAR WHEELS IN SLUSHY SNOW. MUST SLOW OR STOP TO HALT SQUEALING AND GRINDING SOUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242268
84,000 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Power Train
2003 VOLVO XC90 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238522
54,000 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Power Train
VOLVO XC90 TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FOR AXLE REPLACEMENT ON 07/09/08 CONTACTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED THEN WHEN QUESTION GIVEN VAGUE STATEMENT NO WILL BE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. CAR RETURNED ON 07/16/08 ADVISED GIVEN NEW TRANSMISSION. DRIVING CAR ON 07/19/08 COME TO A STOP TO CROSS 4 LANE PARKWAY WHEN HIT GAS PEDAL CA…
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VOLVO XC90 TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FOR AXLE REPLACEMENT ON 07/09/08 CONTACTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED THEN WHEN QUESTION GIVEN VAGUE STATEMENT NO WILL BE A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. CAR RETURNED ON 07/16/08 ADVISED GIVEN NEW TRANSMISSION. DRIVING CAR ON 07/19/08 COME TO A STOP TO CROSS 4 LANE PARKWAY WHEN HIT GAS PEDAL CAR DOES NOT RESPOND RECEIVE MESSAGE REDUCE ENGINE PERFORMANCE. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE VOLVO TRANSMISSION IN THIS MODEL MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234959
58,429 miles · Jul 11, 2008
Power Train
NORMAL DRIVING. BOUGHT CAR AT 50K. AT 58K INFORMATION MESSAGE CAME ON ABOUT URGENT TRANSMISSION SERVICE. HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. DROVE CAR FOR 1 MONTH. FOUND FLUID LEAK. DEALER IS NOW REPLACING THE ANGLE GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233980
92,000 miles · Jun 9, 2008
Power Train
AT 92K MILES, THE DEALERSHIP BROKE THE NEWS ON APRIL 15, 2008, ABOUT SEEING LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL SHAVINGS WHEN CHANGING MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH MY 2003 VOLVO XC90. I GOT A BILL FOR $7500 (NEW TRANNY, NEW RADIATOR, LINES INCLUDING LABOR), BUT DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY 60% AFTER RELENTLESS COMPLAINTS AND DIRECTING THEM TO BELOW…
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AT 92K MILES, THE DEALERSHIP BROKE THE NEWS ON APRIL 15, 2008, ABOUT SEEING LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL SHAVINGS WHEN CHANGING MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WITH MY 2003 VOLVO XC90. I GOT A BILL FOR $7500 (NEW TRANNY, NEW RADIATOR, LINES INCLUDING LABOR), BUT DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY 60% AFTER RELENTLESS COMPLAINTS AND DIRECTING THEM TO BELOW DISCUSSION FORUM ON ONGOING XC90 TRANSMISSION FAILURES HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX/.F18A651/14?@160.OA6TAMKCGP0@ REGARDLESS, I'M OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED PAYING, CONSIDERING MY XC90 IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS, AND HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT WITH MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN (3 & 5 YRS OLD), WHO WE TAKE TO SCHOOL DAILY. VOLVO TOUTS 'VOLVO FOR LIFE' AND STRONG SAFETY CAPABILITIES. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230366
75,500 miles · Dec 31, 2007
Exterior LightingPower TrainSuspension
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FROM 64,000 MILES TO 75,000 MILES AND HAVE REPLACED THE FOLLOWING - REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES, AND NOW THE ANGLE GEAR HAS GONE AT 75,000 MILES - NOT A VERY RELIABLE USED CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10213266
Official recalls
5Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
Dec 18, 2009
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, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
May 5, 2006
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Apr 28, 2006
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 FROM THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Oct 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT(S) FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEAT(S) MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FITTED PROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE SECOND AND/OR THIRD ROW SEAT BELT ATTACHMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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