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2003 Volvo XC90

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Volvo XC90 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 34.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

79 reports with mileage · 14 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

93 reports
12,600 miles · Oct 9, 2003
Power Train

WE BOUGHT A 2003 VOLVO XC 90 IN JANUARY 2003, THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND HAS ABOUT 12,600 MILES. IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD FOUR SYSTEM PROBLEMS, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL, AC/ DEFROSTER AND MOST RECENTLY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT FAILED TO OPER…

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WE BOUGHT A 2003 VOLVO XC 90 IN JANUARY 2003, THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND HAS ABOUT 12,600 MILES. IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD FOUR SYSTEM PROBLEMS, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL, AC/ DEFROSTER AND MOST RECENTLY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATING THAT A CORRUPT SOFTWARE WAS THE CAUSE. VOLVO USA STATED THAT THE "NEW " SOFTWARE WAS A MODIFICATION/UPGRADE WHICH IS BEING PUT IN THE 2004 VEHICLES. MY QUESTION TO VOLVO USA AS TO WHETHER THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 CAUSED THE DESIGN OF THE MODIFICATION WAS NOT AN ADEQUATELY RESPONDED TO. VOLVO USA CLAIMED THAT THERE WERE NO FIGURES AVAILABLE TO ADVISE MYSELF ON HOW MANY 2003 XC 90 HAVE HAD THIS OR OTHER PROBLEMS. I ADVISED VOVLO USA THAT WE ARE VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041548

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2003
Tires

MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE TIRE PRESSURE USED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.THE MICHELIN PILOT HXMXM4 (235/60-18) WHICH ARE THE DEFAULT 18" TIRES ON THE VOLVO XC90 FROM THE FACTORY HAS A MAX 35PSI WHILE OTHER TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE HAS UPTO 51PSI MAX. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 39…

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MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE TIRE PRESSURE USED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.THE MICHELIN PILOT HXMXM4 (235/60-18) WHICH ARE THE DEFAULT 18" TIRES ON THE VOLVO XC90 FROM THE FACTORY HAS A MAX 35PSI WHILE OTHER TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE HAS UPTO 51PSI MAX. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 39PSI FOR FULL LOADS WHICH IS ABOVE THE MAX PSI.CONTACTED MICHELIN CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-847-3435 DIRECTLY TO INQUIRE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "THE WRONG TIRE WAS INSTALLED." STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM VOLVO.SO FAR NO OFFICIAL WORD FROM EITHER. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THIS DISCREPANCY BUT WE RUN THE RISK OF OVER-INFLATING OR UNDER-INFLATING WHICH IS HUGE SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10033484

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Parking Brake

PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF SIX WEEKS. ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED USING PARTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE 2005 MODELS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028723

Official recalls

5

10V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Nov 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.

09V483000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

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.

06V155000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

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.

06V144000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

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.

03V391000 · Seat Belts:rear/other

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.