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2006 Volvo XC90

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Volvo XC90 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 34.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

41 reports with mileage · 12 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

53 reports
130,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Suspension

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 …

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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 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702290

186,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Engine

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 60-65 MPH TO 35-40 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THIS- I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE AFTER THIS HAPPENED "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE". RESEARCH ON THIS LATER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS "LIMP MODE." I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME, INCLUDING MANY LARGE SEMI TRU…

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WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 60-65 MPH TO 35-40 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THIS- I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE AFTER THIS HAPPENED "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE". RESEARCH ON THIS LATER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS "LIMP MODE." I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME, INCLUDING MANY LARGE SEMI TRUCKS, WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST COME OUT OF A TOLL PLAZA AND WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SINCE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED AND I WAS FAR FROM A SUITABLE EXIT. MY REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE PCV (VALVE) I SEE ON RESEARCH OF EARLIER MODELS OF THIS CAR THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN "WARRANTY EXTENSION" FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. MY CAR APPARENTLY WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THIS EXTENSION, BUT I FIND IT SUSPECT THAT I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE MAY NOT BE THAT MANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH MY PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR BECAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF THE 2006 XC90S HAD EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND ARE NO LONGER BEING USED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702283

122,432 miles · Dec 15, 2014
Electrical System

THIS IS THEN SECOND TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2006 VOLVO XC 90 HAS FAILED. THE ORIGINAL WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH AND NOW THAT REPLACEMENT SWITCH HAS ALSO FAILED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PART THAT FAILS TWICE IN 7 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10664265

134,000 miles · Mar 28, 2014
Seat Belts

I ENTERED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM ITS HOUSING (INSIDE THE PANEL ABOVE MY LEFT SHOULDER). IT MADE A STRONG CLICKING NOISE, AS IF IT HAD LOCKED UP. I MADE NUMEROUS OTHER ATTEMPTS TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT, WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, TURNED OFF, CAR IN PARK, CAR IN DRIVE, CA…

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I ENTERED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM ITS HOUSING (INSIDE THE PANEL ABOVE MY LEFT SHOULDER). IT MADE A STRONG CLICKING NOISE, AS IF IT HAD LOCKED UP. I MADE NUMEROUS OTHER ATTEMPTS TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT, WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, TURNED OFF, CAR IN PARK, CAR IN DRIVE, CAR MOVING. NO CHANGE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED VOLVO, THEY TOLD ME THAT SEATBELTS WERE ONLY COVERED UNDER A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. I WOULD EXPECT SEATBELTS TO HAVE MANDATORY LIFETIME WARRANTIES, REQUIRED BY LAW. I AM SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10575396

128,000 miles · Jan 7, 2013
Service Brakes

WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IN A SLIGHT TURN (VERY MILD CURVE), TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I MOVED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS "HARD" AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE PEDAL AGAIN, VERY FIRMLY. THE ABS IMMEDIATELY KICKED IN. HAD TRAFFIC NOT STARTED TO S…

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WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IN A SLIGHT TURN (VERY MILD CURVE), TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I MOVED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS "HARD" AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE PEDAL AGAIN, VERY FIRMLY. THE ABS IMMEDIATELY KICKED IN. HAD TRAFFIC NOT STARTED TO SPEED UP, I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NOT FUN, VOLVO. WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKES, YOU EXPECT THEM TO ACTUALLY WORK. NO ERROR MESSAGES WERE ON FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM OR ANY OTHER ERROR MESSAGES AT ALL. THE BRAKES JUST DIDN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10491630

100,000 miles · Oct 27, 2012
Electrical System

OWNED CAR 2ND HAND FOR 2 YEARS NOW. THE PAST 2 WEEKS MY TURNING SIGNAL, DRIVERS SIDE MIRRORS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, DISPLAY COUNSEL FLASHES ON AND OFF. ESPECIALLY WHEN I USE TURNING SIGNAL. BEING TOLD ECM BOX WATER GETS INTO SYSTEM. VOLVO DOES NOT SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCT. SO DISAPPOINTED. I WAS READY TO BUY A NEW XC60. NOT A CHA…

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OWNED CAR 2ND HAND FOR 2 YEARS NOW. THE PAST 2 WEEKS MY TURNING SIGNAL, DRIVERS SIDE MIRRORS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, DISPLAY COUNSEL FLASHES ON AND OFF. ESPECIALLY WHEN I USE TURNING SIGNAL. BEING TOLD ECM BOX WATER GETS INTO SYSTEM. VOLVO DOES NOT SUPPORT THEIR PRODUCT. SO DISAPPOINTED. I WAS READY TO BUY A NEW XC60. NOT A CHANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482456

95,000 miles · Jul 7, 2012
Electrical System

I DROVE HOME FROM WORK AND MESSAGES STARTED TO APPEAR WARNING ME OF THE ENGINE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING. DROVE IT HOME. TURNED IT OFF & WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP. WE UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE USING THE MANUAL. TOOK IT TO HAVE BATTERY TESTED, BAD CELL. REPLACED BATTERY & WIPERS QUIT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHT WARNIN…

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I DROVE HOME FROM WORK AND MESSAGES STARTED TO APPEAR WARNING ME OF THE ENGINE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LOW BEAMS NOT WORKING. DROVE IT HOME. TURNED IT OFF & WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP. WE UNHOOKED THE BATTERY CABLE USING THE MANUAL. TOOK IT TO HAVE BATTERY TESTED, BAD CELL. REPLACED BATTERY & WIPERS QUIT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO HAVE WIPER MOTOR TESTED, IT WAS FINE. TOOK TO VOLVO, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE WIPER MOTOR, TOLD THEM THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM. TOOK TO DIFFERENT VOLVO AND THEY DIAGNOSED, AFTER THREE HOURS, THE CEM WAS CORRODED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE BOX THAT HOUSES IT. WANTED $3500 FOR THE REPAIR. I LEFT WITHOUT IT AND STARTED TO RESEARCH IT. FOUND OUT VOLVO ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULT IN THE SEAL IN A TRAFFIC SAFETY REPORT. CONTACTED VOLVO ABOUT THE REPAIR, STARTED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A GOOD WILL REPAIR, THREE WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED A CALL STATING THEY WOULD NOT COVER ANY PART OF IT. THE VOLVO LOOSES POWER AND COULD BE UNSAFE AT ANY TIME. THERE ARE MANY DISCUSSIONS OF THIS ON DIFFERENT VOLVO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW VOLVO SAYS IT IS A FAULT OF THE PART AND THEN REFUSES TO REPLACE IT. I AM DRIVING IT AT THIS TIME, WHILE I FIGURE OUT A MORE ECONOMICAL ROUTE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464528

115,000 miles · May 30, 2012
Engine

BALANCE SHAFT FAILURE REQUIRING NEW ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10460015

43,000 miles · Jul 7, 2011
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, CRUISE CONTROL FAILS, CAR GETS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, LIGHTING FAILURE, CAR SAYS IN DRIVE WHEN IN PARK, ANTI-SKID SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, TWO KIDS IN THE CAR AND BOUGHT THE CAR FOR ITS SAFETY …

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DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, CRUISE CONTROL FAILS, CAR GETS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, LIGHTING FAILURE, CAR SAYS IN DRIVE WHEN IN PARK, ANTI-SKID SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, TWO KIDS IN THE CAR AND BOUGHT THE CAR FOR ITS SAFETY RATING. WILL COST $2500 TO REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410916

52,000 miles · Jun 16, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE COMFORT ELECTRONIC MODULE (CEM) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE DIAGNO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE COMFORT ELECTRONIC MODULE (CEM) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE CEM ALSO WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10407115

Official recalls

3

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.

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.

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.