Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
525–50K
450–75K
475–100K
4100–150K
1150K+
25 reports with mileage · 4 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 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 →
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reports
46,000 miles · Jul 9, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
I BOUGHT MY XC-90 FROM BIG DEE VOLVO ON 12/19/2008. I HAD ANTI-SKID WARNING COME UP 2 YEAR AGO AND TOOK IT TO BIG DEE. THEY RESET THE MESSAGE. IT WAS FINE FOR A YEAR OR SO. THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AGAIN IN 10/2011 BUT IT WENT AWAY ON IT'S OWN. I TOOK IT TO PALISADE VOLVO AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. NOW THE MESSAGE APPEARS EVER…
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I BOUGHT MY XC-90 FROM BIG DEE VOLVO ON 12/19/2008. I HAD ANTI-SKID WARNING COME UP 2 YEAR AGO AND TOOK IT TO BIG DEE. THEY RESET THE MESSAGE. IT WAS FINE FOR A YEAR OR SO. THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED AGAIN IN 10/2011 BUT IT WENT AWAY ON IT'S OWN. I TOOK IT TO PALISADE VOLVO AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. NOW THE MESSAGE APPEARS EVERY DAY AND DISAPPEARS. THE ANTISKID GOT TURNED OFF AUTOMATICALLY. TOOK IT TO PALISADE VOLVO TODAY AND THEY SAID IT HAD A FAULTY SENSOR AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. THE TOTAL COST IS $750. I BELIEVE THAT THE I HAD A FAULTY PART WHILE THE CAR WAS ON WARRANTY AND THIS FALLS UNDER THE SCOPE OF LEMON LAW. I AM REQUESTING COMPLETE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE AMOUNT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464719
24,542 miles · Aug 9, 2011
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS WITH AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE LOCK CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION AND HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS WITH AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE LOCK CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 24,542. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10418148
38,500 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Equipment
THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE OF THE RECALL VARIETY. I BROUGHT MY 2008 XC90 TO THE DEALER TODAY FOR ANOTHER ISSUE. I SAT IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR 30 MIN WHEN THE SERVICE MAN APPROACHED ME AND ASKED ME IF MY IGNITION HAD EVER LOCKED UP BEFORE. I SAID NO AND TRIED TO TURN THE KEY MYSELF. COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE SERVICE REP SAID "I KNOW WHAT …
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THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE OF THE RECALL VARIETY. I BROUGHT MY 2008 XC90 TO THE DEALER TODAY FOR ANOTHER ISSUE. I SAT IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR 30 MIN WHEN THE SERVICE MAN APPROACHED ME AND ASKED ME IF MY IGNITION HAD EVER LOCKED UP BEFORE. I SAID NO AND TRIED TO TURN THE KEY MYSELF. COMPLETELY LOCKED. THE SERVICE REP SAID "I KNOW WHAT IT IS" AS HIS WIFE IN HER VOLVO HAD RECENTLY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE EXPLAINED THE IGNITION HAS A LOCKING MECHANISM THAT SOMETIMES FREEZES IN PLACE. THE COLUMN NEEDS TO BE DISSEMBLED TO REMOVE THE MECHANISM. HE TOLD ME 5-7 BIZ DAYS TO GET THE FACTORY TO CUSTOM BUILD ME A NEW ONE BEFORE HE CAN DRIVE THE CAR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM I ORIGINALLY CAME IN FOR. THEY WON'T GIVE ME A LOANER OR RENT ME A CAR DESPITE THE FACT THAT THIS ISSUE IS "UNDER WARRANTY." I'M VERY DISENCHANTED WITH VOLVO AS, GIVEN THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN VOLVOS TIME AND TIME AGAIN ACCORDING TO MANY BLOG ENTRIES I REVIEWED.! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395959
24,000 miles · Aug 24, 2010
Parking Brake
PARKING BRAKES NOT DISENGAGING. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE EVEN WHEN IN GEAR AND GAS IS APPLIED. IT FELT LIKE ONE OF THE WHEELS IS LOCKED. IF PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE, CONSTITUTES SEVERE HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCE DRIVERS AS THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY MOVE IF THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE BRAKE WILL …
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PARKING BRAKES NOT DISENGAGING. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE EVEN WHEN IN GEAR AND GAS IS APPLIED. IT FELT LIKE ONE OF THE WHEELS IS LOCKED. IF PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE, CONSTITUTES SEVERE HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCE DRIVERS AS THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY MOVE IF THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE BRAKE WILL DISENGAGE. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DISENGAGED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES OF ROCKING THE CAR BY ALTERNATELY ENGAGING THE GEARS BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351452
24,000 miles · Apr 8, 2009
Seats
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES BECAUSE A SEAT IN THE REAR ROW FAILED. THE SEAT CONTINUES TO FAIL AFTER EACH REPAIR. IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS A LATCH, BUT IT DOES NOT REMAIN FASTENED. THE SEAT IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE SEAT.…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES BECAUSE A SEAT IN THE REAR ROW FAILED. THE SEAT CONTINUES TO FAIL AFTER EACH REPAIR. IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT IS A LATCH, BUT IT DOES NOT REMAIN FASTENED. THE SEAT IS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE SEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY ONLY INSTALL NEW PARTS ON VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA ODI #10264459
600 miles · Aug 6, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10 - 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT BUSHING. THE DEALER HAS NOT MADE A DECISION CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) WAS REF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10 - 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT BUSHING. THE DEALER HAS NOT MADE A DECISION CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
NHTSA ODI #10237185
900 miles · Jul 6, 2008
Unknown Or OtherCrash
MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR BRAND NEW VOLVO XC90. I GOT OUT OF CAR TO TAKE A PICTURE (LEAVING THE ENGINE ON FOR AIR CONDITIONING) AND HE SHIFTED THE CAR OUT OF PARK, CRASHING THANK GOODNESS INTO A FENCE THAT SLOWLY STOPPED HIM. KNOWING HE CANNOT REACH THE BREAK I IMMEDIATELY TESTED THE GEAR SHIFT AND FOUND TH…
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MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR BRAND NEW VOLVO XC90. I GOT OUT OF CAR TO TAKE A PICTURE (LEAVING THE ENGINE ON FOR AIR CONDITIONING) AND HE SHIFTED THE CAR OUT OF PARK, CRASHING THANK GOODNESS INTO A FENCE THAT SLOWLY STOPPED HIM. KNOWING HE CANNOT REACH THE BREAK I IMMEDIATELY TESTED THE GEAR SHIFT AND FOUND THAT IT EASILY SHIFTS OUT OF PARK WITHOUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WE HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO HAS ADMITTED "THE CAR'S SHIFTER IS BROKEN". WE ASKED TO CHECK ANOTHER NEW XC90 IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER LOCATION. WE ARE HOPING THE DEALER WILL FULLY REPAIR THE CAR OR OFFER US A NEW ONE. I AM NOT SURE I CAN TRUST THIS CAR AGAIN -WE JUST BOUGHT IT THIS MAY. HOW AND WHEN DID IT "BREAK" OR WAS IT DEFECTIVE TO START WITH? SHOULD THIS CAR HAVE EVEN PASSED ITS SAFETY INSPECTION? CAN I GET ACCESS TO THE FACTORY'S SAFETY INSPECTION? ARE THERE OTHER REPORTS OF BRAND NEW XC90S WITH DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFTS? HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED THIS? I'D HAVE NEVER KNOWN IT WAS FAULTY IF THIS ACCIDENT HADN'T HAPPENED. I EXPECTED THIS SAFETY STANDARD, AS OUR OLD VOLVO HAD IT. FORTUNATELY MY SON WAS NOT INJURED, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE'S CHILD MAY BE. PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE CARS. WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM THE DEALER? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233287
435 miles · Mar 29, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TOOK DELIVERY OF VOLVO XC90 ON FEB 4, 2008. ON FEB 11, 2008 WITH 435 MILES, THE CAR LOST ALMOST ALL ITS ENGINE OIL AND THE COMPUTER DISPLAYED "LOW OIL LEVEL" MESSAGE. ALL THE TIME, IT WAS SPEWING BLUISH/WHITE SMOKE DURING INITIAL START UP AND ACCELERATION. WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER AND IT TOOK 11 DAYS TO REPAIR. SPARK PL…
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TOOK DELIVERY OF VOLVO XC90 ON FEB 4, 2008. ON FEB 11, 2008 WITH 435 MILES, THE CAR LOST ALMOST ALL ITS ENGINE OIL AND THE COMPUTER DISPLAYED "LOW OIL LEVEL" MESSAGE. ALL THE TIME, IT WAS SPEWING BLUISH/WHITE SMOKE DURING INITIAL START UP AND ACCELERATION. WAS FLAT-BEDDED TO THE DEALER AND IT TOOK 11 DAYS TO REPAIR. SPARK PLUG WAS INITIALLY REPLACED, DIDN'T WORK, THEN IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE INNER TIMING CHAIN HOUSING SEALS WHICH WERE ALL REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE WORK ORDER. I DID NOT GET THE OLD PARTS/SEALS/GASKETS THAT WERE REPLACED. ALL I HAVE IS A DETAILED WORK ORDER OF WHAT WAS DONE. CURRENTLY, ENGINE IS STILL SPEWING WHITE SMOKE OCCASIONALLY AND I HAVE TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL PERIODICALLY, JUST TO MAKE SURE THIS VEHICLE IS NOT GOING TO LEAVE ME STRANDED. VOLVO CARS OF NA OFFERED TO GIVE ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE OF THIS. I INITIALLY WANTED FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF ITS ENGINE WITHIN A WEEK OF DELIVERY. I DID NOT GET A RESPONSE TO MY REQUEST, INSTEAD, THEY CONTINUED REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT BACK TO ME, 11 DAYS LATER WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222637
25,848 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Power Train
MY 2005 T6 HAS ALREADY HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 25K MILES (UNDER WARRANTY). THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION RECENTLY SLIPPED GEARS WITH 32K MILES AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS "OLDER" VERSION OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CODE WHICH CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN. *TR
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.
VOLVO IS RECALLING 102 MY 2008 XC90 AND S80 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT BOLTS TO THE ENGINE MOUNT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE ALUMINUM BRACKET FOR THE ENGINE MOUNT COULD BREAK DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE CLAMPING FORCE. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SUB-FRAME, ULTIMATELY RESULTING IN A REDUCED ENGINE TORQUE OR STALLING OF THE ENGINE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS FOR SPECIFIC MARKINGS. IF ANY OF THE BOLTS CONTAIN THE INCORRECT MARKINGS, THE BRACKET AND BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OWNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE (CCM) MAY RECEIVE A 'SHUT-DOWN SIGNAL' FROM THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AFTER IGNITION KEY INSERTION. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL FUNCTIONS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE (INCLUDING THE DEFROSTER) DURING THAT DRIVING CYCLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INOPERATIVE DEFROSTERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE IMPAIRED VISIBILITY WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: THE ECM SOFTWARE WILL BE UPGRADED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY 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.
2008 Volvo XC90 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year