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2011 Volvo XC90

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
2,400 miles · Sep 15, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE DELAY IN RE-ACCELERATION ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP @ A STOP SIGN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO TAKE A TURN AND THE CAR HESITATED AT A VERY SLOW PACE TO TAKE OFF. I CHALKED IT UP AS THE CAR BEING COLD EARLY IN THE MORNING. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY UNTIL ONE DAY …

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I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE DELAY IN RE-ACCELERATION ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP @ A STOP SIGN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO TAKE A TURN AND THE CAR HESITATED AT A VERY SLOW PACE TO TAKE OFF. I CHALKED IT UP AS THE CAR BEING COLD EARLY IN THE MORNING. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY UNTIL ONE DAY IT HAPPENED AS I WAS STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT. WHEN THE INTERSECTION WAS CLEARED OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM A REASONABLE DISTANCE I PRESSED THE GAS TO GO AND THE CAR LITERALLY DRAGGED IN SLOW MOTION INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO SLOW THAT IT ALLOWED TIME FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO REACH ME. WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN THE INTERSECTION AND THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING DIRECTLY AT ME AT FULL SPEED I HAD TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO JUMP KICK THE CAR INTO SPEED TO GET ACROSS THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. AFTER THAT NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE I CALLED MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ME IN THE NEXT DAY, GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE AND KEPT MY CAR OVERNIGHT. I GOT A CALL FROM MY SERVICE ADVISOR THE NEXT AFTERNOON STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WILL RESET THE CARS COMPUTER TO SEE IF THAT HELPS. WELL IT DIDN'T. I NOW DON'T DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. IT'S STILL HAPPENING AND I DON'T FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. OUR DAUGHTER WILL BE GETTING HER LICENSE SOON AND WE THOUGHT OUT OF OUR TWO CARS THAT THE VOLVO XC90 WILL BE THE SAFEST FOR HER TO DRIVE. NOW I DON'T SEE IT AS EVEN BEING AN OPTION FOR HER. I'VE BEEN ONLINE RESEARCHING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2011 VOLVO XC90 OWNERS AND DIDN'T FIND MUCH OF ANYTHING. PERHAPS THERE WERE JUST A FEW BAD APPLES OUT OF THE BUNCH AND I JUST HAPPENED TO GET ONE OF THEM. MY 2011 WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THE SHOWROOM'S FLOOR JUNE 2011 WITH 550 MILES AT DELIVERY. I NOW HAVE A LITTLE OVER 4000 MILES. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10425590

Official recalls

1

11V286000 · Steering

May 18, 2011

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 XC90 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 29, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 16, 2010. THE POWER STEERING FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE OIL PIPE CONNECTION AT THE STEERING GEAR VALVE HOUSING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL PIPES ON THE POWER STEERING RACK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. 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.