2018 Volvo XC90

This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" "Gear Lever Locked" and related electrical system symptoms), the service manager at Volvo Cars Brooklyn was able to remotely diagnose the likely cause by telephone, before the vehicle was even towed to the shop, specifically instructing the owner to check for dampness under the driver's floor mat, which was confirmed to be present. This indicates the symptom pattern described (sunroof leak leading to corrosion affecting the transmission, brakes, and electrical system) was already recognized and familiar to Volvo Cars Brooklyn's service staff, not a novel or difficult-to-diagnose issue. Additionally, the owner was informed that multiple other Volvo vehicles were present at Volvo Cars Brooklyn on the same day for repair of the same reported issue. Once arriving at the dealership, the service manager tole us that he had, "Just totaled a vehicle for the same issue." This suggests the underlying defect is not an isolated occurrence, but a broader, recurring pattern affecting multiple vehicles of this platform. This supplemental information is provided to support NHTSA's assessment of whether a safety-related defect trend exists affecting this vehicle platform, consistent with the pattern described in the original complaint and in other publicly available consumer complaints regarding sunroof-related water intrusion on the Volvo XC90.

The vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on August 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" and "Gear Lever Locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 Volvo XC90 to be towed to Volvo Cars Brooklyn on August 11, 2026. At that time, dampness was discovered under the driver’s floor mat, leading to the discovery of a sunroof leak and resulting water intrusion. The dealership represented the vehicle as fully repaired and safe to drive. The same safety-critical malfunction occurred later that night, while driving about 90 miles away from the dealership, with the same warnings appearing, confirming that the original repair failed to address the underlying issue. Loss of normal transmission and braking function while the vehicle was in motion directly affected the driver's ability to control the vehicle. The vehicle was towed for a second time on the morning of August 12, 2026, to Volvo Cars Brooklyn, where it was confirmed that module corrosion caused by the original sunroof leak had not been properly diagnosed or corrected during the first service visit, and that this corrosion had disrupted signals to the vehicle’s electrical, braking, and transmission systems. The dealership completed a corrective repair on August 12, 2026, replacing the OFM module and removing water, following the second incident. The vehicle has not been separately inspected by Volvo’s manufacturer-level engineering team. This failure is consistent with a broader, documented pattern affecting this vehicle platform. Volvo has previously issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing a sunroof-related water leak on an earlier model year of this platform. While that bulletin does not specifically cover the 2018 model year, numerous 2018 model year owners have independently reported the same failure pattern, a failed sunroof seal, often linked to clogged sunroof drains.

My car completely locked up on the road and came to a screeching stop. This car is known for having the ERAD completely fail and it could have caused it to have a serious accident. It has also caused my car to plummet in value losing over 30k in just 3 years. Now my repairs cost nearly what it’s worth and aren’t guaranteed to actually fix it. It’s terrible. I’m so upside down n my loan due to this issue that they dealerships refuse to help on. The dealership acknowledges it is a design flaw but yet they won’t help. I have an email stating that it is a design flaw

On 8/20/2025, my 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 suffered catastrophic failure of the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD). The vehicle suddenly developed a loud whining noise from the rear and became undriveable. This ERAD had previously been replaced under warranty at Boston Volvo Cars. On 10/28/2025, Queens Volvo inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure was caused by improper prior service. Their technician documented that the ERAD housing was likely not properly torqued, which led to transmission fluid leaking over time, sludge buildup, and internal damage to gears and motor. The failure was sudden, confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealer, and the ERAD is no longer serviceable. This created a safety risk by causing immediate loss of propulsion and stability. If it had occurred at highway speeds, the risk of crash would have been significant. The failed component remains available for inspection.