Volvo XC90 years to avoid
More than twice the XC90's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Volvo XC90 years
Fewest owner complaints among the last 20 model years, counting only those with at least four years on the road.
Volvo XC90 complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Volvo XC90 problems
All model years combined.
- Electrical454
- Engine323
- Transmission312
- Fuel system193
- Brakes114
- Driver assistance100
- Body81
- Lights79
- Airbags71
- Steering64
- Acceleration54
- Suspension49
Most reported problems on the Volvo XC90
Volvo XC90 problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | - | 32 | Driver assistance | 4,500 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2024 | - | 38 | Electrical | 3 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | - | 41 | Driver assistance | 28,000 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 78 | 31 | Electrical | 4 | 0 | Fewest complaints | |
| 2021 | 68 | 42 | Electrical | 40,000 | 6 | 3 | |
| 2020 | 72 | 35 | Electrical | 25,000 | 7 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
| 2019 | 60 | 42 | Electrical | 50,000 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 64 | 52 | Electrical | 19,400 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 35 | 82 | Engine | 20,000 | 7 | 3 | Avoid |
| 2016 | 11 | 197 | Engine | 20,000 | 8 | 5 | Avoid |
| 2014 | 95 | 4 | Airbags | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | 91 | 11 | Airbags | 58,451 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 95 | 3 | Driver assistance | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011 | 83 | 19 | Engine | 94,000 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 90 | 12 | Fuel system | 100,000 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 93 | 7 | Electrical | 76,000 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 80 | 29 | Electrical | 52,000 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2007 | 75 | 38 | Electrical | 75,000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 59 | 53 | Electrical | 85,000 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 10 | 223 | Engine | 85,812 | 6 | 1 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 5 | 462 | Electrical | 86,000 | 6 | 9 | Avoid |
| 2003 | 42 | 93 | Transmission | 74,650 | 5 | 2 | Avoid |
Recalls 35
Compare the XC90
XC90 vs Acura MDXXC90 vs BMW X5XC90 vs Audi Q7XC90 vs Lexus RXXC90 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE 350XC90 vs Cadillac XT5
Questions about the Volvo XC90
What years of the Volvo XC90 should you avoid?
2003, 2004, 2005, 2016 and 2017. Each has more than twice the Volvo XC90's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2004 alone has 462, mostly about electrical and transmission.
What is the best year for a used Volvo XC90?
2008, 2022 and 2020 have the fewest owner complaints among model years that have been on the road for at least four years (29, 31 and 35).
What is the most common problem with the Volvo XC90?
Electrical, with 454 complaints across all years, followed by engine (323) and transmission (312).
How many recalls does the Volvo XC90 have?
35 recalls between 2003 and 2025. The 2016 model year has the most, with 8.
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