Instrument panel shuts down while driving on street. I believe it is the central electronic module that fails. It has happened numerous times and it is unsafe to drive without a speedometer, tachometer, odometer fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. It has now stopped altogether. Gauges just sit there and bounce
The worst 2004 Volvo XC90 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical158
- Transmission145
- Fuel system77
- Engine52
- Lights33
- Airbags31
- Suspension23
- Steering20
- Brakes19
- Acceleration17
- Body14
- Driver assistance12
- Wheels10
- Seat belts6
- Tires6
- Visibility6
- Locks4
- Seats2
Specific symptoms reported on the 2004 Volvo XC90
Transmission failure 82Fuel pump 47Airbag light 43Fuel smell 39Headlights 34Loss of power 33Wipers 33Jerking 32Stalling 30Brake failure 25Fuel leak 22Check engine light 20ABS 19Warning lights 19Slipping 17Engine failure 12Power steering loss 12Door locks 11Won't start 11Ball joint 10Won't shift 9Hesitation 7Adaptive cruise 6Fuel gauge 6Grinding brakes 5
Recalls 6
Equipment: electrical: navigational system(global positioning system)
- What is wrong
- Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 10V566000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Volvo is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 s80, model year 2001-2004 v70, s60, xc70 and model year 2003-2005 xc90 vehicles sold in or registered in the states of alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, kentucky, louisiana, mississippi, nevada, new mexico, north carolina, oklahoma, south carolina, tennessee, texas, utah, virginia and the u.s. Territories. When exposed to certain environmental conditions (hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange.
- Risk
- If the condition occurs vehicle owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on january 15, 2010. Owners may contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 09V483000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 06V155000 · Recall details
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 06V144000 · Recall details
Wheels
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, the front wheel speed sensors may be defective, causing an erroneous wheel speed signal.
- Risk
- This can adversely affect a number of vehicle functions, including brake, engine, transmission, and torque distribution control which rely on this signal for proper operation.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the front wheel sensors. Owner notification began on december 8, 2003. Owners should contact volvo cars at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 03V434000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- On certain sport utility vehicles, the seat belt attachment(s) for the second and third row seat(s) may not have been fitted properly.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the second and/or third row seat belt attachments. Owner notification began on december 8, 2003. Owners should contact volvo at 1‑800‑458‑1552.
Recall number 03V391000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 2004 Volvo XC90
Defect investigations
Central Electronic Module Failure
Volvo acknowledged a problem affecting some subject vehicles involving water seepage into the plenum box area in the engine compartment.When this occurs water may enter into the interior / passenger compartment and track along the wiring harness for the Central Electronic Module (CEM), the device that controls many of the vehicle's electrical functions including wiper operation, lighting, and transmission operation.If the water reaches the CEM connector electrical faults may result.In response to such faults the CEM, a microprocessor controlled device, will attempt to reset by temporarily shutting down (for 100 milliseconds, or 0.1 seconds) and restarting; this effects various CEM functions including the instrument panel (IP) display, gauges, wipers and also the transmission gear (if it is in the overdrive range).During the reset owners may experience temporarily loss of the IP displays and an abnormal 'jerking' in the transmission/drivetrain.If the problem persist for 6 consecutive restart attempts, the CEM will enter a 'Limp Home' mode that disables non-essential electrical functions yet maintain safety critical functions such as low-beam headlights, low-speed wiper operation, brake lights, and non-overdrive transmission operation.Warning and error messages will also be illuminated in the IP display.Consumers reported experiencing conditions consistent with CEM resetting and the limp mode operation in their reports to both ODI and Volvo.No reports or allegations of crash or injury associated with possible CEM failures have been reported by Volvo or otherwise identified by ODI.Volvo revised the design of the wiring grommet (sealing device) and the plenum cover starting in May 2005 and October 2005 production dates respectively, the occurrence of the condition effectively ended after these changes.A technical service bulletin (TNN 37-35) has been published to diagnose and repair earlier production vehicles using the improved wiring grommet and/or new plenum cover.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
PE10025
Fuel pump leak
Volvo has determined that due to exposure to certain environmental conditions (hot climates and temperature cycling) and varying fuel quality, the fuel pump flange in the xc90 vehicles can develop cracks.owners may notice fuel smell and/or fuel seepage.due to similar material usage, this issue also affects other my2001-2005 s60/s80/v70/xc70 and my2003/2005 xc90 vehicles.review of the volvo data indicate the frequency of complaints/repairs is higher in the hot climate states. Volvo will recall and replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design/material in approximately 136,100 my2001-2004 s60/v70/xc70, my2001-2005 s80 and my2003-2005 xc90 vehicles in 19 states.these states include al, az, ar, ca, fl, ga, hi, ky, la, ms, nv, nm, nc, ok, sc, tn, tx, ut, va and the us territories.in addition, volvo will extend the warranty coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles on approximately 190,000 vehicles for the remaining states.this recall/extended warranty program supersedes previous 07v‑152/tnn 23-198 program on my2001-2002 vehicles.this investigation is closed (see recall campaign 09v‑483).
PE09039
Windshield wiper arm performance
The manufacturer notified the federal safety agency by letter dated april 21, 2006, that a safety recall has been initiated for correction of this problem on certain model year 2003 - 2006 volvo xc90 vehicles. The recall affects approximately 122,400 subject vehicles produced between august 2002 and october 2005.the federal safety agency has assigned no. 06v‑144 to this recall action.the corrective action will consist of replacing the existing windshield wiper arms with a new reinforced design.based on this action, the subject pe has been closed.
PE05064
Technical service bulletins for the 2004 Volvo XC90 222
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test
- This is a TJ text only
- This is a Technical Journal
- This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application
- Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch...
- This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist
- Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service
- This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method
- Complimentary upgrade C00009 description.
- Rubber cushion
2004 Volvo XC90 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 5‑cyl | FWD | 16 | 22 | 19 |
| 2.5L 5‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
| 2.9L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
What 2004 Volvo XC90 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Unsure of what the issue is with the vehicle but smells like gas in my garage and I found a recall I was never notified about I moved from Washington to Las Vegas and never received any info regarding the fuel pump recall as well as a noise that’s been going on for a year now when I drive at 60 miles an hour I’ve had it looked at and no one seems to know what that issue is
The rear right door cannot be open from inside the car. It opens fine from outside. I am aware there is a child safety lock, but in this case the problem is somewhere else. Regardless of the child safety lock position, the door cannot be open. This is a hazard, because in case oof an accident the passenger will e trapped inside the car.
Few days ago I came home, parked the car inside the garage and went inside. An hour later I went to the garage for something and noticed a very strong gasoline odor coming from the car. It is not coming from the reservoir and I did not put any fuel recently, so it can't be explained with a fuel spill. I suspect it is coming from the fuel pump. I as hoping or it to goo away, but it did not. It has been a week already.
Unknown..but water accumulated under the passenger seat under the amp and electrical components after a storm or rainy day.and its a lot of water when I brake i can hear a water fall..and water rushing and moving along the bottom. Of the car as I am steering im worried that the wiring and electrical will be damaged by water exposure the battery always dies wires soaked and sitting in water underneath passenger and never can completely get the moisture smell out of front seat area..mildew..why is this water leaking or not draining correctly ??
The contact owns a 2004 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, his wife noticed an abnormally strong gasoline odor. The contact's wife was able to continue driving the vehicle; however, the failure would return after refueling or on rainy days. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 09V483000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after his wife started the vehicle, she smelled the odor of gasoline. The contact had been advised by his wife that the vehicle was taking longer to start up and sometimes required two or three attempts to start the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 09V483000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.
On May 26, 2022, I was stuck in traffic for four hours, and the car's CEM (central electronic module) overheated causing the dashboard to shut down three times, meaning I lost all instrument readings. After each time the dashboard shut down, I had to pull over and reset fuse #27 to have the dashboard come back online temporarily. Because the CEM was already overheated due to its design flaw with improper ventilation, the dashboard would shut down again and again. A Google search would show this is a very common issue for 2004 Volvo models and before. Driving without any instrument readings is totally unsafe. I strongly urge you to force Volvo to issue a recall for 2004 and before models and fix the CEM overheating problem.
While driving on the highway "SRS urgent" text came on, also hear clicking sounds under dash on driver side, then dashboard indicator lights completely disappear (speed, fuel, temperature, etc) . Extremely hot under driver side dash. Fortunately, still able to steer and brake. This has happened twice now. Mechanic believes most likely CEM failure or DIM failure. My vehicle also has a wet A-pillar fabric (Volvo forums indicate possible cause of failure). I removed drivers A-pillar and found a clogged drain tube from the sunroof. However, did not notice any obvious signs of water inside the vehicle, though it hasnt rained for over a month when this happened.
is been stolen form my home and trying to fine it
Compare the 2004 Volvo XC90
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2004 Volvo XC90
Is the 2004 Volvo XC90 reliable?
Owners have filed 462 complaints about the 2004 Volvo XC90, 11.3 times a typical XC90 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2004 Volvo XC90 year score?
The 2004 Volvo XC90 scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Volvo XC90: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Volvo XC90?
Electrical system, with 158 complaints, typically around 94,500 miles. Next is transmission (145).
How many recalls does the 2004 Volvo XC90 have?
6 recalls, covering equipment, fuel system, gasoline and steering.
What year does the Volvo XC90 have the most electrical problems?
The Volvo XC90 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2004 (158 complaints), 2016 (56 complaints) and 2005 (51 complaints).
Is there a class action lawsuit over the Volvo XC90?
Yes. New class action says Volvo's Google-based infotainment screens freeze and take climate and rearview camera with them (November 9, 2026).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Volvo XC90 get?
Official estimates for the 2004 Volvo XC90 range from 16 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 5-cyl, FWD) gets 16 city and 22 highway.
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