2004 Volvo XC90: brake failure

Filed Nov 3, 2016 · Airbags, Brakes · 137,500 miles · PA

While driving any distance over 60 minutes the car warning comes on saying sudden loss of brakes, stop safely. Airbag check light comes on. Within a few seconds all the electronics shuts down; all dash, stereo, lights, wipers, windows and lack of power to engine but car stays running. This was almost a deadly crash while driving in pouring rain and there were cars everywhere. No way to signal or flashers, I honestly thought me and my family were gonna get in an accident. I have read other stories online so my question is, what is the cause of this? How do I fix it before some gets hurt or even worse killed!

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 117,000 miles · MN

Exiting driveway in reverse, upon switching to drive the dashboard lights started flickering and a jerk was felt in the transmission. Soon the dashboard gauges and the indicators went dead. Several error messages quickly "scrolled" (brake failure, airbag failure, ABS failure, engine failure) then the check engine light came on and remained on. No power to dashboard controls (gauges dead, no lights/turn signals, no radio). Front windows work, but not rear. Vehicle drives as if in low gear. Unsafe to drive so had towed to dealer. They are running diagnostics so tbd on specific issue and cost to repair. Concerned as no recall and situation is so dangerous (what if I'd been on freeway!) volvo should recall all the 2004 xc90 as others report same defect

Filed Aug 12, 2015 · Electrical · 137,600 miles · CA

I was heading towards a supermarket on a expressway on a an afternoon where there was a clicking sound near the dashboard on drivers side. And then suddenly the dashboard lights started flickering and a jerk was felt in the transmission. Soon the dashboard gauges and the indicators went dead while driving and that too without any warning. There was several error messages that were popping up like brake failure, airbag failure, ABS failure, engine failure and then the check engine light came on. The power was totally cut off and the steering was very hard. It appeared as if the vehicle is in a low gear. Ibhad to take the next exit to come to a safe stop as no indicators were working. I tried to turn off the ignition and then tried to restart. The vehicle started but all the gauges on the dash were down. Had to push the gas pedal hard since the vehicle was behaving as if it was in low gear. Power windows, power steering, indicators, lights, gear shift indicator, audio was totally cut off. I called a local technician and to check the problem, but he could not find the fault. However he cleared the errors and check engine message. The vehicle was restored after almost 1 hour. Then I tried to return back to home. The next day, the same problem occurred, and it kept occurring several times. I heard several reviews from several customers about the same issue with 2004 xc90. And every issue is related to cem. The module costs $1200+ which is a very high cost. This situation is so dangerous while you are on freeways and may cause accidents. Volvo should recall all the 2004 xc90s and replace these modules and also compensate all the owners who have replaced their cems.

Filed Apr 28, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 143,000 miles · NC

My 2004 volvo xc90 with a 2.5t engine, 7 pass, intermittently and inadvertently stalls while driving it. It is scary because all electrical goes off, instrument panel, radio, lights, etc, several warning messages appears, such ABS, air bags failure, brake failure, engine failure, etc. It won't respond to acceleration and brakes are very hard to push, the engine does not stop. I have to stop, turn it off, wait few minutes, then start it, everything comes to normal again but with the check engine and the air bags message, then after some minutes of driving the same stalling and electrical issues happen again. This is serious because you are on freeway and you loose brakes and engine control, no information in instrument panel, etc. I found that the relays in the cem (control electronics module) are super hot possibly due to loose connections, in the video below you will see the problems and infrared pictures of the cem. Please help!!!!!! Please help!!!!!! Please help!!!!!! Please help!!!!!! Please see my youtube video and other videos with the same issue search for xc90 issues, xc90 stalling, xc90 electrical problems, etc. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwulb1sksie&feature=youtu.be thank you

Filed Aug 18, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 104,500 miles · WV

2004 volvo xc90 2.5t ...driving at about 65 MPH with no warning aloud thump noise, windshield wiper comes on radio goes off dash lights go off, last for a sec. Then resumes to normal . This has happened several times now, while I have only owned this vehicle for a month. Today it happens again only worse ..after the initial thump and jerk it happens three more within 5 miles the last time I was going about 35 MPH, big thump and jerk, wipers comes on , radio goes off , all dash lights off ..no hazards available and I get several warnings on dash brake failure , SRS failure and anti skid failure. .I turn car off then back on and continue home...it happens again 5 minutes later at 15 MPH....I am reading many, many complaints like mine. This issue needs to be addressed asap. .I almost was rear ended twice. Volvo needs to take responsibility.

Filed Aug 4, 2014 · Brakes, Electrical · 155,000 miles · WA · crash

3 hours into a 3-1/2 hour weekend road trip there was a clunk in the engine compartment. Thinking I hit a pothole, I continued on cautiously. While continuing on these unfamiliar 2 lane windy roads going 43mph (the speed limit was 55) about 2 miles from where the clunk happened my entire dash cluster stopped working. All my dome lights and leg lights came on. The car clunked harder this time. I lost power to the engine, steering was like trying to turn a tank, and the brakes were very spongy. Still traveling on windy roads with large semi trucks behind me and cars passing by in the opposite lane I veered to the right to avoid being rear ended by a semi. Not being able to steer or stop as efficiently as before I coasted into a residents 2-3 man rock landscape traveling at about 5mph. I dented my front license plate and scratched the bumper. With my heart pounding, I turned the car off and got out to see the damage. I went to the residents home and told them my story. They were thankful my fianc and I were okay. Since I hit rock there was no damage done to their landscape. After 20 minutes I started the car. It was hesitant to start. The brake failure light was on for a few seconds then the SRS service warning light came on and stayed on. For the remainder of the weekend trip the car would lurch like the tranny was slipping. Especially after taking off from a stop light. It still clunks once in awhile but we only drive it around town. It's currently at a certified volvo specialist being serviced. This morning all lights stopped working and I couldn't get it out of the garage. The key stuck in the ignition. In conclusion, this mishap could have resulted in a serious injury or fatality. If every car of this make and model is doing this, they need to be recalled and repaired!

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Airbags, Brakes · 90,000 miles · WA

While on the interstate at 60mph, experienced temporarily loss of power, the ip displays and an abnormal 'jerking' in the transmission/drivetrain. The SRS airbag and brake failure error messages appeared in the ip error display. The wipers momentarily came on. Lights dimmed. Power failure was only for a split-second (at 60mph) before returning to normal. After normal power was restored, error messages continued to be shown in the ip error display. The brake failure message instructed me to pull over and bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Upon bringing the vehicle to a safe stop and turning off ignition, I heard excessive electrical clicking under the dash (like relays clicking). All ip displays were non-responsive (dark). I locked the car (alarm armed) and later returned with a tow-truck. Upon return to the car, I was unable to unlock it or disarm the alarm. Car was unresponsive. Alarm was armed (unable to be disarmed) and the engine bypass feature of the alarm prevented me from starting the car. Could only gain entry into the car from the driver's side door with physical key. Car was placed in neutral and loaded onto a flatbed truck for tow back to volvo dealership. Temperature at time of failure was 110f.

Filed Sep 5, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 74,000 miles · OR

While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced a complete systems failure of engine, lighting, wipers, interior lighting (dash), brake failure message and SRS airbag service warnings. This has begun to happen repeatedly. This problem appears to be the same that many other xc90 owners have been experiencing.

Filed Dec 28, 2012 · Electrical, Engine · 144,010 miles · IL

Last night my 2004 volvo xc90 left me on the side of the road interstate 88 near rock falls, il weather 7:00 pm 28 humidity: 73% wind: nne dew point: 22 pressure: 30.16 in bone dry while driving 65mph felt a "thump" in the front end, followed by a split second where all dashboard lights, went black. While trying to push the gas pedal the car would not accelerate. Then normal function resumed. A minute or two later, same thing and all lights internally completely went out, I pulled over immediately and turned the car off. Hazard lights could not be turned on. After calling for a tow truck, and waiting about 45 minutes I restarted it. There were 2 messages on the dash, the yellow exclamation point dashboard icon/alert lit up, a service message flashed referring to the anti-lock brake failure, the SRS needed urgent attention. I purchased this vehicle in early november 2012 I called the closest volvo dealership and was told there were no open recalls and they had to have the vehicle for diagnosis because of the different symptoms I reported not a single mention of the federal safety agency defect investigations for the 2004 volvo xc90 that seems specifically related to my symptoms experienced. From: erica henry [mailto:[xxx]] sent: friday, december 28, 2012 11:55 am to:[xxx] subject: re: service request - yes I would like to make an appointment for jan 10th. There are no open recalls on your vehicle. Because of the different symptoms that you experienced, we really need to have the car here to perform a diagnosis. There should have been some trouble codes stored in the system, and those will help my technician further diagnose the problem. If you'd like to schedule still please let me know. [xxx], service advisor -[xxx]world auto direct line 815‑991‑2770 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Oct 23, 2012 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 88,013 miles · FL

While driving between 65 and 70 miles on a major interstate my 2004 volvo xc 90 has a severe "thump" in the front end, which is then followed by a very brief (split second) internal (meaning all dashboard lights, hi-fi, dome lights, radio air condition, oil gage, fuel gage clock ) power failure. While trying to push the gas the car would not accelerate. At first I hit something on the highway. A minute or two later the "thump" was harder and the lights internally completely went out, hazard lights could not be turned on, blinkers could not be switched on, hi-fi went out, the door locks would not work, the windshield wipers would not cut on or the electric windows. I pulled over immediately and turned the car off, waited 10 minutes and restarted it. There were 3 messages on the dash, the yellow exclamation point dashboard icon/alert lit up, a service message flashed referring to the anti-lock brake failure, the SRS needed to be checked, and check engine. The next day I took it to a volvo dealership, they couldn't diagnose the problem. They assured me that the car was ok to drive. Four days later the problem starts again. So after doing a little research I find out that this is a common occurrence on the volvo xc 90 and there was an investigation on this same issue in november 2010 in which volvo is fully aware of and "acknowledges 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, the device that controls many of the vehicles electrical functions including wiper operation, lighting, and transmission operation. If the water reaches the central electronic module connector electrical faults may result." this is a $1200.00 repair which volvo should pay.

Filed Oct 7, 2012 · Brakes, Electrical · 104,789 miles · CA

My wife and I were driving to a friend's how's when suddenly the radio started acting up ,it would go on and off . After we noticed that I slowed down a bit then all of a sudden my hole dash board went out . I tried pulling over but the transmission would not respond ,then the dashboard came back on but I had all these warnings like brake failure ,SRS airbag service urgent , engine system service urgent . After all the happens the truck died ,luckily I was able to get off the road before other cars hit us .after a couple a minutes I tried turning it on and it came back on but I still had the warning lights on but the truck was running fine ,after we gotto our friends house I turned it off and left it their because I felt it wasn't safe to drive , the next morning I went over to pick up the truck , turned it on and all the lights were of and it ran fine . I looked itup online and it seems I'm not the only one who's had this problem ,it seems its happened a lot but volvo doesn't want to do anything about it . I like my volvo but I am also concerned about how safe it really is.

Filed Oct 6, 2012 · Electrical, Transmission · 170,000 miles · IL

At 65 MPH wipers went on by themselves then followed by split second power failure,meaning dashboard light out,hazard lights could not be turned on,windows would not open,A/C out,in the message screen at that moment antilock brake failure was displayed before everything went out,driving another 20 miles till next exit at the dusk,after pulling over and restart ( to reset) SRS failure in the message screen. Car checked by volvo dealer and statement from them:fault in cem is shutting down network and causing dim to black out. Replacement will run about $1500,this car had automatic transmission failure at 91822 miles and ignition failure recently,and many many other costly problems.