2004 Volvo XC90 lights problems

Filed Nov 12, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · NH

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.

Filed Jul 2, 2018 · Electrical, Lights · 168,000 miles · IA

Similar to many others, while driving our 2004 volvo xc90, we hear a click, then the climate, radio and windshield wipers (if on) shut off and their display lights black out, then another click in a fraction of a second and they come back on. This was happening randomly, and nothing else was affected, until this weekend, while on a trip. We were driving on highways, outside temp in the 80's, no rain, average speed about 70mph. It happened a few times over about 45 minutes, then began happening every 5 miles or so. When I turned up the AC fan, within about a minute it clicked and we lost the usual things, but they did not come back on. Then we heard another click and lost all dashboard lighting and controls; we could not see the instrument panel, the climate control was blowing hot air and could not be shut off or turned down, and we had no idea what speed we were going as it was nighttime. Extremely frightening and dangerous. We made it to the first exit that had a gas station and stopped. The car was very hard to accelerate when we got off at the exit as well. I was able to open the windows but when I opened the moon roof, it stopped half way and then would not close or open. We were stranded for hours awaiting a family member to come get us and then hours longer waiting for the vehicle to be towed. Our mechanic researched this and encouraged me to report, as he said there seem to be hundreds of reports of similar things happening with this year, make and model vehicle.

Filed Jun 7, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 130,000 miles · VA

2004 volvo xc90 sudden engine stall with lose of headlights: I was traveling on the interstate at night with the cruise set at 75 MPH when suddenly it was like someone turned the ignition key to off for about 3 seconds, and then turned the key back on without restarting the engine. With all the warning lamps illuminated, and the engine at a stall I pulled into the emergency lane, and stopped. I then shifted to park and attempted to start the vehicle, where it took several attempts to start. The headlights did not stop working while pulling over, and when I stopped I switched the lights off before I restarted the engine. The first thing at mind was a fuel pump that was starting to act up. After restarting I revved the engine up a few quick times (to clear the engines throat). I then got back on the interstate accelerating to 75 MPH , but doing so manually this time(no cruise control). About 10 min had passed when suddenly the engine started losing power as I was having to press the accelerator harder to maintain speed. While still coasting at 65 MPH or so I placed the transmission into neutral, and attempted to restart the engine, when I turned the key to the start position I lost all the lights, I quickly released the key to the on position, and the lights remained off. I quickly pulled to the emergency lane and used the force to avoid the guardrail and the ditch. All the warning light were illuminated, and the engine was at a stall. I then turned the ignition key off and then back on, and that restored the headlights. It took 5-8 attempts to restart the engine, and again I'm thinking fuel pump acting up. Each time I attempted to restart the engine it would spit and sputter like if the fuel pump were only delivering half the pressure needed for the fuel injectors. After the engine restarted I made it home, and the problem has not arisen since,

Filed Jan 20, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 160,000 miles · WA

I had this problem a few times a year ago and now it has returned. I was driving my car at night in the rain on a two lane freeway when all of a sudden I lost the headlights, dash lights, speedometer, radio, power windows, electric transmission, and much more function of the car. The engine is still running but it seems to almost reset or something then start shutting stuff down. I see on your website someone put this in as a complaint also this is very dangerous you cant see at night the car is hard to drive its obviously this same problem with water getting into the ECM. I read through your information and it seems like volvo knew something was up with ones produced before or after march. It seems like they have been well aware of the problem and still want to charge you $2000 to fix it! People shouldn't have to pay to fix a problem volvo has been well aware of and has had a cheap and easy solution for years. I called my local volvo dealers and not one of them had any information or knowledge of this problem. When volvo has a service notice about this problem and has obviously spent a lot of time looking into it. The problem seems to be really bad when it rains or I use the wipers further leading me to see that it is the same thing in investigation pe-10-025. These are only the people who are complaining to you this seems to be a very common issue that volvo is sweeping under the rug to make a buck. It's disgusting.

Filed May 31, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 84,380 miles · OR

I switched from headlights on to daylight driving lights on. I received a "bulb failure" for the daylight driving lights. I switched back to headlights. I received a "bulb failure" for the hids. I have verified that the fuses are good, and that there are now no working headlights on the car. Had this happened at night it could have been bad, very bad. Thank god it happened during a sunny day and that the teen driver wasn't behind the wheel.

Filed May 15, 2015 · Electrical, Lights · 60,000 miles · OH

Hello volvo, for the record, we love our volvo SUV (2004, xc90). Over the years the service from michelle balside at volvo on plainfield road in cincinnati has been truly excellent, her contact information is attached. However, we have has an issue since 2011 that has not been resolved, which is so uncharacteristic of volvo. I am hoping you can help me change the outcome. For years my husbands right headlight has been turning on and off intermittently. This is very dangerous when he drives to and from work at night on an old 4 lane highway (columbia parkway) that has no separation between east and west bound lanes, which means cars travel head-on at 70 miles an hour. Our dealer looked at the issue several times and said they could not fix it; so we lived with the dangerous issue because we thought the problem was unique to us. Recently, someone told us they were having issues with their volvo headlights and they found a blog on edmonds which listed a lot of other volvo owners with the same issue. I have attached the blog for your reference. The blog refers to a repair kit. Please let me know if volvo corporate can send a repair kit to our dealer in cincinnati. We have been loyal customers and we are thinking of giving our used volvo to our daughter when she turns 16 next spring, and buying a new volvo for my husband, bill. Please show your customers that you care and you will resolve the headlight issue, it could save a life someday. For now, we hope and pray on a daily basis that the headlight functions as it should.

Filed Dec 7, 2014 · Lights · 165,000 miles · NJ

I am paying for the third light ballast in this volvo 700-1000 dollars each time. I know this has been reviewed by your organization in 2010 it is online. Let me tell you what happens. When the ballast fails the headlight go off. Sometime 1 light, sometimes both. I was on the highway at night, the past two time that the lights went off. Guess what, there is no back up light . So I had to drive to the next exit in total fear of crashing during the rain. Oh, and I did pull over in the side problem there was no shoulder, construction. All you need to light a bulb is a few watts, the ballast system is a joke and costly. It will result in someone crashing and death. Please do not ignore this , check online you will see this is a very common problem in this model and year. Oh , also had the transmission recalled . Mine failed at 75000 miles , still paid 1500 for the work nice company.

Filed Nov 13, 2014 · Lights · 108,000 miles · OR

Driving along a rural road in e. Oregon at around 7:30 pm and all front lights went out at once (all of them). This caused a dangerous situation as we were not in a cell phone area and had to sleep in car overnight and drove out of area at daylight the next day. The car worked fine except for a complete lighting failure, which is important as you are driving down country roads in the dark.

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 Apr 22, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 95,000 miles · CA

On two separate occasions, our vehicle would not restart after stopping for gas. This occurred after it was serviced and battery replaced a week prior. Aaa was unable to jump start it as well, and vehicle had to be towed back to dealership for repairs. According to the two separate dealerships, the central electronics module is the culprit, and needed replacing. Across multiple online forums, volvo owners have complained about similar problems with the cem, often placing drivers and occupants in danger as they experienced complete electrical outage at highway speeds. We were fortunately that our vehicle just did not restart, instead of shutting down in traffic at 65 MPH. This is a significant safety issue, and volvo should be responsible for replacing the faulty units.