2004 Volvo XC90: doors won't lock, open or latch

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Airbags, Electrical · 65,000 miles · CA

While driving our volvo xc-90, the entire electrical system shuts down (dashboard display, lighting, AC, power windows, power door locks, everything electrical etc.). Additionally, for a split second the engine/transmission jerks and/or stalls before resuming. The first time this happened was in 2010 and never occurred again for several years. Then suddenly on a recent trip in august 2014 this happened repeatedly and the electrical system never returned to operation during that trip. In that august 2014 occurrence we were traveling down narrow state highway 1 in big sur, california. Had we lost control of the vehicle during the jerking episodes we could have gone off the narrow road and down the steep cliff side to our deaths. This put our family in a very perilous situation. Additionally, since the above incident in late august 2014 the vehicle has experienced numerous other flashes/jerking incidents while at highway speeds. This occurrence seems to be increasing. This is a very dangerous situation and needs to be addressed with a national re-call.

Filed Nov 10, 2013 · Body · 110,255 miles · TX

On june 2013, my interior door handles both front and back all began to break. All interior door handles both front and back began to brake around a 2 1/2 month period, at different times while I was exiting my car. This is ridiculous. All handles breaking around the same time. I have to now lower my window and reach threw the outside to open the door. This problem needs to be addressed and recalled. What I have read online, I am not the only one with this problem. There are a numerous amount of vehicles with the same issue. This can be a huge safety issue. What is the windows fail to work next. How would I get out of my vehicle if there's a accident, and I am trapped inside. Does volvo not care for there mistakes. Please address this issue and recall it asap to fix the problem. This vehicle is making me scared to drive it. Thank you very much, and I pray you fix this issue soon, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 27, 2013 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 974,300 miles · GA

After several hours of driving in the georgia / north carolina mountains with the wife and 2 kids in the back, the air-conditioner and radio on with the 2004 xc90, the car started experiencing weird behavior. Shortly after crossing the georgia border into the mountains of north carolina there was a loud noise under the hood of the car and the vehicle jerked violently. The car immediately lost all electrical power (no dashboard, hazard lights, blinkers, windows and door locks, sunroof, etc.). The drive train also seemed stuck in a high gear and would not downshift which made normal driving close to impossible especially on mountain roads. About 15 minutes later, the car made the violent noise again under the hood again and jerked violently again. Luckily there was an autozone immediately after the second incident and I had them read the engine codes which was only showing a 'dstc failure' (dashboard was non-functional). I decided to replace the battery with a new one in hopes that the failure was because of a weak battery tricking the computer to go into survival mode. Upon restarting the car, power was restored to the cabin (AC, radio, and dash were all working again) and there was now a 'SRS airbag service urgent' message which I couldn't clear from the dash, nor could the tool from autozone detect or clear via the plug to the computer port. There were no engine codes in the autozone computer after the battery change but we still had the SRS warning light / message on the dash. The next day, we had the same issue above driving home from our destination. We were hoping that new battery would solve the issue, but I now believe it's the cem. Car is going to the dealer tomorrow to investigate since of course it happened on memorial day weekend and nothing was open other than some stores.

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 Sep 19, 2012 · Electrical · 123,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volvo xc90. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the lights on the instrument panel illuminated and caused the radio, interior lights, air conditioning and the door locks to fail. The failure was experienced intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic, which located several electrical failure codes. The dealer reset the computer system and the failure was corrected. The failure mileage was 123,000 and the current 133,500.

Filed Jul 20, 2012 · Electrical · 80,000 miles · MD

Starting in 2011 and 3 other occasions vehicle would not start. Starter motor would not turn and system appeared to be dead. Battery was tested to be in good condition. Prior to these events electrical system behaved erratically with radio switching on and off, door locks not operating from remote key fob and windshield wipers erratically turning on and off. Lights and systems seemingly behaving erratically. Airbag warning lights came on. On first occasion system was reset and mechanic changed the starter motor. In hindsight I don't believe it was bad or caused of the problem. On second and third occasions after towing and repeated start attempts the engine started. Note that when attempting starts nothing happened when the key was turned (engine starter would turn or engage. No clicking sound associated with bad battery), on fourth occasion in july 2012 volvo reported that central electronic module was bad and multiple fault codes were present. When informed that this was a seemingly a common problem on 2004/5 xc90 with this model due to leaking grommet they denied this and stated that this was not the case for this vehicle. Module was changed at cost of $1,280.

Filed Nov 7, 2010 · Electrical · 83,000 miles · GA

Multiple electrical system problems with most recent being a shutdown everything electrical on the dashboard. Car would still drive but no instrumentation, door locks, windows or ability to open gas tank cover from button inside car.

Filed Jul 28, 2010 · Fuel system, Locks · 79,230 miles · IL

Fuel filler door latch failure. Allows fuel filler door to remain open after closed by operator leaving direct access to gas cap. Spring latch broken.

Filed Apr 27, 2009 · Airbags, Brakes · 113,825 miles · GA

While driving in heavy traffic on april 25, 2009, my 2004 volvo xc90 began jerking and then there was a sudden loss of power, the instrument panel swooped to the far right and then back to left with no other movement, the radio shut off, the windshield wipers began wiping, and the door locks and windows would not work. Shortly thereafter, the message box displayed "brake failure-stop safely", and then changed to "SRS airbag _service urgent". Once we stopped, the vehicle would not start again. I disconnected the battery in hopes of resetting the computer. Once this was done the car started again. Messages are still displayed. We contacted volvo corporate and have an appointment with a local dealership tomorrow. This is a serious safety issue and it is not the first time I have submitted a complaint for this same type problem. I have been a faithful, repeat volvo customer, and would like to continue to support volvo. My loyalty is slowly fading, especially after reading several complaints of the same nature. Volvo please don't let a death occur before you take action.

Filed Jan 8, 2009 · Electrical · 109,780 miles · GA

On january 6, 2009, my wife and daughter were driving on I-20 when they heard a "thump" and then experienced a sudden loss of power with the electrical systems. The engine never stopped, but the radio, windshield wipers, door locks, dashboard and everything suddenly stopped working. They continued to drive and about 5 minutes later it happened again. They never stopped and about 5 minutes later it happened again. They immediately exited the highway and waited about an hour before trying to drive again. We have not been able to duplicate the problem since then. In reviewing the website, this appears to have happened to a few folks.

Filed Sep 11, 2008 · Airbags, Electrical · 60,000 miles · NC

While driving my 2004 volvo xc-90 at night I experienced a momentary loss of control, followed by the headlights pausing and then going from high beams to low. The instrument cluster lost some of it's displays and the door locks became inoperative. The data display warned me of an "urgent SRS failure". I was at low speed a block from home so I crept home and the next day sent the car to triad volvo by roll-back wrecker. Problem was failure of central electronic module. I called volvo corporate and they seemed disinterested.