2005 Volvo XC90: engine failure

Filed Oct 25, 2013 · Engine · 150,000 miles · MO

The counterbalance shaft broke resulting in engine failure. Volvo estimates repair at $5,0000. Ridiculous. Why doesn't volvo fix this well known issue for loyal customers. I have had 5 volvos in my life starting back in the 1980's and love the cars but this lack of care for customer welfare is just wrong. It may be my last volvo if this is how they treat customers now days.

Filed Aug 26, 2013 · Engine · 80,560 miles · CA

I own a 2005 v8 xc90. Like so many others I am a recent member to the cb failure club. Yep. It's a club. The counter balance shaft failure club. This is a design defect that volvo is aware of and does nothing to remedy the poor saps who own a 2005 with the first 6883 engines produced by yamaha for volvo. After 6883 volvo made changes to the design of the counter balance shaft, by drilling a weep hole to let moisture out. Unfortunately, my engine was in the 4000s. I live in southern california. About the driest climate you can get, but yet rust has destroyed my counter balance and thus destroyed my engine with only 80000 miles on it.btw, I have had my engine serviced regularly. But the counter balance shaft is something that can not be serviced without tearing the engine apart. It lies in the valley of the v8. In my case, and in all the other cases I am reading about, the bearings rusted and the shaft rusted and it tore apart my engine block. Had I been driving on a freeway with my children and lost power it could have been fatal. How is it that this design flaw which causes catastrophic engine failure can be allowed not to be recalled? In fact, thanks to a overcharged alternator, I had just put a new $1400 computer in the car. Yet, the computer never read check engine. Why? Because the computer is not monitoring the lubrication in a sealed bearing. And it is impossible without tearing the engine down for 10 hours (1200.00 in labor) to get to the counter balance shaft to see the condition of it. Please, for the sake of others who might be unfortunate enough to drive this car and find themselves on a freeway when the engine blows due to cheap rusted bearings -- issue a recall!!!

Filed Apr 8, 2013 · Engine, Lights · 107,000 miles · IL

I purchased a 2005 volvo xc90 for $16,000. 6 months later the engine freezes up. That cost $10,000.00 to replace the engine. Looked on google, very common for these v8 engines to freeze up. Now the headlights are acting up. Looked on google and found the headlight issue is very common. This will cost $3,000.00 to repair. This car is going to cost me almost as much to repair it as I paid for it!! Volvo is loosing control. I would like you to issue a recall for these engine issues and issue a recall for these headlight issues. Please google 2005 volvo xc90 v8 engine and google the same year and model about the headlight issue. You will be astounded by all the pages of complaints about what is supposed to be a great car. These cars where $62,000.00 brand new, what a joke they can sell this car with so many problems. Please issue a recall. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Feb 22, 2013 · Engine · 97,000 miles · OH

At 97000 miles the counterbalance shaft broke resulting in engine failure. Service at volvo says I need a new engine. 7000-10000 for a used engine. Contacted manufacturer, waiting for response.

Filed Dec 18, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 115,000 miles · VA

Volvo knows the v8 engine on the 2005 xc90 is faulty. Specifically, the counterbalance shaft bearing failing due to water intrusion. Fortunately mine failed while at idle. Unfortunately the entire engine is now seized up and my otherwise clean car is a large and useless paperweight. If this were to happen while the car is moving at speed, it could cause a horrible accident. Unless volvo actively finds the remaining engines in service and fixes this problem, it remains a risk regardless of the mileage. Appropriately, they should also reimburse anyone who was affected by this problem since they learned of it back in 2005.

Filed Apr 2, 2012 · Engine · 87,147 miles · NC

My volvo 2005 xc 90 v8 engine failed. Could not drive it so I had it towed to the volvo dealership. I was told, after 2 days of diagnosis, that the engine had to be replaced. I was told that volvo could not help with cost of new engine since I was out of warranty, date -wise but not mileage- wise. I have since discovered that a large number of like engines have suffered the same catastrophic engine failure due to a design defect concerning a bearing/shaft. To date, volvo has done nothing to help me. At a higher speed, this engine failure could have been fatal.

Filed Jan 28, 2012 · Engine · 86,000 miles · SC

2005 volvo xc90 v8 engine number 5569. Balance shaft failure. Or counter balance shaft failure. Due to engine defect. Balance shaft bearings in closed, non-lubricated area. Bearings rest in an area that retains moisture and the bearings eventually deteriorate and fail. When this happens there is catastrophic engine failure. There are approximately 7000 vehicles with this defect. The defect was realized after engine 6883. We are very lucky that the failure did not occur the previous day on our 200 mile interstate trip. Engine destruction at 75 MPH could have proved fatal. Loud popping and rattling from the engine was the only warning...no check engine light. Volvo is aware of this defect and has sent service memos to drill holes to allow water in this area to drain and prevent rusting of bearings. There are many documented cases on this site and other traffic safety sites. A recall needs to be issued!

Filed Dec 13, 2011 · Engine · 70,422 miles · TX

Counter balance shaft failure leading to complete engine failure. Defective design.

Filed Dec 5, 2011 · Engine · 67,000 miles · NJ

The balancer bearing and shaft on the 2005 volvo xc90 SUV is defective in the first 6000 vehicles manufactured for that model year. The balancer shaft bearing can go bad at any time without warning, causing catastrophic engine damage. If this happens on a highway while traveling at a high rate of speed, the results could be deadly. Volvo north america is aware of this and does nothing to address this serious, potentially deadly situation. We have been working to get volvo of north america to recognize this issue and they have doing nothing to date except point to maintenance, which has no impact on the problem. There is no maintenance procedure to insure this does not happen and volvo will not pay for damages. The remedy in most cases is an engine replacement which costs about $15,000 , and as mentioned, volvo will not pay for it. Volvo must be forced to recall these vehicles and fix the problem and compensate owners who have been impacted. These vehicles must be recalled and the problem must be fixed before countless lives are put at risk by this ticking time bomb that will go off. At 70 miles an hour , a failed engine could lead to death. There are 6000 volvo xc90's with this problem. *tr the dealer diagnosed the problem as a complete engine failure due to the balancer becoming damaged and causing catastrophic engine failure. The consumer was informed it would cost $ 14,700 to replace the engine. Updated ivoq 03/09/12

Filed Sep 16, 2011 · Engine · 86,330 miles · MA

Heard loud ticking noise coming from engine at 86330k miles. Vehicle ride became somewhat rough. Diagnosed at volvo dealership as balance shaft bearing "part failure". Est. To fix: ~$3800. Volvo agreed to compensate for the parts, approx $1500. Balance of $2325.50 paid by vehicle owner. Took 1 week for volvo to obtain parts as they are not commonly stocked or were back ordered. On line research revealed this to have been a problem with early 2005 xc90 v8's. Water/condensation/vapor is able to get in and rust the bearing leading to engine failure. A tsb was issued (? When) for a fix to drill a "weeping hole" in engine block to drain water from the bearing.

Filed Jun 3, 2011 · Engine · 85,000 miles · FL

I have a 2005 volvo xc90 v8 the car has been developing a shake, I brought it to volvo for a check up, nothing was reported as unusual. Yesterday I heard knocking in the engine and immediately flatbedded it to the dealership, the went to diagnose and the engine has froze. The dealer is researching and explained it is out of warranty with a new engine costing $14,000.00, reading other bulletins I suspect this is a counterbalance shaft bearing failure and is occurring with all 2005 v8 xc90's as they increase in age and exit any warranty period. I hope someone can do something, a new engine cost as much as it's trade-in value. Such a know issue should be investigated with volvo picking up the cost.

Filed May 20, 2011 · Engine · 75,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc90. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic notice the timing chain broke causing the engine to lock up. The mechanic stated the engine needs to replaced. The mechanic replaced the engine. The contact notice numerous complaint regarding engine malfunctions for this year make and model. The contact called the manufacturer and the manufacturer stated since the vehicle has not been serviced at a dealer they are not responsible for the repairs. The contact stated if the vehicle was on the highway and the engine failed a crash could have occurred. The failure mileage was 75,000.