2005 Volvo XC90: sudden loss of power

Filed Aug 30, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 178,417 miles · MD

My 2005 xc90 (odometer approx. 178,000 miles) throws check engine, reduced engine performance and engine service required dashboard warnings intermittently, despite the fact that it has a new cem and a second new throttle body in less than two months. It also issues a low beam headlight bulb failure warning, even when the bulb is lit, and the left turn blinker is sticky. Sometimes, the driver's seat and passenger side rear view mirror readjust simultaneously upon opening the driver's side door, with no key in the ignition and no one sitting in the seat. Recently while traveling on an expressway at 65 MPH, the car abruptly lost speed (a terrifying experience) and struggled to accelerate to 40 MPH. A few days later, it lost power in heavy city rush-hour traffic (also terrifying) as a red light turned green. It barely made it to 10 MPH and came close to causing a chain reaction crash with the cars behind it (also terrifying). Luckily I was able to steer into a nearby bank parking lot, turn it off and restart it. It drove normally but the warning lights remained. I have taken the vehicle to the volvo dealership multiple times, citing electrical system woes, which resulted in the two previously mentioned repairs. They identified a wiring short as the cause both times, yet act mystified as to why the problems have persisted despite those repairs. I reported the seat/mirror shifts and the ongoing low beam bulb failures to the service manager, who replied (without examining the car) that the bulb was either burnt out or loose in the socket, and that the seat shifting was simply the way the memory function works. I get the sense that volvo does know what's wrong with this vehicle, and they don't want to tell me. I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with the lack of answers, and am afraid to drive this car.

Filed Dec 8, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · 113,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc90. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, a fuel odor emitted from the rear of the vehicle as the vehicle lost power and the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also mentioned that fuel was leaking from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that after the vehicle was restarted, the fuel odor recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel line needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

Filed Oct 24, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · 170,000 miles · VA

While driving vehicle at 55-60 MPH all dashboard lights came on and car lost power. This caused a frightening and extremely dangerous situation. Without headlights or tail lights I could not be seen by other drivers. I tried to cross 2 lanes and get onto the shoulder with no power steering or engine power. While I was very fortunate I was not in or did not cause a serious accident I had an extremely close calls. I changed lanes and almost collided with another vehicle traveling at 55. Once in the lane another driver who was unable to see my vehicle (no lights) came up behind me at a high rate of speed. Only a last minute swerve avoided a rear end collision that no doubt would have caused a terrible accident with very serious if not tragic results. Additionally other drivers had to swerve to avoid the vehicle-causing a very dangerous, chaotic situation. The loss of power and loss of lights came close to causing a major multi-vehicle accident. Many are aware of this problem. Please do not wait until people are killed to reopen the investigation and re-consider a safety recall.

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 Mar 12, 2013 · Engine, Fuel system · 150,239 miles · MI

Was driving on free way, as I was accelerating I lost all power and steering.. The engine stalled out and I had to veer off to side so that I wouldn't cause an accident.

Filed Jan 3, 2013 · Transmission · 85,812 miles · CA

While driving on a gentle incline the transmission started slipping & shifting back & forth between gears. It lost power when trying to accelerate.

Filed Nov 3, 2011 · Engine · 60,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc90. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the contact heard a loud noise emitting from the front end of the vehicle. Immediately there was a slight loss of engine power during acceleration. The malfunction progressed and the vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated the engine would need to be replaced as a result to the engine balance shaft fracturing. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Aug 18, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 60,800 miles · MO

Purchased used 2005 volvo xc90 in spring of 2010. During the next year experienced very intermittent electrical issues. Examples are locks not working, blinker, radio. These issues literally only happened a couple times. In april 2011 had biyearly safety and emissions done at local dealership (non volvo) and it did not pass emissions. Next day took my volvo xc90 to weiss volvo and it passed emissions (without me knowing they cleared errors on the car to get it to pass. This must be the reason in europe that dealerships can't inspect their own make of cars) on july 17 2011 I was driving down the highway with my 1 year old in the back seat. Radio went out. A few minutes later almost everything in the car shut down except for the engine. Lost A/C (it was 110 that day), lost power steering, braking was intermittent, no blinkers, no headlights, no lights in interior, while I was at full speed on the highway. I am not sure if engine was intermittent or not because I got off as soon as I could. I was very close to weiss volvo so dropped it off there again on the date of the total failure. Called volvo customer care on july 18 2011 to file complaint. Weiss volvo called back and told us car wouldn't start. Called back later in the day and said they saw that everything went out and car was full of codes. Weiss sent in an estimate for $1500 to replace ECM. I asked weiss to perform an emissions test (by mo law manufacturer's cars must pass emissions test up to 80k miles and my car had 61k) I researched ECM and found very similar stories to mine and brought this up to volvo na. Volvo na told weiss volvo to "reset" my car (again without my permission). The car then was functional after reset. Weiss then "tested" my car for almost 3 weeks to figure out the design flaw for a total of 451 miles. The mechanic told me it was the ECM but volvo na said it was various other reasons and wouldn't replace it. Car still broke. Reached limit.

Filed Jun 9, 2011 · Electrical · 130,000 miles · VA

During rain the windshield wipers stop working, headlights go out and car loses power. I have come dangerously close to high speed accidents due to the loss of power. Also car has a severe jerk in the transmission when accelerating after a turn. So strong I thought I was hit from behind. There is a problem the federal safety agency investigated with water getting into the cem. Volvo acknowledged manufacturer defect that results in water getting in cem but will not replace the defective cover. There is no way of knowing when this might happens-appears to depend on how heavy the rain, if roadway has a lot of water. This needs to be recalled for safety reasons-volvo continues to put consumers at risk.

Filed Apr 29, 2011 · Fuel system · 50,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc90. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk excessively with a substantial loss of engine power. The contact was able to maneuver to the side of the road as the engine stalled. In addition, the contact noticed a strong odor of fuel both inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the fuel pump was replaced. The similar failure recurred and the fuel pump was replaced three different times. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number: 09v483000 (fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump). The contact experienced the identical failure as mentioned in the recall yet the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 50,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jan 31, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 131,000 miles · VA

2005 xc90 v8-many problems with check engine light coming on and car losing power. Lost power on interstate-car would lose power and speed-needed tow-happened twice. Current issue check engine light came on followed by all lights coming on stating brake failure, power overload, limp mode and brake failure. Dealer replaced alternator at cost of $1006. 10 days later check engine light and anti skid light came on followed by brake failure light. Car lost headlights and windshield wipers-9 pm and sleeting. Dealer now says need to replace cem and battery at a cost of $3,000 due to water in cem. It was raining or sleeting both times the check engine light came on. Volvo redesigned the cover to prevent water intrusion but needs to issue recall. Very dangerous- ticking time bomb. Someone will have an accident on rainy night on interstate. Please consider requiring recall-owners of this vehicle are spending thousands of dollars due to volvo xc90 v8 design flaws. How can volvo be allowed to sell vehicles that should not be driven outside/or in the rain.

Filed Dec 19, 2010 · Electrical · 100,093 miles · LA

I was driving with my daughter on a very long bridge at night in my 2005 volvo xc90. The check engine light came on and while the car stayed on, it appeared to have lost power. I have had other electrical problems with the car and have had it to the dealer 3 times but they say they can't find anything wrong with it. This was by far the most dangerous incident! After doing some internet research, I have read hundreds of reports similar to mine. There is a definite issue with this car and it should be recalled.