WHAT COMPONENT OR SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, AND IS IT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION? The Pilot Assist / Adaptive Cruise Control system becomes physically stuck, causing sudden unintended acceleration. Additionally, the central vehicle electrical system/wiring harness is experiencing a verified spontaneous failure. The vehicle is currently located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and is fully available for federal inspection upon request. HOW WAS YOUR SAFETY OR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS PUT AT RISK? My life and the safety of everyone on the road was placed in immediate, catastrophic danger. On multiple occasions, the vehicle took total control away from me, overrode my inputs, and independently accelerated to 100 miles per hour on the highway. This maximum-throttle acceleration severely compromised my ability to slow down, brake, or control the vehicle. As a professional therapist and professor, surviving these multiple near-death events has caused me severe psychological trauma and a profound fear of driving. HAS THE PROBLEM BEEN REPRODUCED OR CONFIRMED BY A DEALER? Yes, a dealer has officially replicated and confirmed part of the underlying electrical failure. The vehicle was held at the dealership service department for an extended diagnostic stay from October 6th until yesterday. While they did not replicate the 100 mph acceleration during their brief initial rounds, a Volvo service mechanic took the vehicle home overnight and successfully reproduced and witnessed the unprompted electrical failure (the cabin lights turning on completely by themselves). HAS THE VEHICLE BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, POLICE, OR INSURANCE? The authorized Volvo dealership service department has extensively inspected the vehicle. However, despite a mechanic witnessing the spontaneous electrical glitch, the service center said they could not pinpoint the exact source of the failure using standard diagnostic tools and returned the car to me.
The worst 2023 Volvo XC90 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Driver assistance14
- Electrical10
- Fuel system6
- Brakes5
- Steering3
- Transmission3
- Acceleration2
- Body2
- Locks2
- Seat belts2
- Visibility2
- Airbags1
- Engine1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2023 Volvo XC90
Recalls 6
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous the federal safety agency recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Recall number 25V908000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
Recall number 25V282000 · Recall details
Seat belts: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
- Risk
- An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
Recall number 23V827000 · Recall details
Electrical system
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the emergency call system (e-call) and display "e-Call Service Required" in the driver information module (DIM).
- Risk
- The false warning message could prevent the detection of an actual e-call system failure, which could delay an emergency response during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the telematics and connectivity antenna module (TCAM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 16, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10225.
Recall number 23V188000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BCM2) may cause a loss of Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and traction control.
- Risk
- A reduction in brake support functions can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volvo will release an over-the-air (OTA) BCM2 software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 15, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10217.
Recall number 23V012000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ECM)
- What is wrong
- Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
- Risk
- The vehicle may lose drive power as the high voltage battery is depleted, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1‑800‑458‑1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10198.
Recall number 22V793000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2023 Volvo XC90 141
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This is a Technical Journal: Chirping noise from engine during engine shutoff
- This is a Technical Journal: Vibration/shudder while braking
- This is a Technical Journal: Google acceptance required for SW 3.0.3. Software download.
- This is a Technical Journal: Check engine light and DTC
- This is a Technical Journal: Check Engine Light in DIM (BCM2 P25A268 / U003700)
- This is a Technical Journal: Call button in the OHC might not be lit
- This is a Technical Journal: MY23+, ICUP
- This is a Technical Journal: DIM Message and DTC IEM P0A4000
- This is a Technical Journal
- This is a Technical Journal: Long Range PHEV ERAD Knocking Noise Repair Kit. Install a repair kit.
2023 Volvo XC90 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl Plug-in hybrid | AWD | 26 | 27 | 27 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl Hybrid | AWD | 20-22 | 26-28 | 22-25 |
What 2023 Volvo XC90 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owns a 2023 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while his son was attempting to latch the seat belt, the seat belt failed to retract. The failure had occurred several times. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V827000 (SEAT BELTS); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 28,000.
The car recently received a 5.05 update of the infotainment system. Since then, the infotainment system would be shut off and auto-restarts itself during driving every 10 or 15 minutes. The car would lose all the functions related to the infotainment system, such as the camera, navigation, sound and air conditioning for a few minutes during driving. It is dangerous that this would happen randomly and so frequently. This incident has been reported by many Volvo car owners in the past few days since the update, and the dealer didn't fix the problem. We are going to a dealer two days later but don't have much hope for the fix.
While the vehicle was parked, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded. Using the buttons on the trunk, I shut the trunk and locked the car. A few moments later, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded again. This continued for 40 minutes. Today, if I place a battery in the main black key fob, the trunk will open with the car running. I have an appointment next week at the dealer, however, most correspondence with Volvo has been by phone during the time it occurred. Both key fobs are not recognized by the vehicle unless specifically placed in a vertical direction in the cup holder. While driving, I receive messages that the key is not detected (although, I understand the car should NOT shut off while running after started and this has NOT occurred thankfully.). I will provide further documentation once available but want to report in case others experience this issue.
On the morning of January 12, 2026, I attempted to unplug my 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge (plug-in hybrid) from my home charging station in order to drive to an appointment. I had turned on the climate control remotely from the Volvo app while inside the house. When I went to unplug the vehicle, the charging connector was locked in the vehicle’s charging port and could not be removed. I contacted Volvo customer service, who instructed me to try several troubleshooting steps, including locking and unlocking the vehicle multiple times with the key fob and resetting the infotainment system. These steps did not resolve the issue. Because the charging plug remained locked, I was unable to use my vehicle and had to borrow a neighbor’s car, causing me to arrive late to a scheduled appointment. While away from home, I contacted my Volvo dealer, whose service representative advised me to use force to remove the plug, stating it would likely break the internal clip in the charging port. When I returned home several hours later and unlocked the vehicle, the charging plug released normally without any physical intervention. This suggests a software or electronic malfunction rather than a mechanical obstruction. The incident temporarily immobilized the vehicle and could pose a safety or reliability concern if it occurs in other situations. Furthermore, we have been experiencing intermittent issues with the infotainment system, including the backup cameras not coming on, random radio stations playing and complete blackout of the screen and/or flickering. The last software update was completed on Aug 15, 2025.
I was driving on the internstate and my blind spot indicator came on and stayed on even though there were no cars in my blind spot. I needed to change lanes and tried to despite the blind spot indicator being on and the automatic collision avoidance system put me back into the lane I was in. I had to fight the vehicle to get over to be able to exit the interstate.
Two wheels have cracked in the span of a few weeks. There was no accident or incident that could have caused the cracks. There are mentions online of this issue in several countries but Volvo has not issued a recall or warning regarding the wheel's propensity to crack. First crack was found on one wheel on 11/03/25. The second crack was found on a different wheel on 12/07/25. This vehicle was purchased from McDonald Volvo in Littleton CO on August of 2023.
While driving in a parking lot going around 15 mph my drivers side door opened. No warning, no alarms just fully ajar swung open. Fortunately I was going 15 mph, Im glad I had my seatbelt on and that no one was crossing or passing when the door flung open. Ive documented and recorded my ability to begin driving and open the door including ability to open the door while reversing. I took the suv to volvo and the electrical wiring was replaced along with the door hinges.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2023 Volvo XC90 on [XXX]. The vehicle was purchased from Guaranteed Motor Cars in Palos Hills, IL. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 39,019. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for repairs. When the instrument cluster was installed, it was discovered that the mileage was 111,914. The contact filed a complaint with the State Attorney General's Office. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
We lease this car from Volvo and are the first and only owners of the vehicle. No history of collision or accidents. The vehicle has a rear backup camera. The camera system also allows the option to select a 360-degree, top down "birds-eye" view of the entire vehicle. The backup camera turns on automatically when the car is shifted into reverse and originally provided a normal view directly behind the vehicle that extended at least a car length or more. At some point, we noticed that the rear backup camera view changed and was angled sharply down to the ground, including a partial view of our rear license plate and back bumper. The view now extends less than 7 feet behind the vehicle, angled down from the height of the camera (40-inches) so we can only see inches above the ground just a few feet behind the car. We can no longer see approaching vehicles, pedestrians, or any obstacles. The service technicians suggested this change in camera angle resulted from a routine system software update that was automatically downloaded to the vehicle. I don't know exactly when that occurred. On June 27, 2025 we received a safety recall notice from Volvo - Recall R10320 - warning us that the rear-view camera image may not show during the start of a backing event. We installed the recommended "Over the Air" software update, but that did not resolve our problem. I took the car to a local Volvo dealership on 9/26/25. They tried software upgrades and reboots, confirmed that the camera hardware was operating correctly, and told me that they could not fix it. They suggested I file a complaint with Volvo. I did that on 10/3/25. The only response to my claim was to "contact your dealer to make an appointment," which I told them I had already done. I have followed up twice since and Volvo has not responded further to this complaint ID #: 251002-000556. The incident date provided below is approximate. I don't recall when exactly the camera view changed.
Compare the 2023 Volvo XC90
XC90 vs Acura MDXXC90 vs BMW X5XC90 vs Audi Q7XC90 vs Lexus RXXC90 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE 350XC90 vs Cadillac XT5
Other model years
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Questions about the 2023 Volvo XC90
Is the 2023 Volvo XC90 reliable?
Owners have filed 41 complaints about the 2023 Volvo XC90, close to a typical XC90 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volvo XC90?
Driver assistance and stability, with 14 complaints. Next is electrical (10).
How many recalls does the 2023 Volvo XC90 have?
6 recalls, covering back over prevention, seat belts and electrical system.
Was there a recall on the 2023 Volvo XC90 driver assistance?
Yes, 2 recalls: 25V908000, 25V282000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volvo XC90 have the most driver assistance problems?
The Volvo XC90 model years with the most driver assistance complaints are 2023 (14 complaints), 2025 (13 complaints) and 2004 (12 complaints).
Is there a class action lawsuit over the Volvo XC90?
Yes. New class action says Volvo's Google-based infotainment screens freeze and take climate and rearview camera with them (November 9, 2026).
What gas mileage does the 2023 Volvo XC90 get?
Official estimates for the 2023 Volvo XC90 range from 22 to 27 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, AWD) gets 26 city and 27 highway.
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