Volvo XC90 won't start problems

Filed Oct 24, 2026 · Fuel system · WA

I own a 2022 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 plug-in hybrid. An authorized Volvo dealer diagnosed an internal fault in high-voltage battery Cell Module E. According to the technician's written report, diagnostic code BECM-P0BBE62 was present. The technician ran the Cell Module component test through Volvo's VIDA diagnostic system, which returned a “fault found” status for Cell Module E. The technician recommended replacing the faulty module. The replacement part is on back order, and I have been advised that obtaining battery modules into the United States is a known supply bottleneck that could delay repairs for several months. Volvo has confirmed that the repair is covered under warranty, but the vehicle remains unrepaired while I wait for the part. Of particular concern, the technician documented that the vehicle would not start when they attempted to move it into a parking space. The technician noted that this failure may or may not occur again. This creates uncertainty about the vehicle's ability to start and operate reliably. The vehicle previously displayed a “Propulsion System Service Required” warning. Although the vehicle had reportedly behaved normally during earlier driving, the subsequent diagnostic findings and failure to start raise concerns about the reliability and safe operation of the high-voltage propulsion system. I am concerned about: The high-voltage battery cell module failure and the possibility of a recurrence or additional battery faults. The vehicle's documented failure to start. The potentially prolonged period during which the vehicle cannot be repaired because the replacement module is unavailable. Whether similar failures and parts delays are affecting other Volvo plug-in hybrid vehicles. I request that the federal safety agency review this report alongside similar complaints to determine whether there is a broader safety-related defect or pattern involving high-voltage battery cell modules in affected Volvo plug-in hybrid vehicles, and whether further

Filed Aug 10, 2026 · Electrical · SC

My 2024 Volvo XC90 has experienced complete battery and electrical failure three times in approximately ten months. The failure pattern is identical each time. The battery discharges fully with no prior warning. A jump start restores power briefly, but the vehicle does not hold a charge and shuts down again, so it must be towed. The battery has been replaced three separate times by authorized Volvo retailers and the failure keeps recurring, which indicates the underlying cause has not been identified. Component: Electrical system, specifically a suspected parasitic current draw causing complete discharge of the 12V battery. The vehicle is available for inspection on request. Safety risk: The vehicle becomes completely inoperable without warning and has stranded me three times, requiring towing on each occasion. There is no advance indication that the battery is failing. Because the failure is sudden and unpredictable, the vehicle cannot be relied on to start in an emergency or to remain operable, and I have no confidence that a failure will not occur at a time or place that puts occupants at risk. Confirmed by dealer: Yes. Each failure was confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealer, which replaced the battery each time. Repairing dealers include Independence Volvo and University Volvo. The failures occurred in approximately October 2025, approximately March or April 2026, and [date of current failure]. The vehicle is currently at [dealer] for the third occurrence. Inspection by manufacturer or others: Volvo Car USA corporate has not inspected the vehicle. No police or insurance inspection. To my knowledge no dealer has performed or documented a parasitic draw test to locate the source of the discharge. Warning lamps or symptoms: None. There were no warning lamps, dashboard messages, or symptoms of any kind before any of the three failures. The vehicle operated normally and then would not start. Total days out of service: at least 15 days across the three times

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Driver assistance, Electrical · OH

We drove this vehicle to a family event in chicago. We pulled the vehicle out of the parking garage and pulled into a downtown street in front of a hotel to load the vehicle up. Once the family was loaded the vehicle up the car would not start it had 700 miles when it failed. we were stuck on a busy street trying to start the car. I called roadside assitance and someone came out with a jump pack, but the battery was not dead. I was in the pouring rain trying to figure out what was wrong. They did hook a computer up to find several faults in the computer. It did also indicate a left turn signal fault. also talking with roadside assistance the agent said that was the 2nd call he had with no start issue. finally it did start but the check engine light was on the whole trip home, had to cut our trip short and drove as far as we could in fear the car would not restart. It kept coming back with the left turn signal fault and did not shut off the car even pumping gas in fear of not restarting then all of a sudden with cruise control on the car just jerked itself amd almost pulled us off the freeway. now it has been at the dealer all week researching forums this seems to be a common issue

Filed Aug 3, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · NY

On May 18, 2023, the vehicle was not driveable and it was not able to be taken out of the park mode. The vehicle had no power so the engine would not start regardless of what the tow truck driver tried. The car had to be pulled onto the tow truck so the tires did not move. On June 10, 2023, Due to a backlog. The Volvo dealership was finally able to look at the vehicle. They stated "error codes in the computer indicate an internal defect in the high-voltage battery. Even after consultation with Volvo technical support, we cannot avoid removing and opening the battery to replace a part inside the battery." Due to a backlog and waiting for parts, they stated it would be 6 weeks before they could repair. On July 28, 2023, The Volvo dealership repair stated, "the first spare part (for the defective battery) that was delivered was unfortunately defective and had to be sent it back." They will keep us up-to-date. The dealership is aware of the R10198 Recall for the Electronic Control Module.

Filed Mar 19, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 500 miles · FL

I purchased my new 2019 volvo xc90 on december 15, 2018. On the morning of december 29, 2018 I was with my two children when there was a malfunction with the vehicle key recognition system which allows for the vehicle to start. My vehicle gave me the error 'vehicle key not found. See owner's manual'. This left myself, my 4 year old and my 4 month old stranded. The local fort myers dealer said they replaced the fob antenna. My vehicle then had the same problem february 14, 2019 leaving myself and my two children stranded because the vehicle wouldn't start. Volvo claimed to fix the issue but the vehicle again malfunctioned while in the possession of mcgrath volvo of fort myers. Again on february 23, 2019 my vehicle wouldn't recognize my keys and wouldn't start, yet again leaving myself and my two children stranded. After volvo told me they fixed what they thought was a defective wire, I received my vehicle back. On march 6, 2019 I was driving with my then 6 month old baby when my vehicle shut off twice. As I was decelerating, my vehicle engine shut off by itself and all screens in the vehicle went blank. This occurred twice while decelerating. Volvo has had my car since march 6, 2019 providing me no updates as of today, march 19. I have only owned the vehicle 94 days and it has been in the shop 35 days, with only 2387 miles on it.

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 120,000 miles · CO

Was starting to accelerate after a red traffic light when the engine suddenly died and car stopped right in the middle of traffic. Car would not start again. Battery was good, started worked good but it sounded like no gas was getting to the engine. Being stuck in the middle of traffic, I was pushed by the car behind me to a safe location out of traffic. Towed car to shop and still investigating the failure.

Filed Mar 12, 2013 · Engine · 12,000 miles · GA

I was driving the vehicle down the highway when it started to stall and then the engine just cut off. This happened in the middle of the road with traffic in both directions leaving me and my wife vulnerable in the middle of traffic. I made several attempts to restart the engine and it would not start, it started to smoke after a few attempts. Roadside assistance had to be called and the vehicle was towed to the volvo service department which told me that the engine failure was due to a faulty starter. This is a fairly new vehicle with no damage.

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 Feb 4, 2012 · Electrical · 66,754 miles · MA

Our car wouldn't start in our garage one morning. Turns out, we needed a new cem due to a leaking protection box (I can't remember the name of it but it started with a p). After 843 in parts and 816 in labor and almost a month at the dealer due to a backordered wiring harness the problem was fixed. After doing some research we have discovered that this is an epidemic among volvo owners and we are actually one of the lucky ones whose car died while it was parked instead of while we were driving! This is ridiculously dangerous and the fact that this leaking box is a common problem and that volvo has actually developed a redesigned model to fix the issue with their first gen model leads me to believe that they should be forced to replace their faulty design in all of their xc90s. As someone who bought her volvo for its reputation for safety, I am disgusted that this problem has been allowed to go on for so long.

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.