Most common 2013 Volvo XC90 problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo XC90 complaints by model year
Best XC90 years: 2010, 2013, 2011. Years to avoid: 2016, 2025, 2023, 2017, 2024. Compare all years →
What 2013 Volvo XC90 owners say
Air bags
Having bought a 2013 Volvo XC90 with 36K miles on it, I was driving on a highway 2 weeks later when I saw smoke coming out of the engine. The engine stalled and shut down. I quickly pulled over the car and was able to get out as the smoke was increasing. Within 4-5 minutes, the car was on fire. It was completely gutted and destroyed. Volvo declined to accept blame and said that the cause of fire cannot be determined. This is supposed to be the safest car and I was surprised at their callous attitude. The dealer from summit nj was far more professional. The highway it happened on was rt. 295 near princeton nj. I hope others can learn from this debacle and get some help if there is a fundamental problem with 2013 XC90. They did have a recall for the 2010 XC90 for the same reason. I feel the cause was either an electrical short circuit or a problem with transmission.
My vehicle's air bag light is on. My dash message is: passenger airbag off service urgent. I took it to koons Volvo of owings mills, inc to be serviced. I was told that the passenger occupancy weight sensor has stopped working and need to be replaced. The service technician could not tell me why it would have stopped working. He just said it could just happen. I asked the service technician what does it do and he said that it weighs passengers for the correct pressure of the airbag in case it is deployed. He also said that my complete airbag system will not work without it which means that the driver's side as well as the side airbags will not deploy in case of an accident. The cost of this repair is $2,249 which is extremely expensive. This appears to be more of a defect and not wear and tear. Volvo advertises it's safety features which attracted me to purchase one. …
2013 Volvo XC90 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Volvo XC90 a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 XC90 rates better than average: 64% fewer complaints than a typical year of the XC90 at the same age. It is one of the best XC90 years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Volvo XC90?
The air bags — 3 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (2) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2013 Volvo XC90 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC90. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo XC90?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2013 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016, 2025, 2023, 2017 and 2024. See the full Volvo XC90 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Volvo XC90 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 50% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.