Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% | 1,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% | 39,000 miles |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 6% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 7% | 65,000 miles |
| 2018 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 4% | 92,000 miles |
| 2016 | 8 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 27% | 130,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 3% | 117,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 2% | 120,000 miles |
| 2004 | 31 | 7% | 90,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 4% | 97,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after stopping and parking the vehicle, the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact's fianc e arrived on the scene and was able to turn off the vehicle; however, the vehicle later failed to restart, and the gear shifter seized. The message "Gear Lever Lock" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the panoramic sunroof seal strip had a gap, allowing debris and water into the vehicle, clogging the drain, and rendering the vehicle inoperable. The mechanic disassembled the entire interior and allowed it to dry before reassembling. The contact was informed that the front passenger's side air bag sensor, seat belt buckle, and seat belt tensioner needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
There are many form online stating that Volvo has an issue with water leaking/water drainage line from the sunroof. The water leaked into some components of the airbag and electrical system. After the first time taking to the dealership they were no issue with the system and the vehicle was fine that incident happened back in 2020. The same issue happened again where water was leaking in from the sunroof area (I am assuming because it looks the same as last time) this time the water is in the driver side, and there was a puddle of water forming where the gas and brake paddles are. After noticing the water puddle I try to close the sunroof and turns out the sunroof no longer functions with the electronic control right in front of the sunroof. I also took the initiative to open some of the trims where the side air bags are and it turns out that the area are completely soaked. …
The contact owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag and check engine warning lights intermittently illuminated. Additionally, the message "Pullover Engine Overheating" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that failure was caused by the drain hose for the air conditioning leaking into the passenger's side compartment due to a drain hose installation error during manufacturing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V690000 (Equipment, Air Bags). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 92,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2017 Volvo XC90. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle suddenly shut off and caused the steering wheel to seize and the electronic gauges to shut off. The driver lost control of the steering and crashed into a pond. The front end was severely damaged and the vehicle was deemed destroyed, but the air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer (weaver brothers Volvo, 4409 capital blvd, raleigh, nc) were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.
The contact owns a 2016 VOLVO XC90. The contact stated that while coming off a red light at 10 MPH, the contact was involved in a vehicle accident. The front end of the vehicle impacted the vehicle on the passenger side, which impacted more of the contact's front side on the passenger side. The vehicle came to a full stop in the middle of an intersection. No air bags were deployed in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. A police report was filed. The contact stated there were 2 subjects injured. The passenger in the contact vehicle was injured, and the driver of the vehicle that was impacted was also injured. The passenger injuries had been medically treated. The passenger was hurt in the knees, back, neck, and head; no severe injuries were reported. …
Hi, I had a 2016 XC90 which has serious safety problems. The sunroof has a factory defect, leaking water into the car and causing failures in electronic systems and airbags. Many other owners have sued Volvo and won their cases. Additionally, the issue has been certified by the court, and there are technical bulletins published by Volvo addressing the problem. Yes. The water leak can damage entire electronic systems, such as airbags, the start-stop system, braking system, and lidar system. Once water enters any of these systems, it can lead to accidents and fires due to short circuits, posing a deadly risk. This issue can cause accidents or fires. No, but Volvo has published a bulletin, and there have been many court cases filed against Volvo since 2016. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. It's causing numerous random errors on the dashboard. …
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. …
Related recalls (4)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
Volvo Cars USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 Volvo V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. The Supplementary Restraint System (SRS) control unit may not have been properly attached to the car body and may detach during a crash.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, tighten the SRS control unit mounting screws, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021.
Air bags › Side/window
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017 XC90, S90, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The bolts that secure the Inflatable Curtain (IC) air bags in place may break, possibly resulting in the IC air bag deploying improperly in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 1, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Air bags › Side/window
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2015, to July 10, 2015. The third row seating side curtain air bags may not fully inflate.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will modify the D-pillar interior panels to allow full inflation of the third row airbags, free of charge. The recall began on September 21, 2015.
Air bags › Side/window
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2015, to May 19, 2015. The affected vehicles have front seats whose wiring harness for the Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) may have been routed incorrectly.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the SIPS wiring, correcting the routing and installing a protective sleeve as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2015.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo XC90 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2004 (31) and 2016 (8) model years. Airbag complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2004.
Is there a recall for Volvo XC90 airbag problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 21V-001 (air bag/restraint control module, Jan 7, 2021); 17V-104 (side/window, Feb 16, 2017); 15V-497 (side/window, Aug 6, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo XC90 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (3 mentions), followed by the side/window (2).
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.