Volvo XC90 Collision Avoidance Problems

Owners have filed 65 complaints about driver assistance problems with the Volvo XC90 — 4% of all XC90 complaints. The worst model years are 2023 (14), 2025 (12) and 2024 (8). Problems typically start around 28,000 miles. 3 related recalls have been issued.

65complaints
2023worst year
28ktypical miles
3related recalls
6crashes
0fires

Collision Avoidance complaints by model year

’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’13’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’2511763225414812
Collision Avoidance complaints per model year, Volvo XC90.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
20251241%5,000 miles
2024822%6,000 miles
20231434%—
2022413%—
2021513%2,000 miles
202026%—
201925%—
201836%14,000 miles
201768%17,000 miles
201674%90,000 miles
200612%4,000 miles
200410%—

Which parts fail

  • Warnings
    22
  • Automatic emergency braking
    20
  • Sensing system › Camera
    18
  • Rearview system braking
    12
  • Blind spot detection
    5
  • Assist
    4
  • Adaptive cruise control
    3
  • Warnings › External/pedestrian alert
    1

Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    1376%
  • 25k–50k
    16%
  • 50k–75k
    00%
  • 75k–100k
    212%
  • 100k–150k
    16%
  • 150k+
    00%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the camera was leggy and was inoperable while in reverse. While in a parking lot and driveway, the camera was inoperable. While on flat surfaces, the parking brake engaged without application. The driver had to manually release the brake. The vehicle was restarted, and the camera worked at times. While reversing, she bumped/crashed into a piece of metal in the driveway left by workers. There was no alert indicating that there was an object there. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, fire, or police report filed. The Google Assistant was glitching and went into Spanish mode. While using the turn signal, there was no sound. There was no air conditioning; the center screen had frozen. …

2025 XC90 · 0 miles · Mar 2025 · crash

I was backing out of my drive. It was an early morning and it was very foggy. The windows were foggy and not totally defrosted yet. My camera wasnt showing everything around but we were having constant upgrade issues during this week of October 5th through the 10th. My automatic braking never activated even though it was turned on. I ran into a cattle feeder overhang. I never seen it in my camera view. The windows seem to have a really bad fog to them. My back driver tail-light got broken and back driver panel got dented and scratched. There are probably more things involved as its in the shop as I am typing this out. The adjustor had to send another estimate to my insurance company for more damages done. I haven't gotten word back from them yet. But, it's over $3,000. All of the issues seemed to resolve after the update was finished after that week. …

2025 XC90 · Automatic emergency braking · Oct 2025 · crash

The contact owns a 2024 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated the rearview image was blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V282000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that several local dealers were contacted and confirmed that the contact would be added to a waitlist to have the recall repair performed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 5,500. Parts distribution disconnect.

2024 XC90 · 6,000 miles · Jul 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while reversing, the audible back over warning alarm did not active as designed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact stated that technicians from the dealer were sent to the home and witnessed the failure but stated that the vehicle had operated as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 1,000.

2024 XC90 · 1,000 miles · Sep 2023

The rearview camera on the Volvo continually freezes, is delayed to start or blacks out. Since I have had the car for the last year there have been multiple times a week where reverse is selected and the rearview camera loads, then when I start backing the camera image freezes two to three times before jumping and resuming normal operation. I've also experienced where the camera image is displayed, then the screen temporarily blacks out for a second and then the image is displayed again. This happen most notably when the car is unlocked and then immediately shifted into reverse. I've brought this into show the repair shop but they state it is normal behavior or they can't replicate the issue (even though I've provided them a video of the issue happening). …

2023 XC90 · Warnings · Sep 2022

The vehicle is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V-282 for a rearview camera failure that increases the risk of a crash. First Repair Attempt (August 15, 2025): A Volvo dealership performed the prescribed software update but failed to fix the safety defect. The vehicle was returned to me in the same unsafe condition. Second Repair Attempt (August 20, 2025): The dealership identified the root cause as a failed front parking sensor. They refused to cover the repair, classifying it as "physical damage" despite providing no evidence of an external impact. Manufacturer Refusal (August 22, 2025): Volvo Car USA formally denied my request to have the safety recall completed, improperly claiming the issue was due to "outside influence." They have refused to honor the recall and their new vehicle warranty. …

2023 XC90 · Warnings · Aug 2025

Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) lends itself to unsafe conditions. This is true for the many drivers who are used to driving cars that are smilarly equipped. For nearly 15 years I have been driving cars that were similarly equipped and when activating the turn signal in the direction where the system indicated another vehicle in the "blind spot" an audible warning sounded until the trun signal was extinguished or the danger passed. Volvo fails to provide the audible signal and thus, if there is a failed LED in the mirror, there is no indication of a vehicle in the blind spot and no redundancy. Further, habits are hard to break and after driving cars with the audible warning, and relying on it, it is difficult to get used to not having it. In addition, all the cars that I personally drove with HUD (head up dispay), vehicles in the blind spots were displayed on the HUD. …

2022 XC90 · Blind spot detection · Jul 2022

The electrical/infotainment display failure causes the factory rearview camera image not to display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. The center infotainment display on my 2022 Volvo XC90 intermittently goes completely black and remains inoperable for days at a time. When the screen is black, the factory rearview camera image does not display when the vehicle is shifted into reverse. All sound, including warning signals, is inoperable. Climate controls are also inaccessible through the screen, and inoperable. This has happened repeatedly: the screen goes dark for several days, returns temporarily, then goes dark again. The failure affects rear visibility during backing events and creates a safety risk because the driver cannot see the rear camera image. I brought the vehicle to a Volvo dealer. …

2022 XC90 · Blind spot detection · Apr 2026

Related recalls (3)

Back over prevention › Software

NHTSA recall 25V-908 · Dec 23, 2025 · 413,151 vehicles

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.

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.

Back over prevention › Software

NHTSA recall 25V-282 · May 8, 2025 · 413,151 vehicles

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.

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.

Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking

NHTSA recall 20V-144 · Mar 12, 2020 · 121,605 vehicles

Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.

Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.

Frequently asked questions

Which Volvo XC90 years have collision avoidance problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2023 (14), 2025 (12), 2024 (8), 2016 (7) and 2017 (6) model years. Collision Avoidance complaints make up 34% of all complaints for the 2023.

Is there a recall for Volvo XC90 collision avoidance problems?

Yes — 3 recalls, including 25V-908 (software, Dec 23, 2025); 25V-282 (software, May 8, 2025); 20V-144 (automatic emergency braking, Mar 12, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Volvo XC90 collision avoidance problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 28,000 miles; 82% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the warnings (22 mentions), followed by the automatic emergency braking (20).

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.