Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 3% | 2,000 miles |
| 2024 | 4 | 11% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2022 | 7 | 23% | 11,000 miles |
| 2021 | 8 | 20% | — |
| 2020 | 7 | 21% | — |
| 2019 | 11 | 26% | 62,000 miles |
| 2018 | 6 | 12% | 14,000 miles |
| 2017 | 25 | 31% | 20,000 miles |
| 2016 | 88 | 45% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 18% | 37,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 37% | 98,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 8% | 152,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 14% | 59,000 miles |
| 2008 | 8 | 28% | 91,000 miles |
| 2007 | 6 | 16% | 134,000 miles |
| 2006 | 6 | 11% | 160,000 miles |
| 2005 | 69 | 31% | 86,000 miles |
| 2004 | 52 | 11% | 91,000 miles |
| 2003 | 9 | 10% | 104,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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. …
1. When the air condition is turned on there is knocking/banging/thumping noise. It starts with a whinning noise and then gets thumping noise and then starts again with a whinning noise followed my a thumping noise. It can go over 15 to 20 mins and then stops and restarts again. Yes, it can easily be reproduced. 2. The whinning and thumping noise while the car is driving can cause a safety issue where something could explode (the way it sounds) or air condition can simply not working as we approach summer. 3. Yes, its been reproduced, I've sent them the videos, i was at the dealership to reproduce and they acknowledge there is an issue. Weaver brother volvo had created an internal case to Volvo Technical Assistance, case number: RTS-US831535. The reply was they are aware about this issue and they are investigating it. …
The contact owned a 2022 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the odor of smoke was suddenly present inside the vehicle and moments later smoke was viewed coming from under the hood. The vehicle was stopped and moments after exiting the vehicle the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle and property inside the vehicle were destroyed. A fire report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the local towing yard. The cause of the fire was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The local dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was 11,000
Propulsion Service Required message one week after we picked up our new car. Three weeks later----check engine light. Soon after another Propulsion Service Required. Each time, our dealership reset the computer. Three months into ownership, on I-84, traveling 75 mph in the far left lane: turtle mode light, loss of power, no propulsion, able to just get off the freeway on the left. Two hour wait for assistance on side of freeway in 98 degree heat. Dealership kept car for 40 days: replaced BDU, AC compressor, IGM. Similar accounts of turtle mode and power failure from other 2022 Volvo owners on speedswede.com. We are not driving our car. Someone is going to get run over by another vehicle if Volvo doesn't address the problem.
Vehicle is lurching on slow acceleration in Hybrid Mode. For example, lurching occurs when pulling away from a stop sign, pulling out into traffic, pulling into a parking spot. Issue started beginning of January 2023. In February Fields Volvo Service diagnosed issue as a software problem (Code IEM-P287100) and that Volvo hasn't written the software yet. Fields Volvo Service said software update should be available in Quarter 2. Advised that I do not drive my car in Hybrid Mode. I own a hybrid vehicle that I have been told not to drive in Hybrid. Unfortunately, Hybrid is the default mode so upon each start I have to manually change mode to AWD. There is also lurching in AWD on slow acceleration (not as bad as in Hybrid). On several occasions while driving in AWD the vehicle will spontaneously change the mode back to Hybrid resulting in decreased or no acceleration and lurching. …
Unintentional acceleration.First, I was in line at car wash proceeding slowly ahead as directed in line. Foot on accelerator lightly moving, when car surged rapidly hitting back end of Tesla about 6-8 ft ahead (2/26/26 12:30pm) Impact strong enough to push Tesla into truck hitch damaging it front of it as well. Applied brake, but impact was too rapid. Second incident with my Volvo was a month later(3/22/26 about 10:30 am) and my husband was driving. . Made right turn on green light and started to accelerate when it revived and surged forward until applied brake. Dealer could not replicate. No codes but repair shop had to recalibrate after 1st incident and may have lost code on 1st incident(wreck). Now that insurance knows what happened, I don't know if they will intervene. hopefully. No warnings went off or messages. Airbag did not deploy. …
I was driving the speed limit on the highway in my Volvo 2020 XC90 which was less than one year old. The vehicle lost acceleration power and then an engine performance light came on, then a check engine light. I pulled over immediately and my car engine caught fire under the hood. The entire front of vehicle was engulfed in flames within minutes. There were approximately 11k miles on the car and it had never been maintenanced or worked on in any way that would have caused an engine fire. It was clearly a fuel line fire and Volvo did not properly investigate. My insurance company said it was a fuel line fire but could not get information from the black box because it was destroyed. This car is incredibly unsafe and should be recalled. I have multiple videos and case files concerning this "thermal event". …
I was driving when a turtle popped up on my dashboard I pulled over to Google what that meant and popped the hood cause I seen a little smoke within 3 sec the car busted in flames I ran back and grab my daughter out the back seat we were almost locked in due to the car melting the wire and flames started coming inside the car
Related recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Engine control module (ECU/ECM)
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.
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.
Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2016 XC90 vehicles. Exposure to heat and humidity may cause the engine coolant bleeder hose to crack, resulting in a coolant leak.
Remedy: Volvo Cars will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine side coolant bleeder hose, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Volvo is recalling 102 my 2008 xc90 and s80 vehicles equipped with v8 engines. These vehicles May have been built with incorrect bolts to the engine mount.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine mount bolts for specific markings. If any of the bolts contain the incorrect markings, the bracket and bolts will be replaced.
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo XC90 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2016 (88), 2005 (69), 2004 (52), 2017 (25) and 2019 (11) model years. Engine complaints make up 45% of all complaints for the 2016.
Is there a recall for Volvo XC90 engine problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 22V-793 (engine control module (ecu/ecm), Oct 20, 2022); 19V-308 (hoses/lines/piping/fittings, Apr 17, 2019); 08V-206 (engine, May 6, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Volvo XC90 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (23 mentions), followed by the cooling system (11).
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.