2018 Volvo S90 Owner Complaints

Volvo is aware of a major safety issue that has to do with the drain hose of AC. They have issued a recall on models 2016 and 2017 and produced replacement parts.My car was purchased in 2017, but is a 2018. I have had the AC hose leak into my passenger compartment and cause my filter behind my glove box to be soaking wet. This has also damaged my speaker in my passenger door. I have paid over two thousand dollars.Trying to get this a c fixed with no results before finding out about the recalls. I have since found out.This leakage can prevent the passenger airbag from deploying in an accident. I have reached out to volvo directly they are denying any responsibility. I not only can not afford what could end up being over 5,000 dollars if not more to repair the AC the speaker and potentially the airbag as I am disabled. Although volvo is refusing to do the right thing, even though they know this is a problem. I have asked them what changes were made between 2016 to 2018 in the production of my vehicle. They are not responding.

NHTSA ID

11754063

Incident

Jul 1, 2025

ISSUE 1 – VOLVO ON CALL / VCM "SERVICE REQUIRED" MESSAGE: My vehicle has displayed a persistent "Volvo On Call Service Required" error message in the Driver Information Module (DIM) for over one year. This is directly covered by: • Volvo Technical Journal TJ 36916.1.0 (NHTSA ID: MC-10253788), issued April 2024 • Fault code: VCM-U105000 (Vehicle Communication Module) • TSB explicitly covers 2018 S90 vehicles • The TSB states the required software packages are free of charge I contacted Volvo Cars USA at [XXX] , who acknowledged the issue and arranged a complimentary diagnostic and fix with the Manasquan dealer. But, the dealer would not perform the diagnostic at no charge, leaving me unable to confirm the fault code or proceed with the TSB-specified remedy without paying out of pocket. I have had this unresolved warning message for over one year now. The dealer told me that if I did not pay for the repair my car could lose power and stop suddenly. ISSUE 2 – PARK ASSIST SYSTEM FALSE ALERTS: My Park Assist System sensors generate false proximity warnings for objects more than 20 feet away — far beyond the system's normal detection range. Cleaning the sensors did not resolve the issue. This is directly covered by: • Volvo Technical Journal TJ 31558.8.0 (NHTSA ID: 10161789), issued April 2019 • Root cause: Water ingress into park assist sensors and connectors due to a defective splice in the cable harness • Volvo introduced a harness splice correction in production starting June 2018 — meaning vehicles built before that correction may contain the defective harness • TSB covers 2016–2019 Volvo vehicles A malfunctioning park assist system is a direct safety concern — drivers rely on accurate proximity alerts when maneuvering, and persistent false alerts undermine confidence in the system and may cause drivers to disregard genuine warnings. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11735364

Incident

Jul 25, 2025

There is a great deal of vibration at highway speeds. It has been like this since I purchased the car.

NHTSA ID

11717421

Incident

Feb 10, 2026

The AC system releases refrigerant into the cabin due to Volvo improperly engineering the climate control and allowing the evaporator core to freeze and crack. They acknowledge the issue and have released a resister cable to prevent the evaporator core from cracking. I have tested the air in the cabin, and the VOC level is at a dangerous level due to the refrigerant leak. I have the car currently at a dealer, where they have quoted over $3,800 to repair the issue. A quick search shows a large and quickly growing number of people complaining about this. The leaks in some cases are so bad that you can smell the refrigerant when you open the car door, as was the case with ours. This is a huge environmental and health safety issue. I have reached out to Volvo, and they refuse to assist with the repair, despite acknowledging that it is an engineering error. I don't feel safe having my kids be exposed to that level of refrigerant gas, and we don't know what to do with the car.

NHTSA ID

11692511

Incident

Oct 6, 2025

Rear right door lock failed, stuck closed. Extremely unsafe if someone was sitting in the back and unable to leave vehicle. It has been confirmed by others. It has been inspected by an independent mechanic. There has been zero warning lights to indicate the issue

NHTSA ID

11647854

Incident

Mar 9, 2025

At 5pm while driving home, which was 2 hours away, I needed to stop and refuel. At the pump I pushed the fuel door and it would not release to open. After many tries it would not open. I called Volvo On Call and informed them of the problem. The agent relayed that I should go to the back of the car near the fuel door, and with the remote lock and unlock the door which should release the door. It did not work. I tried it again with no success. The agent then informed me that there is no other way to open the door and to go to a Volvo dealership to get repaired. I asked the agent is there a way to open the door from the trunk, for instance like a rope to pull to manually open the door. He said unfortunately no. So, I am no where near a dealership and if I was it would be closed, it is after 5pm on February 17 and its 20 degrees outside and I need fuel to get home. I get in my car and search the internet on a possible way to open the door and I see that this is a big problem with Volvo that has affected many families and individuals that, as I, have been put in a compromised possibly dangerous position. While at the gas station I fortunately saw a tow truck and asked the driver if I could borrow a screw driver to try to pry open the door to which I was successful. A simple pull cord in the trunk, as some vehicles have, would have solved this issue without putting anyone in a precarious situation. I took my car to a mechanic and he replaced the fuel door lock solenoid.

NHTSA ID

11643791

Incident

Feb 17, 2025

The rear door will not open from the inside or the outside. Apparently this is a door lock actuator issue experinced by many volvo owners. It is extremely dangerous not to be able to open a rear door in the case of an accident or other incident where you need to enter or exit the car. Dealer confirms that there is an issue with these. No warning message appears when inoperable.

NHTSA ID

11573556

Incident

Feb 12, 2024

255/35 R20 Bleb in sidewall with air leak through tread adjacent. No unusual trauma to tire.

NHTSA ID

11551417

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

water get inside the car in the back on the floor mat behind driver seat. was not aware of this problem at all.

NHTSA ID

11490684

Incident

Sep 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Volvo S90. The contact stated that upon the depression of the brake pedal, the steering wheel would violently shake without warning. The contact has had two sets of brake rotors replaced on the vehicle due to the failure. Since owning the vehicle, the contact stated that the failure would occur approximately every 8,000-10,000 miles. After the third failure, the contact was informed that the repair for the rotors would not be covered under warranty. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a claim; the contact was called back and was informed that the claim was denied. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

NHTSA ID

11469647

Incident

May 1, 2021

Mileage

47,000 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Volvo S90. The contact stated that the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) had an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. The contact stated the "Volvo on Call Service Required" warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V800000 (Electrical System). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11463882

Incident

Apr 16, 2022

Mileage

75,000 mi

Hi, When you drive over 70mph, steering, floors and whole cabin start vibrates, I have changed tires as Volvo recommended, alignment done. Everything dealer requested I have done. I have driven couple of more volvo as a loaners and noticed they all vibrates , but not bad as mine. Try to reach out Volvo head office but no proper resolution. They are keep blaming tires which I have changed 3 times but actually vibration happen from engine or somewhere else. Lots of Volvo owners online shares same issues online. Please help me out on this matter.

NHTSA ID

11429514

Incident

Jan 4, 2021

2018 VOLVO S-90. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A PRODUCT FLAW. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLES FLOOR MAT HAD UNSNAPPED AND BECOME WEDGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. *JS

NHTSA ID

11354712

Incident

Sep 15, 2020

I PURCHASED A VOLVO S90 2018 FROM ECAR ONE . ON JULY 6 2019. I WAS TOLD BY THE SALEMAN VIRGIL . THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL I HAVE TO DO WAS CALL VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD FIX FOR FREE. WHEN I CALLED VOLVO AFTER MY PURCHASE THEY SAID NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. 0709

NHTSA ID

11232055

Incident

Jul 9, 2019

Mileage

47,778 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A LOUD SCREECHING SOUND WHEN BREAKING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR 4 TIMES, THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 10,100. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT TOLD US WHAT IS THE ISSUE BUT THE NOISE REMAINS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DRIVE WITH MY KIDS AND THEIR FRIENDS IN THE CAR AND WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BREAKS. WE DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY HAVE TOLD US NOTHING. WE HAVE MANY AUDIOS WITH THE NOISE, WHICH THE DEALERSHIP RMCHOOSES TO IGNORE BUT THE NOISE PERSISTS AFTER EACH REPAIR. WE ARE AFRAID THEY ARE HIDING THE REAL ISSUE AND IT MAY BE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11210221

Incident

Sep 15, 2018

Mileage

100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 VOLVO S90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN WHAT WAS STATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (GUNTHER VOLVO CARS COCONUT CREEK, 4300 SR 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, (954) 590-3760) MORE THAN TWICE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE TEST DRIVEN, BUT THERE WAS NO PERMANENT REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11084567

Incident

Feb 1, 2018