RoadVitals

2003 Volvo XC90 Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Aug 31, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 93 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Volvo XC90 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureBrakesOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Aug 31, 2010

LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND HEARD LOUD SOUND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. VOLVO SAYS THE FOLLOWING IS BROKEN: LOWER CONTROL ARM, CV AXLE, ROTOR AND DAMAGED RIM. WE HAD BEEN PARKED AND WERE ATTEMPTING TO LEAVING PARKING LOT(.BARELY MOVING) COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED. WE HAVE CONSTANTLY SPENT MONEY ON THIS VEHICLE AND I FEEL IT IS UNSAFE AND THAT WHEN THE RECALLS WERE MADE THERE COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN A FRACTURE. THIS CAR IS ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS. NO ROUGH ROADS. WE HAVE NOT CAUSED ANY DAMAGE. THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT ALLOW PROPER SELECTION UNDER VOLVO AND MAKE TO ALLOW SELECTION OF THE SUSPENSION/CONTROL ARM / ROTORS / AXLE / TIRE RIMS / BALL JOINT, ALL OF WHICH WERE DAMAGED IN THIS 4 MPH ACCIDENT. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT 65 MPH I HAVE NO DOUBT ME AND MY FAMILY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352913
Incident
Aug 29, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
BrakesEngineFuel system+5 more
Filed Apr 18, 2010

MY 2003 VOLVO XC90 HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES INCLUDING OVER 3 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006. ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN FIXED, FRONT AXLE, WIPERS ETC. I HAVE PURCHASED 4 SETS OF TIRES, TIRES BOSTON VOLVO INSTALLED AND MY 17 YEAR OLD SON RECEIVED A COMPLETE BLOW OUT BECAUSE WRONG SIZE TIRES. I CONTINUE TAKING TO SAME DEALER AND SINCE OWNING THE CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME NOISES IN FRONT OF CAR. BOSTON VOLVO HAS STATED IN OCTOBER AND SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG, APRIL DIAGNOSED WITH NEED NEW DRIVE SHAFT AFTER HAVING CAR FOR 2 DAYS BUT COULD NOT REALLY FINE ANYTHING BUT DRIVE SHAFT. A STRONG FUEL SMELL STATED FUEL PUMP DOES NOT NEED TO BE CORRECTED. I NEED NEW MUFFLER AND TAKING TO MY OWN MECHANIC THE REAL ISSUE IS TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT AND NEED NEW TRANSMISSION. VOLVO DID NOT DIAGNOSE THIS PROBLEM AND MY SON IS DRIVING THE CAR! MY SON IS DRIVING A LEMON THAT IS A DANGER TO HIMSELF. TAKING TO VOLVO DOES NOTHING, THEY CANNOT EVEN DIAGNOSE AND GIVE WRONG INFO GIVEN TO ME. I AM CURRENTLY UP TO OVER $8,000 IN DAMAGES AND STILL OWE ON THIS LEMON. I NEED NEW TRANSMISSION, MUFFLER, STILL CAR VIBRATES AND FRONT END NOISES FROM WHINING, THUMPING ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10326221
Incident
Apr 8, 2010
Mileage
104,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceExterior lighting+3 more
Filed Nov 28, 2009

OPERATING VEHICLE SINCE OCT '08, SINCE THAT TIME THERE HAS BEEN A NOISE EMANATING FROM FRONT PASS-SIDE WHEEL AREA. PURCHASING DEALER(HALL CHEVY, CHESAPEAKE, VA) PERFORMED WHEEL-ALIGNMENT TO "FIX" THE NOISE WHICH DID NOT REMEDY. VOLVO DEALER IN ARVADA, CO DIAGNOSED IT AS FAILED, OR FAILING WHEEL HUB, TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF $500. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD TRANS FAILURE AT APPX 76K MILES, AND THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE IN OCT '09. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY CONCERNS ABOUT OPERATING AND HAVING CONFIDENCE IN ITS ABILITY TO OPERATE "SAFELY AND RELIABLY" THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NEARLY AS MUCH AS ON-THE-ROAD SINCE IT'S I PURCHASED IT IN OCT '08. *TR

NHTSA ID
10293742
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
79,300 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 15, 2008

2003 VOLVO XC90 AWD. 55K MILES REPLACED LR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY, 72K MILES REPLACED RF WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10242347
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Mileage
55,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 8, 2008

1.FRONT AND REAR WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY FAILURES ON VOLVO XC90. I HAVE MODEL YEAR 2003, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE FAILURE IN ALSO FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS 2. PARTS ARE KNOWN DEFECT TO VOLVO NORTH AMERICA. I HAVE REPLACED MINE THREE (3) TIMES WITHIN 40,000 MILES. 3. VOLVO DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SUPPLY CHAIN DEFECT, BUT NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARECENTER REFUSES TO MAKE A WRITTEN EXTENDED WARRANTY AVAILABLE TO VEHICLE OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10241387
Incident
Jun 15, 2008
Mileage
40,000 mi
Exterior lightingSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Dec 31, 2007

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FROM 64,000 MILES TO 75,000 MILES AND HAVE REPLACED THE FOLLOWING - REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS 4 TIMES, AND NOW THE ANGLE GEAR HAS GONE AT 75,000 MILES - NOT A VERY RELIABLE USED CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10213266
Incident
Dec 24, 2007
Mileage
75,500 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Oct 18, 2004

MULTIPLE FAILURES; DOOR LOCK,TIRES WERE WORN TO THE CORD. * BF THE LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED, THE DOORS DID NOT FIT PROPERLY, THE RADIO FAILED, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION, THE LEFT REAR DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED DUE TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT MOLDING AND THE TIRE DISPLAYED UNUSUAL WEAR AND WERE WORN SMOOTH TO THE CORD. THE LUG NUTS THAT WERE INSTALLED RUSTED AGAIN. (TIRES/PERRILLI SCORPIAN) *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10097221
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
15,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 4, 2004

RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. SYMPTOMS WERE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH. DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS AT RISK OF TIPPING. CAR WAS STRANDED ON HIGHWAY WHILE RETURNING FROM VACATION SOME 400 MILES FROM HOME. WAS ABLE TO LIMP OFF AND INVOKE VOLVO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WITHIN 30 MINUTES. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM FOR 2 DAYS BECAUSE NO FAULT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. INITIAL SUSPICION WAS A FUEL PRESSURE PROBLEM. DEALER EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED ABS SYSTEM FAULT, WHICH SIGNALED ENGINE NOT TO EXCEED 35 MPH. BEARING REPLACED. STILL WORKING THROUGH DETAILS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND VOLVO ZONE REP. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED MANY OF THE ELECTRICAL, TURBO BACK-PRESSURE "HOWL", AND FIT-AND-FINISH PROBLEMS (LOOSE MOLDINGS, DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLED) THAT HAVE BEEN REFERENCED BY OTHERS. NOT WHAT I EXPECTED FOR A VEHICLE IN THIS CATEGORY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10068267
Incident
Apr 17, 2004
Mileage
22,300 mi
Body & structureEngineInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Apr 26, 2004

I OWN A VOLVO XC90 T6 AWD. THIS CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TWIN TURBO-CHARGERS, THE WARNING LIGHTS, A TIRE BLOWOUT, VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL, ALIGNMENT ISSUES, SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL PANEL, POOR FIT AND FINISH OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL AND A HOST OF OTHER FIT AND FINISH PROBLEMS. THE MOMENTUM VOLVO DEALERSHIP IN HOUSTON, TEXAS AND VOLVO NORTH AMERICA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DENIED ANY PROBLEMS BEING A SERIOUS OR RECURRING PROBLEM. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN A SPAN OF LESS THAN 10 MONTHS FOR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.THE CAR SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN IN OUR POSSESSION INITIALLY. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUED TO FIX THE RECURRING PROBLEMS AND DENIED ANY CHRONIC ISSUES EXISTED. I WISH TO ALERT NHTSA IN THE EVENT ANY OTHER OWNER OF VOLVO XC 1990 HAS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OR A TRAGEDY OCCURS AS A RESULT OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10067880
Incident
Mar 15, 2004

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .