RoadVitals

2004 Volvo XC90 Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
158
Latest Mar 9, 2025
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.
34%
of 462 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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Volvo XC90 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 158 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 electrical

The 25 most recent of 158, in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Mar 9, 2025

Instrument panel shuts down while driving on street. I believe it is the central electronic module that fails. It has happened numerous times and it is unsafe to drive without a speedometer, tachometer, odometer fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. It has now stopped altogether. Gauges just sit there and bounce

NHTSA ID
11647245
Incident
Mar 6, 2025
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2024

Unsure of what the issue is with the vehicle but smells like gas in my garage and I found a recall I was never notified about I moved from Washington to Las Vegas and never received any info regarding the fuel pump recall as well as a noise that’s been going on for a year now when I drive at 60 miles an hour I’ve had it looked at and no one seems to know what that issue is

NHTSA ID
11626848
Incident
Nov 8, 2024
Electrical
Filed Mar 17, 2023

Unknown..but water accumulated under the passenger seat under the amp and electrical components after a storm or rainy day.and its a lot of water when I brake i can hear a water fall..and water rushing and moving along the bottom. Of the car as I am steering im worried that the wiring and electrical will be damaged by water exposure the battery always dies wires soaked and sitting in water underneath passenger and never can completely get the moisture smell out of front seat area..mildew..why is this water leaking or not draining correctly ??

NHTSA ID
11512307
Incident
Mar 10, 2023
Electrical
Filed Jun 1, 2022

On May 26, 2022, I was stuck in traffic for four hours, and the car's CEM (central electronic module) overheated causing the dashboard to shut down three times, meaning I lost all instrument readings. After each time the dashboard shut down, I had to pull over and reset fuse #27 to have the dashboard come back online temporarily. Because the CEM was already overheated due to its design flaw with improper ventilation, the dashboard would shut down again and again. A Google search would show this is a very common issue for 2004 Volvo models and before. Driving without any instrument readings is totally unsafe. I strongly urge you to force Volvo to issue a recall for 2004 and before models and fix the CEM overheating problem.

NHTSA ID
11466954
Incident
May 26, 2022
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Nov 12, 2021

While driving on the highway "SRS urgent" text came on, also hear clicking sounds under dash on driver side, then dashboard indicator lights completely disappear (speed, fuel, temperature, etc) . Extremely hot under driver side dash. Fortunately, still able to steer and brake. This has happened twice now. Mechanic believes most likely CEM failure or DIM failure. My vehicle also has a wet A-pillar fabric (Volvo forums indicate possible cause of failure). I removed drivers A-pillar and found a clogged drain tube from the sunroof. However, did not notice any obvious signs of water inside the vehicle, though it hasnt rained for over a month when this happened.

NHTSA ID
11440237
Incident
Oct 16, 2021
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 22, 2021

is been stolen

NHTSA ID
11421930
Incident
Dec 29, 2020
AirbagsElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 5, 2019

WHILE I'M MOTION THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON TRANSMISSION URGENT LIGHT CAME ON AND ABS LIGHT THE BATTERY KEEPS BUBBLING LIKE ITS GONE BLOW UP IN MY TRUNK I HAVE TO JUMP IT OFF EVERY MORNING I PAID ALOT FOR THIS SUV CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME KEEP MY ONLY CAR IN WORKING ORDER I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTAINS DONE IN PAST NOW THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS LEAKING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS VOLVO XC90 T6 AWD [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ID
11287254
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
116,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 2, 2018

SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 VOLVO XC90, WE HEAR A CLICK, THEN THE CLIMATE, RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS (IF ON) SHUT OFF AND THEIR DISPLAY LIGHTS BLACK OUT, THEN ANOTHER CLICK IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND THEY COME BACK ON. THIS WAS HAPPENING RANDOMLY, AND NOTHING ELSE WAS AFFECTED, UNTIL THIS WEEKEND, WHILE ON A TRIP. WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, OUTSIDE TEMP IN THE 80'S, NO RAIN, AVERAGE SPEED ABOUT 70MPH. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES OVER ABOUT 45 MINUTES, THEN BEGAN HAPPENING EVERY 5 MILES OR SO. WHEN I TURNED UP THE AC FAN, WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE IT CLICKED AND WE LOST THE USUAL THINGS, BUT THEY DID NOT COME BACK ON. THEN WE HEARD ANOTHER CLICK AND LOST ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTING AND CONTROLS; WE COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AND COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF OR TURNED DOWN, AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT SPEED WE WERE GOING AS IT WAS NIGHTTIME. EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. WE MADE IT TO THE FIRST EXIT THAT HAD A GAS STATION AND STOPPED. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE WHEN WE GOT OFF AT THE EXIT AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS BUT WHEN I OPENED THE MOON ROOF, IT STOPPED HALF WAY AND THEN WOULD NOT CLOSE OR OPEN. WE WERE STRANDED FOR HOURS AWAITING A FAMILY MEMBER TO COME GET US AND THEN HOURS LONGER WAITING FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED. OUR MECHANIC RESEARCHED THIS AND ENCOURAGED ME TO REPORT, AS HE SAID THERE SEEM TO BE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR THINGS HAPPENING WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11105167
Incident
Jun 30, 2018
Mileage
168,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 21, 2017

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90 ---- CONTACT CALLED VOLVO DEALER IN WHITE PLAINS NY... CONTACT STATED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WAS ON FOR A MONTH.... VEHICLE STALLED GOING 50MPH ... POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MAIN HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF.... VEHICLE RESTARTS AND THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN AFTER GOING A COUPLE MILES...SPOKE WITH MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT AIRBAGS ARE RECALLED....MECHANIC BY THE NAME OF ANTHONY.... TOLD CONTACT THAT AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON WAS NOT A BIG DEAL....THAT AIRBAG WAS FAULTY SO IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT........ 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.. CB

NHTSA ID
11055866
Incident
May 28, 2017
Mileage
78,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 4, 2017

HI, WHEN DRIVING MY CAR UP ANY SLIGHT LITTLE HILL, I HAVE NO POWER AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DRIVE. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING!! I HAVE READ THERE ARE RECALLS IN THE FUEL PUMPS AND ALSO OTHER RECALLS WITH THE MODEL VOLVO XC90. I HOPE THEY CAN REPAIR IT AND PAY FOR IT!!

NHTSA ID
11021310
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Electrical
Filed May 18, 2017

MY VOLVO XC 90 CANNOT SHIFT TO PARK OR REVERSE, IT REMAINED IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION. WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM IGNITION DUE TO PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WHEN I SEARCHED U-TUBE FOUND THERE WERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST HAD A SERVICE 1 MONTH AGO

NHTSA ID
10990488
Incident
May 18, 2017
Mileage
137,500 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2016

WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED (ON THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. THE DASHBOARD AND ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF, THE HAZARDS DO NOT SEEM TO WORK OR THE TURN INDICATORS, ABS DOES NOT WORK SO IT IS A VERY SLOW HEAVY STOP. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN THIS CAR ONE OTHER TIME IN 2010, AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE COMPUTER MODULE UPGRADE ISSUED.

NHTSA ID
10938344
Incident
Dec 6, 2016
Mileage
166,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 7, 2016

2004 VOLVO XC90 SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WITH LOSE OF HEADLIGHTS: I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT WITH THE CRUISE SET AT 75 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, AND THEN TURNED THE KEY BACK ON WITHOUT RESTARTING THE ENGINE. WITH ALL THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE AT A STALL I PULLED INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, AND STOPPED. I THEN SHIFTED TO PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, WHERE IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START. THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT STOP WORKING WHILE PULLING OVER, AND WHEN I STOPPED I SWITCHED THE LIGHTS OFF BEFORE I RESTARTED THE ENGINE. THE FIRST THING AT MIND WAS A FUEL PUMP THAT WAS STARTING TO ACT UP. AFTER RESTARTING I REVVED THE ENGINE UP A FEW QUICK TIMES (TO CLEAR THE ENGINES THROAT). I THEN GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE ACCELERATING TO 75 MPH , BUT DOING SO MANUALLY THIS TIME(NO CRUISE CONTROL). ABOUT 10 MIN HAD PASSED WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER AS I WAS HAVING TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR HARDER TO MAINTAIN SPEED. WHILE STILL COASTING AT 65 MPH OR SO I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO THE START POSITION I LOST ALL THE LIGHTS, I QUICKLY RELEASED THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION, AND THE LIGHTS REMAINED OFF. I QUICKLY PULLED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND USED THE FORCE TO AVOID THE GUARDRAIL AND THE DITCH. ALL THE WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE WAS AT A STALL. I THEN TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND THEN BACK ON, AND THAT RESTORED THE HEADLIGHTS. IT TOOK 5-8 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE, AND AGAIN I'M THINKING FUEL PUMP ACTING UP. EACH TIME I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE IT WOULD SPIT AND SPUTTER LIKE IF THE FUEL PUMP WERE ONLY DELIVERING HALF THE PRESSURE NEEDED FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS. AFTER THE ENGINE RESTARTED I MADE IT HOME, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT ARISEN SINCE,

NHTSA ID
10873136
Incident
May 29, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 4, 2016

THE CAR IS LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOODS WITH WATER. NOW WHEN I BRAKE I CAN HEAR SO MUCH WATER MOVING BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE WATER DAMAGE ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR FLOOR IS DAMAGED SO BADLY. JUST WAITING ON ELECTRIC PROBLEMS TO ARISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES... SUNROOF DOES NOT OPEN SO SECURITY ALERT AS WELL. THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR TOWNHOUSE 0

NHTSA ID
10863200
Incident
May 4, 2016
Mileage
237,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 8, 2016

AFTER DRIVING FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN FOR A SPLIT SECOND. ALL GAUGES GO OUT, LOSS OF POWER BRIEFLY, WIPERS SOMETIMES KICK ON AND FOG LIGHTS RESET AND SHUT OFF AND THERE IS A THUMP FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS BUT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AT 30 MPH AND SLOWER. CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES ON A 2.5 HOUR TRIP. ONCE IT HAPPENS IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. DOESN'T DO IT ON TRIPS AROUND TOWN. CALLED VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CEM AND SAID SINCE IT'S AN '04 WITH 85,000 MILES THAT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY CAN OFFER NO HELP.

NHTSA ID
10824899
Incident
Oct 7, 2015
Mileage
84,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 20, 2016

I HAD THIS PROBLEM A FEW TIMES A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT HAS RETURNED. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN ON A TWO LANE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST THE HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, RADIO, POWER WINDOWS, ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION, AND MUCH MORE FUNCTION OF THE CAR. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT IT SEEMS TO ALMOST RESET OR SOMETHING THEN START SHUTTING STUFF DOWN. I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE SOMEONE PUT THIS IN AS A COMPLAINT ALSO THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS YOU CANT SEE AT NIGHT THE CAR IS HARD TO DRIVE ITS OBVIOUSLY THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE ECM. I READ THROUGH YOUR INFORMATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE VOLVO KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP WITH ONES PRODUCED BEFORE OR AFTER MARCH. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL WANT TO CHARGE YOU $2000 TO FIX IT! PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX A PROBLEM VOLVO HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF AND HAS HAD A CHEAP AND EASY SOLUTION FOR YEARS. I CALLED MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERS AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAD ANY INFORMATION OR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN VOLVO HAS A SERVICE NOTICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OBVIOUSLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING INTO IT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REALLY BAD WHEN IT RAINS OR I USE THE WIPERS FURTHER LEADING ME TO SEE THAT IT IS THE SAME THING IN INVESTIGATION PE-10-025. THESE ARE ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING TO YOU THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT VOLVO IS SWEEPING UNDER THE RUG TO MAKE A BUCK. IT'S DISGUSTING.

NHTSA ID
10821311
Incident
Jan 19, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10820417
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
170,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 20, 2015

THIS REPORT IS ABOUT A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WITH OUR 2004 XC90. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING ON THE I5 FREEWAY! THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE IN THE DARK. WE WERE LUCKY TO NOT GET HIT! THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODE: ECM-981A. WE ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NEW TO NHTSA AND THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS ON IT ALREADY. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND EVER SINCE THE INCIDENT WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT ENGAGING IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS 138,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. WE SPECULATE THAT IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE SAME INSTANT AS THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. I TALKED TO A VOLVO SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO AID THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN 2004 XC90 BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT HAD CAUSED IT.

NHTSA ID
10794989
Incident
Oct 27, 2015
Mileage
133,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 11, 2015

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITH OUT WARNING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. THE ENGINE STAYS RUNNING WITH VERY MINIMAL POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS RAINING AND ALL THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, EVERY ELECTRICAL PART JUST SHUT OFF, I AM LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH. AFTER RESEARCHING I THAT A LOT OF OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
10781357
Incident
Oct 2, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Body & structureElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD WATER RUNNING ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,00. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
10781038
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
113,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START TO VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10780981
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
104,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. DJR

NHTSA ID
10778762
Incident
Sep 21, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 18, 2015

EXITING DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE, UPON SWITCHING TO DRIVE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND A JERK WAS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOON THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND THE INDICATORS WENT DEAD. SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES QUICKLY "SCROLLED" (BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG FAILURE, ABS FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE) THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. NO POWER TO DASHBOARD CONTROLS (GAUGES DEAD, NO LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS, NO RADIO). FRONT WINDOWS WORK, BUT NOT REAR. VEHICLE DRIVES AS IF IN LOW GEAR. UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO HAD TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ARE RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS SO TBD ON SPECIFIC ISSUE AND COST TO REPAIR. CONCERNED AS NO RECALL AND SITUATION IS SO DANGEROUS (WHAT IF I'D BEEN ON FREEWAY!) VOLVO SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 2004 XC90 AS OTHERS REPORT SAME DEFECT

NHTSA ID
10765020
Incident
Sep 17, 2015
Mileage
117,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 12, 2015

I WAS HEADING TOWARDS A SUPERMARKET ON A EXPRESSWAY ON A AN AFTERNOON WHERE THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE DASHBOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE. AND THEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND A JERK WAS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOON THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND THE INDICATORS WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING AND THAT TOO WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES THAT WERE POPPING UP LIKE BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG FAILURE, ABS FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE POWER WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF AND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A LOW GEAR. IBHAD TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT TO COME TO A SAFE STOP AS NO INDICATORS WERE WORKING. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WERE DOWN. HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING AS IF IT WAS IN LOW GEAR. POWER WINDOWS, POWER STEERING, INDICATORS, LIGHTS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, AUDIO WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF. I CALLED A LOCAL TECHNICIAN AND TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, BUT HE COULD NOT FIND THE FAULT. HOWEVER HE CLEARED THE ERRORS AND CHECK ENGINE MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTORED AFTER ALMOST 1 HOUR. THEN I TRIED TO RETURN BACK TO HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND IT KEPT OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES. I HEARD SEVERAL REVIEWS FROM SEVERAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2004 XC90. AND EVERY ISSUE IS RELATED TO CEM. THE MODULE COSTS $1200+ WHICH IS A VERY HIGH COST. THIS SITUATION IS SO DANGEROUS WHILE YOU ARE ON FREEWAYS AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. VOLVO SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 2004 XC90S AND REPLACE THESE MODULES AND ALSO COMPENSATE ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED THEIR CEMS.

NHTSA ID
10748307
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
137,600 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER BRIEFLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL MODULE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10747927
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi

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.

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