RoadVitals

2005 Volvo XC90 Powertrain (other) Problems

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

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) 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.
21
Latest Feb 1, 2019
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.
9%
of 223 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

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Volvo XC90 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 powertrain

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

ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS, POWER DOOR LOCKS, AND POWER REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED TO OPERATE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN VOLVO DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,042.

NHTSA ID
11173516
Incident
Nov 12, 2018
Mileage
14,042 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2018

IN DECEMBER OF 2016, AT APPROXIMATELY 95000 MILEAGE, THE "SERVICE TRANSMISSION URGENT" MESSAGE AND LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND MAKING LOUD CLANGING AND RATTLING NOISES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO "INFINITY OF MEMPHIS" DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP ASKED US TO CONTACT "VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA" FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WE DID, BUT VOLVO REFUSED TO HONOR OUR CLAIM STATING THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER THE 100000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO "VOLVO OF MEMPHIS" DEALERSHIP, WHICH CONTACTED VOLVO MANUFACTURER AND INFINITY OF MEMPHIS DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED US THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD PAY $5000 MAXIMUM TOWARDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, COST OF WHICH WAS 8000$, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REST OUT-OF-POCKET, ABOUT 3000$. THE OTHER OPTION WAS TO PUT A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION AT AAMCO FOR 3000$, COST OF WHICH WOULD BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE ELECTED THE LATTER, SINCE THERE WAS NO OUT-OF-POCKET COST. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE TOLD THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND OTHER MESSAGES WOULD BE GONE, ONCE THE CAR WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON. ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS WERE FILED, BUT AAMCO, VOLVO OF MEMPHIS AND INFINITY OF MEMPHIS CLAIM IT IS UNRELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. A LETTER WAS SENT TO VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA LLC, ATTACHED BELOW, BUT VOLVO REFUSED TO LOOK INTO OUR PROBLEM SAYING THE CAR WAS TOO OLD. I SPOKE WITH A VOLVO REP OVER THE PHONE WITH NO RESOLUTION. WE WOULD LIKE FOR VOLVO TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION IN OUR VEHICLE, AS NUMEROUS FORUMS AND ONLINE SITES HAVE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT DEFECTIVE VOLVO TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE EARLIER MODELS.

NHTSA ID
11073389
Incident
Dec 28, 2016
Mileage
95,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10925906
Incident
Nov 7, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 18, 2016

WE WAS COMMING FROM TEXAS VISITNG OUR FAMILY BACK TO MISSISSIPPI OUR TRANMISSION STARTING SLIPPING WE WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER TRANMISSION THIS WILL MAKE TWO TRANSMISSON WE HAD TO REPLACE. IN MOTION

NHTSA ID
10874970
Incident
May 18, 2007
Mileage
105,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 16, 2016

4X4 AWD SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, CAR SPINNING WITH THE FRONT WHEELS,VERY DANGEROUS IN WINTER TIME.ANGLE GEAR SLEEVE WHICH IS STRIPPED OUT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH XC90 2.5T. PARTS AND LABOR CLOSE TO 1000.00.

NHTSA ID
10850109
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 24, 2014

THIS IS A 2005 VOLVO THAT HAS A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN ALL CARS OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IF ONE GOOGLES THE MODEL AND MAKE OF THIS CAR ONE WILL FIND FORUM AFTER FORUM OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE OR SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY IS UP. THE DEALERS AND SERVICES HAVE LARGELY PUT THIS ITEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE ON TO THE CUSTOMER. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON TO A FREEWAY. I WAS NEARLY IN A LIKELY FATAL COLLISION DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO GO OUT OF 2ND GEAR. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE IN THIS MODEL , BUT FEW VOLVO OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED OF IT. PLEASE HELP US AND DEMAND THAT VOLVO RECALL THESE CARS, REPAY FOR FAILED TRANSMISSIONS AND LOST VALUE OF THE CARS......ONE CANNOT EVEN GIVE THEM AWAY NO AND THESE WERE 45K$ CARS!!!!!!!!!!FURIOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10649735
Incident
Sep 26, 2011
Mileage
45 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 7, 2014

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. THIS WAS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION, AS THE FIRST ONE FAILED AT 45000 MILES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6000. REBUILDING FAILED TRANS WAS SLIGHTLY CHEAPER BUT NOT WORTH IT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, BUT WAS SETTLED BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641999
Incident
Sep 1, 2014
Mileage
155,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMMED TEMPORARILY. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLE TO RESET THE VEHICLE AND MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CENTRAL ELECTRIC MODULE MALFUNCTIONED WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM DRAINING WATER PROPERLY DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NHTSA ID
10619092
Incident
Jul 31, 2014
Mileage
165,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 24, 2014

KNOWN TRANSMISSION DEFECT WITH THIS MODEL HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF IN MY VEHICLE. CAR BEGAN LURCHING WHEN ACCELERATING AND TRANSITIONING INTO THE NEXT GEAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY VOLVO HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS DEFECT WITH THE POWER-TRAIN AND IN 2012 AGREED TO SETTLE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS FACT HOWEVER ONLY IMPACTS THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY PAID TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. STILL NO RECALL REGARDING THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS ISSUE FOR THOSE CURRENTLY IMPACTED. ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THEIR ORIGINAL TRANSMISSIONS NEED TO BE RECALLED (2003, 2004 AND 2005). *TR

NHTSA ID
10561371
Incident
Dec 26, 2013
Mileage
102,000 mi
Exterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 11, 2013

WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM WORK THE PASSENGER LOW BEAM WENT OUT. I BOUGHT A NEW BULB AND THE LIGHT STILL DID NOT WORK L THEN CHECKED. THE WIRING GOING INTO THE HEADLIGHT AND THERE WAS NO POWER FOR THE LOW BEAM HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN IT WAS BAD ENOUGH I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION JUST 3MONTHS AGO AND NOW THIS I ALSO READ NONLINEAR THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANNYS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10543169
Incident
Sep 3, 2013
Mileage
146,342 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2013

AT 111,000 THOUSAND MILES THE COUNTER BALANCE SHAFT BEARING WENT INSIDE THE MOTOR. I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THAT IT IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, THAT VOLVO KNOWS ABOUT. IT COULD COST ANY WHERE FROM $5000.00 TO $15000.00. I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, AND HELP THERE CUSTOMERS WITH THE REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498317
Incident
Feb 14, 2013
Mileage
111,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 19, 2013

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. THEN THE SECOND TRANSMISSION'S OUT-PUT SHAFT BEGAN LEAKING WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IT IS "OUT-OF-ROUND/TRUE". THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10494343
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
84,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON A GENTLE INCLINE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING & SHIFTING BACK & FORTH BETWEEN GEARS. IT LOST POWER WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490848
Incident
Dec 20, 2012
Mileage
85,812 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 18, 2012

VOLVO KNOWS THE V8 ENGINE ON THE 2005 XC90 IS FAULTY. SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT BEARING FAILING DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. FORTUNATELY MINE FAILED WHILE AT IDLE. UNFORTUNATELY THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS NOW SEIZED UP AND MY OTHERWISE CLEAN CAR IS A LARGE AND USELESS PAPERWEIGHT. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AT SPEED, IT COULD CAUSE A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. UNLESS VOLVO ACTIVELY FINDS THE REMAINING ENGINES IN SERVICE AND FIXES THIS PROBLEM, IT REMAINS A RISK REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE. APPROPRIATELY, THEY SHOULD ALSO REIMBURSE ANYONE WHO WAS AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM SINCE THEY LEARNED OF IT BACK IN 2005. *TR

NHTSA ID
10489205
Incident
Nov 14, 2012
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 25, 2012

MY CAR WAS AT TRAFFIC LIGHT, ON GREEN LIGHT, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE , I HEARD A BIG NOISE FROM SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE AREA. AFTER THAT NOISE, A LIGHT COME ON WITH A MESSAGE " TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT". THE CAR HAS REAL HARD TIME TO ACCELERATE. EVEN AT 4000 RPM, IT DID NOT ACCELERATE. BROWSE ON INTERNET FOR 3 HOURS AND FINALLY COME TO KNOW THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10476961
Incident
Sep 24, 2012
Mileage
96,005 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 17, 2012

THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE IS SLIPPING. TRYING TO PASS A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR. NOTE: THE VIN # [XXX] - BUT I CAN'T VALIDATE IT ON THIS FORM BUT IT IS THE CORRECT NUMBER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10466325
Incident
Jul 11, 2012
Mileage
64,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed May 11, 2012

I ATTEMPTED TO PASS ANOTHER CAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND COULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THIS PUT MY CHILDREN AND I IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE BACK INTO MY OWN LANE IN TIME, IT WAS A VERY SCARY 10 OR 15 SECONDS. I HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I CAN GET IT INTO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT HAVE DRIVEN IT ON SHORT TRIPS AROUND TOWN. THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO SLIP SOME IN NORMAL DRIVING. I'M TAKING IT TO VOLVO SERVICE TOMORROW BUT SOME QUICK RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS SUV, AND THAT VOLVO IS COMPLETELY AWARE OF IT. IN FACT, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON I SPOKE WITH FROM VOLVO N.AM SAID "IT'S AN EPIDEMIC", AND THE SERVICE WRITER FOR NORTHPOINT VOLVO HAS SEEN IT MANY, MANY TIMES. IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR AS MUCH AS $8500 FOR A TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN MORE FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE AXLES AS WELL AS A NEW RADIATOR, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE WHOLE PROBLEM DUE TO FLUID CONTAMINATION (GLYCOL INTO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID). I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW, BUT I HAD CERTAINLY WONDERED WHY MY $48,000 VEHICLE HAD PLUMMETED IN VALUE COMPARED TO OTHER CARS! THIS IS NOT ONLY A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BUT ALSO A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THE MANY PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED THIS SUV BASED ON AN EXPECTATION OF QUALITY AT LEAST IN LINE WITH MINIMUM INDUSTRY STANDARDS. CLEARLY THIS COMPANY IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND A RECALL IS IN ORDER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458080
Incident
May 8, 2012
Mileage
67,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 27, 2012

TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT LIGHT CAME OUT. TRANSMISSION WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. HAD HARD UP SHIFTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453277
Incident
Mar 15, 2012
Mileage
68,723 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 11, 2012

THE TRAINS HAS GONE AND IT ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES ON IT COST TO FIX $ 5500.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447496
Incident
Jan 17, 2012
Mileage
66,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2010

I HAVE A 2005 VOLVO XC90 T6. BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW. HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING TRANSMISSION OUT; THE BLINKERS DO NOT WORK. THE QUALITY AND SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS MISLEADING AND THIS IS A HORRIBLE SAFETY ISSUE SINCE BLINKER DON'T WORK. LOOKING INTO IT, SEEMS LIKE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MANY OWNER OF VOLVO XC90 2005. THEY REALLY NEED TO RECALL THIS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE AND CAUSE FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10362949
Incident
Apr 10, 2009
Mileage
90,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Feb 12, 2009

I HAVE THE ILL FATED XC90 T6...LIKE CLOCKWORK AT 53000 MILES THE DREADED TRANSMISSION SERVICE URGENT LIGHT COMES ON....NOW I AM SUPPOSED TO FORK OVER 7000 BUCKS FOR A COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION! *TR

NHTSA ID
10258423
Incident
Jan 20, 2009
Mileage
53,000 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .