2006 Volvo XC90 Owner Complaints

Had to replace emission coil plugs.My mechanics said it has wiring issues

NHTSA ID

11726307

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Vehicle is slightly off-balance no matter if I do an alignment ball joints seem to always get affected. I’m not sure if the hydraulics are working correctly. Yesterday I just started leaking antifreeze fluid.

NHTSA ID

11648529

Incident

Mar 15, 2025

Awakened to lights flashing, horn going off, wipers running on a vehicle that was parked with keys removed. The cem underneath driver's side dash had gotten wet from rain water leaking into it and subsequently shorted out requiring $2350 replacement via dealer. This IS A Huge problem.... however, and wait for it. IT IS NOT DUE TO THE SUNROOF.... I know this with absolute certainty because I have 3 2006-2010 xc90's and NONE HAVE SUNROOFS but all 3 had to have CEM reprogrammed. I can't understand why NOTHING has been done about this... it's absurd.

NHTSA ID

11582404

Incident

Aug 5, 2021

The tensioner pulley for the serpentine belt seized up while traveling at 70 mph, melting the serpentine belt and causing an engine fire.

NHTSA ID

11525548

Incident

May 5, 2023

The contact owned a 2006 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal to park the vehicle when the vehicle's RPMs revved up causing the vehicle to unintentionally accelerate and crash into the wall in front. The air bags did not deploy. After the crash occurred, the low coolant warning light failed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to their scrotum and rib area. The contact was a physician and therefore provided their own medical care. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The contact stated their insurance diagnosed that the vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000

NHTSA ID

11479296

Incident

Jul 29, 2022

Mileage

110,000 mi

This has happened multiple times on the highway going 60 mph. And at slow speeds, last time on an entrance ramp onto the highway. The vehicle will shut off, as if the key has been turned off. But it hasn't been touched. Steering becomes difficult and I have to try and get off the road. Once I get pulled over and put it in park, it will start and run normally for a time. It most often happens when i turn to the right fairly tight. But not exclusively. Today after driving it approximately 120 miles with one shut off, my check engine light came on and it was difficult to get started again. This is absolutely a Hazzard to others and myself

NHTSA ID

11454879

Incident

Mar 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2006 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while attempting to turn around, he saw a warning message transmission overheating message and the vehicle shut off. After an unknown amount of time, the vehicle was started up again and proceeded to fill the cabin with smoke and within 5 minutes the entire vehicle was on fire. The vehicle was extinguished on its own and a report was not taken. The contact sustained injuries to the lungs and burns to the face. The vehicle was not towed away. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11448256

Incident

Jan 19, 2022

Mileage

190,000 mi

the drivers side electric seat controls are causing unsafe driving conditions. i drive with the seat all the way back and down. I have the memory sets all for that position. Problem is when I get back in the car it will be back up and forward al the way. So i will set it back down. Well while ia m driving it will automatically start raising back up and forward. As you can imagine this gets very uncomfortable and feels like i am getting choked to death. I will set it back and it will keep doing that . I will hear clicking and then it will start moving. sometimes. i will have to hold my finger on the down button to keep it from moving on me while im driving, sometimes it will still move all the way up while i am holding the button down. and then it will get all the way forward and the buttons will not work for me for a while. Im stuck in the forward up position choking and cant do anything about it. Eventually they will start working again nut its a very impossible position to be left in. I don't know why it is doing this. I feel like I have a Christine car(from the movie) . I haven't taken it anywhere and not sure where to go. I feel like the dealer would try to hide the problem.

NHTSA ID

11440370

Incident

Oct 13, 2021

The contact owns a 2006 Volvo XC90. The contact stated there was an abnormal odor of fuel detected in the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. The contact stated the failure was similar to NHTSA Campaign number 09V483000 (Fuel System, Gasoline).

NHTSA ID

11428356

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 244,777.

NHTSA ID

11413965

Incident

Apr 23, 2021

Mileage

244,777 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A WORN SUSPENSION MOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE BOOST PRESSURE SENSOR, A DEFECTIVE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND A DEFECTIVE VANOS SENSOR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11324546

Incident

May 1, 2020

Mileage

175,000 mi

WATER LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN PLACE GATHERING IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR ! CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS! VEHICLE WAS IN IDOL AND CUT OFF WILL NOT RESTART LEAVING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I STRANDED! WHILE INVESTIGATING AND REMOVING CARPET CAME TO REALIZE THEY WERE 30 GALLONS OF WATER UNDER CARPET!! LOOKING INTO IT MORE ONLINE NOTICED MANY MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED THIS SAME PROBLEM! WHY IS NOT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO VOLVO TO WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?? WHY WASN'T THIS PROBLEM ISSUED FOR RECALL???? DOES SON HAVE TO DIE OF PHYSICALLY HARMED FOR THEIR TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

11320450

Incident

Apr 6, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRIPPEN VOLVO (8300 W. SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING) ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11150156

Incident

Oct 1, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10882781

Incident

Mar 20, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10872440

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

115,000 mi

FIRE STARTED IN REAR NEAR BATTERY COMPARTMENT. WITHIN SECONDS, IT EXPLODED.

NHTSA ID

10865118

Incident

May 10, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,330.

NHTSA ID

10852473

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

132,330 mi

I SMELL GAS IN MY CAR NOW ITS LEAKING GASOLINE. WHEN I PULL IN DRIVEWAY I SEE GAS LEAKING FROM BOTTOM.

NHTSA ID

10851148

Incident

Mar 22, 2016

Mileage

140,094 mi

HAVE RESEARCHED THIS CAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH ALL TYPES OF VOLVO'S. I HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS, SHOP NOTICED THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAR MAIN SEAL. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WITHIN WARRANTY. SAVED UP FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT TO PAY $1100 CASH OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC. RIGHT BEFORE I TOOK IT IN TO GET THE WORK DONE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD WHILE DRIVING IN CITY. HIGHWAY IT WAS FINE. HAD THE SEAL REPLACED, TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BEFORE PUTTING BACK TOGETHER THINKING IT WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM. NOPE! SO I SAVED UP ONCE AGAIN TO GO TO THE ACTUAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND PAY $200 OUT OF POCKET FOR A REFLASH ED AND SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE TRANSMISSION. DIDN'T WORK! LOOKED UP OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT WEIRD...NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHER PETES VOLVO'S DOING THE SAME THING! SO WHY HASN'T VOLVO DONE A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION? IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IS DRIVING AND THE THING SLAMS INTO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR AND I'M TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T DUMP ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT AND HAVE TO TRADE IT IN FOR A DIFFERENT CAR. PLEASE HELP AND MAKE VOLVO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND AND 2 KIDS DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE!!

NHTSA ID

10759001

Incident

Mar 9, 2015

Mileage

113,000 mi

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN TRANSIT. YESTERDAY, IT OCCURRED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. THE CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF POWER STEARING, BREAKING, DASH, ETC. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST INTO A BREAKDOWN LANE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. STATE POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES OF DIALING 911. THIS HAPPENED 6 MONTHS AGO AS WELL AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A FUEL INJECTOR MODULE. THE INTERNET IS REPLEAT WITH VERY SIMILAR ISSUES INVOLVING THIS MODEL AND VINTAGE. THE COMMON RESPONSE FROM VOLVO DEALERS SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS AN "ACT OF GOD". THIS IS A DEFECT, NOT AN ACT OF GOD, AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE WILL BE MAJOR INJURIES OR DEATHS AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10717027

Incident

May 17, 2015

Mileage

133,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH THE SUSPENSION OF THIS CAR IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.- UP UNTIL RECENTLY, THESE WERE THE ONLY PROBLEMS I HAD WITH THE CAR. FIRST THE STRUT ENGINE MOUNT BRACE AND TORQUE RODS NEEDED REPLACING, THEN AT 155,000 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE FRONT BALL JOINT,CONTROL ARMS AND BUSHINGS REPLACED. AT 158,000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR KNUCKLE AND WHEEL BEARINGS. NOW AT 189,000 I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY OUTER TIE RODS. I HAD JUST THOUGHT THESE WERE EXPECTED WEAR AND TEAR FOR A HIGH MILEAGE VEHICLE, BUT I SAW THAT THERE HAD BEEN RECALLS FOR FAILURES OF THESE PARTS IN SOME VERSIONS OF MY CAR. I CHECKED WITH VOLVO AND THEY CLAIMED THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS. BUT I DO FIND IT SUSPICIOUS THAT I NOW AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES THAT SO MANY "OTHER VERSIONS" OF MY MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAD. SHOULD MY CAR HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS? HOW DO THEY DETERMINE WHICH ONES HAVE A PROBLEM AND WHICH ONES DO NOT? THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10702290

Incident

Jun 5, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 60-65 MPH TO 35-40 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THIS- I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE AFTER THIS HAPPENED "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE". RESEARCH ON THIS LATER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS "LIMP MODE." I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME, INCLUDING MANY LARGE SEMI TRUCKS, WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST COME OUT OF A TOLL PLAZA AND WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SINCE IT WAS NOT SAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT SUCH A SLOW SPEED AND I WAS FAR FROM A SUITABLE EXIT. MY REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE PCV (VALVE) I SEE ON RESEARCH OF EARLIER MODELS OF THIS CAR THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN "WARRANTY EXTENSION" FOR THIS VERY PROBLEM. MY CAR APPARENTLY WAS NOT INCLUDED ON THIS EXTENSION, BUT I FIND IT SUSPECT THAT I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE MAY NOT BE THAT MANY REPORTS OF PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH MY PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR BECAUSE A LARGE NUMBER OF THE 2006 XC90S HAD EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND ARE NO LONGER BEING USED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702283

Incident

Feb 21, 2015

Mileage

186,000 mi

THIS IS THEN SECOND TIME THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 2006 VOLVO XC 90 HAS FAILED. THE ORIGINAL WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH AND NOW THAT REPLACEMENT SWITCH HAS ALSO FAILED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PART THAT FAILS TWICE IN 7 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664265

Incident

Dec 15, 2014

Mileage

122,432 mi

I ENTERED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT. IT WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM ITS HOUSING (INSIDE THE PANEL ABOVE MY LEFT SHOULDER). IT MADE A STRONG CLICKING NOISE, AS IF IT HAD LOCKED UP. I MADE NUMEROUS OTHER ATTEMPTS TO PUT ON MY SEAT BELT, WITH THE ENGINE TURNED ON, TURNED OFF, CAR IN PARK, CAR IN DRIVE, CAR MOVING. NO CHANGE. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I CALLED VOLVO, THEY TOLD ME THAT SEATBELTS WERE ONLY COVERED UNDER A 5 YEAR WARRANTY. I WOULD EXPECT SEATBELTS TO HAVE MANDATORY LIFETIME WARRANTIES, REQUIRED BY LAW. I AM SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575396

Incident

Mar 28, 2014

Mileage

134,000 mi

WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND IN A SLIGHT TURN (VERY MILD CURVE), TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME SLOWED. I MOVED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS "HARD" AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE PEDAL AGAIN, VERY FIRMLY. THE ABS IMMEDIATELY KICKED IN. HAD TRAFFIC NOT STARTED TO SPEED UP, I WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NOT FUN, VOLVO. WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKES, YOU EXPECT THEM TO ACTUALLY WORK. NO ERROR MESSAGES WERE ON FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM OR ANY OTHER ERROR MESSAGES AT ALL. THE BRAKES JUST DIDN'T WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491630

Incident

Jan 7, 2013

Mileage

128,000 mi