RoadVitals

2009 Volvo XC90

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
7
Latest Jan 17, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Nov 8, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Volvo XC90, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 215 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical330.0%
  • Brakes220.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V566000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Nov 8, 2010
416 units potentially affected
The defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.Manufacturer number R231View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Jan 17, 2023

A plastic Fuel Pressure Sensor bracket holder, part number: 30720139, found on Volvo V8 XC90 and S80 (2005-2011) can crack, resulting in a fuel leak within the engine compartment. See attached picture of 30720139, with highlight of plastic assembly. No replacement part is available from Volvo, since ~Dec 2021, per this link: https://www.swedespeed.com/threads/06-xc90-v8-fuel-pressure-sensor-mount-snapped.640161/post-7969481 However, an aftermarket solution is now recently available: https://www.swedespeed.com/threads/volvo-v8-fuel-pressure-sensor-bracket-replacement-billet-6061.656808/#post-7986238 https://www.ebay.com/itm/115630747349

NHTSA ID
11502248
Incident
Sep 28, 2022
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 7, 2021

I have installed a SprintDrive installed in my Volvo. Since the installation, I have had several safety and security issues occur that stop once the device is removed. The following issues have occurred: 1) Whilst driving on the Muskogee Turnpike, the cruising control system would disengage. This occurred at least three times during the drive. On the third time, the cruising control system disengaged and the braking system engaged causing the vehicle to go from 85 mph to 45 mph. 2) I was driving on C-470. The transmission system would not transition between the gears automatically. The vehicle remained in a low gear until I removed the device. 3) I was driving on I-70 when all of the warning lights went and an alarm sounded. The message console read all system failure. The engine shut down. Once the device was removed, I was able to restart the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11435895
Incident
Sep 20, 2021
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 15, 2017

REAR SPARE TIRE DROPPED OFF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC SLIDING ACROSS THE FREEWAY, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF CABLE HOLDING REAR TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID
11015401
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Mileage
125,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 2, 2015
1 injury reported

OPENED TRUNK HATCH DOOR TO PUT ITEMS IN TRUNK AND LIFTED DOOR TO THE FULL OPEN POSITION, THE HYDRAULIC ARMS BOTH FAILED AND THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE DOOR FELL DIRECTLY ONTO HEAD CAUSING SEVERE HEAD INJURY WITH RESIDUAL EFFECTS. NO PROBLEMS WITH TRUNK DOOR PRIOR TO THIS.

NHTSA ID
10807932
Incident
Nov 20, 2015
Mileage
76,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND A FUSE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ECM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10690651
Incident
Jan 11, 2015
Mileage
94,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 19, 2014

DURING SWITCHING OFF IGNITION A WARNING LIGHT WAS VISIBLE, ON TURNING ON IGNITION AGAIN MULTIPLE FAULTS REGISTERED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS FAULT OCCURRED. LIST OF FAULTS NOTICED: 1: SRS WARNING LIGHT (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOTIFICATION) 2: ABS FAILURE (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOTIFICATION) 3: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOTIFICATION) 4: PASSENGER AIRBAG FAULT-SERVICE REQUIRED (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOTIFICATION) 5: PASSENGER ELECTRICAL ASSIST SEAT NOT WORKING 5: HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY WORK WHEN IGNITION IS ON 6: VEHICLE CANNOT LOCK OR UNLOCK 7: REAR TAIL LIGHTS STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY EVEN AFTER REMOVAL OF IGNITION KEY. 8: NO BRAKE LIGHTS 9: NO TURN RIGHT SIGNALS (BACK OR FRONT) 10: HEADLIGHT FAULT (INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NOTIFICATION) 11: REV COUNTER NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY, SITS AT 6:00 WHILE VEHICLE IS OFF. 12: REV COUNTER RESTS AT 7000RPM ON ENGINE IDLE AND CONTINUES CLOCKWISE. 13: ENGINE WILL NOT PASS 4000RPM 14: ENGINE STOPPED ENROUTE TO VOLVO DEALERSHIP TRAVELING AT 65MPH WITH LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RE START AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP. 15: TRIP COMPUTER DOES NOT REGISTER MILES TRAVELED. 16: MILES LEFT TILL EMPTY SHOWS 9999. *TR

NHTSA ID
10583662
Incident
Apr 11, 2014
Mileage
58,640 mi
Electrical
Filed May 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR FOUR DAYS. AFTER FOUR DAYS, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER THE ELECTRICAL DRAIN COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10459637
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
32,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

35526.1.8

ENGINE

This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure
 Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.

37809.1.1

This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval.
 Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" section

19245

This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.

8501

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session:
 •Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V.
 •Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a VOE (Volvo OBD to Ethernet) adapter and perform a NEW vehicle readout.

S10303

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle.
 The corrective action is to download SP Software.
 S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.

S10303

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibility that the customer’s key fob is not paired to the vehicle.
 The corrective action is to download SP Software.
 S10303 affects 151 vehicles in the U.S and 5 in Canada.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Volvo XC90 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2025272058.9
2024343061.2
2023396055.7
2022294155.3
2021326167.9
2020297172.3
2019386174.0
2018473166.2
2017757171.9
20161968164.1
2015010—
2014400—
2013110034.3
2012300—
2011191045.9
2010123039.1
2009Viewing710—
2008293050.0
2007382052.2
2006533054.3
20052236454.2
20044626354.9
2003935047.0

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.