2009 Volvo XC90 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Volvo XC90, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR SPARE TIRE DROPPED OFF VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC SLIDING ACROSS THE FREEWAY, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF CABLE HOLDING REAR TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .