2018 Volvo Xc90 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (11) · Fuel/Propulsion System (6) · Visibility/Wiper (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volvo Xc90 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (3)
Seat Belts:critical Fasteners 2023-12-07 · campaign 23V827000 · 2,911 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
Electrical System:software 2021-04-21 · campaign 21V273000 · 162 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Risk: The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.
Electrical System:software 2018-11-13 · campaign 18V800000 · 17,548 vehicles
Defect: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
Risk: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
Service bulletins (550)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-23 · 33031.6.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: text plus 1 .jpg attachment - if remote control key is not detected by the car and shows message in dim "car key not found" or if functions such as lock/unlock are not working, please follow advice for detecting key
Power Train 2026-05-07 · 36496.10.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: intermittent knocking noise during acceleration. if the sound corresponds to attached sound file, change front drive shafts to the below part numbers.
Exterior Lighting 2026-05-07 · 34521.11.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: headlamp condensation inside lens - information/leak test. if the result is not ok (air leak), it is ok to replace the headlamp
Structure:body 2026-05-06 · 35503.4.0 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a technical journal: panoramic sunroof, sealing strip has a gap
Engine 2026-04-23 · 35526.1.8 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-07 · 37809.1.1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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" sec
Showing the 6 most recent of 550 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-25 · Unknown Or Other“while driving my 2018 volvo xc90 at approximately 50 miles per hour, the right rear door suddenly swung open even though it appeared fully closed. my [xxx] old child was seated in the back seat next to the door when this occurred. there was no warning, no impact, and no indication the door was improperly closed. my left rear door does the same thin…”
2026-10-01 · Service Brakes“on wednesday 9/23, i was driving on a residential road and came to a stop sign. when i tried to stop at the intersection my brake pedal seized up and the car would not stop. the check engine light came on. i had to shift the car into park in order to stop the vehicle. i towed it to the dealer and found out today that the brake booster failed. …”
2026-08-25 · Service Brakes“this submission supplements nhtsa complaint #11759206, filed on august 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 volvo xc90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. at the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including "transmission acceleration performance reduced" "gear lev…”
2026-08-24 · Service Brakes“the vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on august 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "transmission acceleration performance reduced" and "gear lever locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 volvo xc90 to be towed to volvo cars brooklyn on august 11, 2026…”
2026-08-19 · Seat Belts“at first i was having issues with stop and start, replaced the battery then was told i wasted coffee in my center console and it cause electrical issues and was told the repairs would be 3,400 in which collision issuance paid for. after the repairs my driver side seat belt would latch then the passenger side wouldn’t latch either so i currently don…”
2026-07-13 · Unknown Or Other“the air conditioning evaporator core has been widely known to freeze and crack on 2016-2021 models of the xc90 which sends toxic refrigerant smell thru the vents. this is a big safety hazard and should be recalled. volvo knows about this but only does a goodwill repair to loyal customers who purchased the vehicle new and have all service records fr…”
2026-07-07 · Service Brakes“ vin: [xxx] •make/model/year: 2018 volvo xc90 •mileage at time of each incident (58,385 / 58,480 / 68,261) •approximate dates of each incident vehicle has experienced recurring brake system failures. first, a seized rear brake caliper (sept 2025) requiring caliper/rotor/pad replacement. four days later, brake pedal became stiff and…”
2026-06-23 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“i am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 volvo xc90 t8 phev. on [xxx], at approximately [xxx] ct, the vehicle experienced a sudden multi-system safety and actual brake failure while in a parking-lot/low-speed setting near [xxx} in austin, texas. the vehicle displayed multiple urgent warning messages and indicators, including power s…”
2026-06-16 · Vehicle Speed Control“my 2018 volvo xc90 t8 plug-in hybrid experienced a catastrophic, premature component failure of the electric rear axle drive (erad) propulsion system while driving. the erad unit suffered a total failure of internal bearings and sensors, completely disabling the electric rear wheel propulsion system and suddenly forcing the vehicle into a reduced-p…”
2026-06-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System“at approximately 6:30 pm, after normal driving and parking at a local park, our family was unloading children from the vehicle. one child was standing next to the vehicle while we removed a younger child from the rear seat. the child suddenly screamed and stated that he had burned himself. we later determined that he had accidentally come into cont…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.