2019 Volvo XC90 problems, complaints & recalls

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Volvo XC90, most often about engine. There are 6 recalls for this model year.

Complaints
40
Recalls
6
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
8
Median mileage
61,511 mi
at time of problem

Key facts

  • Engine is the most-reported problem area, named in 10 of 40 complaints (25%).
  • Electrical System (9) and brakes (6) follow.
  • Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 61,511 mi.
  • Owners reported 2 crashes, 3 fires and 8 injuries.
  • The 2019 Volvo XC90 has 6 recalls on file.
  • NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation covering this vehicle.
  • It ranks 3rd of 19 Volvo XC90 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
  • That is 8% more complaints than the 2018 model year (37).

2019 Volvo XC90 problems by category

  • Engine · 1 crash
    10 complaints
  • Electrical System · 1 crash
    9 complaints
  • Other / Unknown
    9 complaints
  • Brakes
    6 complaints
  • Visibility & Wipers
    5 complaints
  • Body & Structure
    4 complaints
  • Airbags
    3 complaints
  • Transmission & Drivetrain · 1 crash
    3 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    2 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    2 complaints
  • Seats & Seat Belts
    1 complaints
  • Steering
    1 complaints
  • Suspension
    1 complaints

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)Complaints
Unknown or other9
Engine9
Electrical system9
Service brakes4
Structure:body4
Air bags3
Power train2
Visibility2

When problems happen (mileage)

Under 10k10k–30k430k–60k460k–100k1100k–150k150k+
Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2019 Volvo XC90 complaints that list mileage.

2019 Volvo XC90 recalls (6)

  • Recall 23V827000Dec 7, 20232,911 vehicles
    SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 23V001000Jan 5, 202374 vehicles
    STEERING

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.

    Risk: A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.

  • Recall 21V414000Jun 2, 202185,550 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.

    Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.

  • Recall 21V273000Apr 21, 2021162 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  • Recall 20V144000Mar 12, 2020121,605 vehicles
    FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING · FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE:SOFTWARE:PEDESTRIAN/CYCLIST/OBJECT/OBSTACLE/ RECOGNITION

    Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.

    Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.

  • Recall 18V800000Nov 13, 201817,548 vehicles
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023led to recall 22V063000

    Pedestrian alert sounds

    NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc…

Recent 2019 Volvo XC90 complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

  1. Filed Sep 26, 2026GAEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain
    Coming from a cold start in hybrid or pure mode the ERAD disengages causing the vehicle to slow down, hesitate and buck until the gas engine can engage to recover acceleration.
    NHTSA complaint #11767107 · source
  2. Filed Aug 21, 2026NYBrakes
    COMPONENT & AVAILABILITY: The primary brake booster assembly and vacuum pump failed twice. The vehicle remains fully assembled and grounded at Volvo Cars White Plains, available for immediate inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK: Both incidents involved primary braking system failure while traveling downhill. During the second failure on August 4, 2026, the vehicle completely overshot a residential intersection, crossed a perpendicular road, and overran the pavement, coming…
    NHTSA complaint #11758396 · source
  3. Filed Aug 15, 2026AZBody & Structure
    The exterior chrome trim on the door handle has severely delaminated and flaked. The peeling metallic coating has separated from the plastic handle structure, creating a razor-sharp edge. This component is located on a primary vehicle entry point, creating an immediate laceration hazard to anyone attempting to open the door. The flaking metal shards are sharp enough to cut fingers or hands during normal vehicle operation, posing a particular safety risk to children or anyone…
    NHTSA complaint #11757167 · source
  4. Filed Aug 15, 2026AZBody & Structure
    The exterior chrome trim on the door handle has severely delaminated and flaked. The peeling metallic coating has separated from the plastic handle structure, creating a razor-sharp edge. This component is located on a primary vehicle entry point, creating an immediate laceration hazard to anyone attempting to open the door. The flaking metal shards are sharp enough to cut fingers or hands during normal vehicle operation, posing a particular safety risk to children or anyone…
    NHTSA complaint #11757166 · source
  5. Filed Jul 10, 2026114,000 miRIVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and or while the vehicle was parked, the A/C unit became inoperable, and the defogger failed to clear the front windshield. The contact stated that the A/C was shifted to the MAX setting to operate as needed to defrost the windshield with an abnormal odor blowing through the vents. The vehicle was taken a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the front evaporator core…
    NHTSA complaint #11749584 · source
  6. Filed Jun 11, 202679,900 miNHTowedFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The contact owns a 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly entered LIMP mode and decelerated before stalling. The failure had occurred on two separate occasions. On one occasion, the vehicle did not restart and was towed to the dealer. During the second occurrence, the vehicle was restarted moments later and was driven to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, where the contact was…
    NHTSA complaint #11743566 · source
  7. Filed Jun 3, 2026OHVisibility & Wipers
    The front and rear evaporator core of my 2019 Volvo XC90 has failed and I no longer have air conditioning. This issue was diagnosed by a dealer. The evaporator core failure is a massive, widely documented issue specifically targeting the 2016–2020 Volvo SPA-platform models. According to my research, Volvo sold approx. 370,000 vehicles in the US during this period. At roughly $5,000 per vehicle, the owners are being asked to spend over a billion dollars on this known, product…
    NHTSA complaint #11741732 · source
  8. Filed May 27, 202635,000 miMDVisibility & Wipers
    The contact owns 2019 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while parked and occupied in the vehicle or while driving various speeds, the contact noticed when attempting to turn the air conditioner on she noticed that the a/c unit was not working as intended in the vehicle. The contact mention she can hear a clicking noise coming from the air conditioner. An independent mechanic and A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where they recharged the vehicle and no…
    NHTSA complaint #11740350 · source

Compare the 2019 Volvo XC90 with another vehicle →

Other 2019 Volvo models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology