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2022 Volvo XC90 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
42%
11 of 26 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

42% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Volvo XC90 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 51% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 3 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2022 Volvo XC90 have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (9). For comparison, the 2023 scores 16%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
11
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
29
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
0 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13 · 45%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9 · 31%
ENGINE6 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5 · 17%
LANE DEPARTURE2 · 7%
BACK OVER PREVENTION2 · 7%

The years either side

2010
too few complaints
2011
too few complaints
2012
too few complaints
2013
too few complaints
2014
too few complaints
2015
no data
2016
52%
96 of 198
2017
41%
30 of 80
2018
30%
14 of 51
2019
31%
12 of 42
2020
30%
9 of 32
2021
too few complaints
2022
42%
11 of 29
2023
16%
6 of 40

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2022

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM07/17/2026
This is my 2nd Volvo xc90. Both models have turbo issues that is costly repairs. Volvo dealership also stated that turbo repairs usually are an issue in Volvo. My first Volvo was 2016 which had a turbo issue. Now my 2022 is now in shop due to turbo and oil spills on inside. There should be a recall.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSI09/22/2025
My car is a 2022 Volvo hybrid T8, 6-passenger XC90. I purchased the SUV in August of 2023 as a "certified pre-owned" vehicle with only 17,923 miles on it at the time of purchase. This SUV has been fine until within the last two to three months (July-Sept. 2025). Now, in Sept. of 2025, my SUV only has 30,795 miles and…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING04/16/2024FIRE
The contact owned a 2022 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving in stop-and-go traffic, the odor of smoke was suddenly present inside the vehicle and moments later smoke was viewed coming from under the hood. The vehicle was stopped and moments after exiting the vehicle the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Th…

Three of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2022 Volvo XC90 (4)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the …
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…
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.

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2022 Volvo XC90

Questions people ask about the 2022 Volvo XC90

Does the 2022 Volvo XC90 have fuel system problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 11 of 26 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2022 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2022 Volvo XC90?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the 2022 Volvo XC90. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Volvo XC90 years are better?

Among the Volvo XC90 years we track, the 2023 (16%), the 2018 (30%) and the 2020 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2022 (42%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2022 Volvo XC90?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2022 Volvo XC90 has an elevated fuel system complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing fuel system work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the fuel system. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.