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Cars › Volvo › XC90 › 2023

2023 Volvo XC90 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
16%
6 of 40 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Volvo XC90. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 16% of relevant complaints.

Better than 92% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2023 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 42%. 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
6
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
40
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
0 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

BACK OVER PREVENTION12 · 30%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10 · 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7 · 18%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE6 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM5 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 10%

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.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM01/12/2026
On the morning of January 12, 2026, I attempted to unplug my 2023 Volvo XC90 Recharge (plug-in hybrid) from my home charging station in order to drive to an appointment. I had turned on the climate control remotely from the Volvo app while inside the house. When I went to unplug the vehicle, the charging connector was …
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSIO07/08/2024
Third instance of reduced engine performance warning system taking over the car, which results in the "turtle mode" coming on and throttling vehicle speeds. The car does not respond to gas except at lower speeds. Then the Check Engine light also came on.
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM06/03/2024
Check engine light comes on every few weeks. Dealer inspects, resets, and says software issues. Now engine performance lights and "turtle mode" has come on twice throttling my speed while driving. Again no known cause and just resetting. Currently in a loaner vehicle while they research.

Three of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2023 Volvo XC90 (6)

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 …
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60, V60CC, V90CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic error in the Brake Control Module 2 (BC…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 S60, V60CC, XC60, XC90, XC40, and C40 vehicles. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) may be falsely detected for the …

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

Before you buy a 2023 Volvo XC90

Questions people ask about the 2023 Volvo XC90

Does the 2023 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Volvo XC90?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2023 Volvo XC90. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Volvo XC90 years are better?

The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Volvo XC90 years we track (16%). The other years run higher.

Should I buy a 2023 Volvo XC90?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Volvo XC90 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.