Volvo XC90: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Volvo XC90 problems by model year, from 539 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2016 (52%, 96 drivetrain complaints), 2022 (42%, 11 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (41%, 30 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 7 Volvo XC90 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (16%), 2018 (30%) and 2020 (30%). 2023, 2018 and 2020 rest on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat them as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2022 (42%) to 2023 (16%), down 26 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2016 drew the most drivetrain complaints (96 of 178 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Volvo XC90 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 XC90 | too few to score | – | 3 | 12 | – | 3 |
| 2011 XC90 | too few to score | – | 8 | 19 | – | 1 |
| 2012 XC90 | too few to score | – | 1 | 3 | – | 0 |
| 2013 XC90 | too few to score | – | 3 | 11 | – | 0 |
| 2014 XC90 | too few to score | – | 1 | 4 | – | 0 |
| 2016 XC90 | high | 52% | 96 | 198 | 1/7 | 8 |
| 2017 XC90 | high | 41% | 30 | 80 | 3/7 | 7 |
| 2018 XC90 | no elevated signal | 30% | 14 | 51 | 6/7 | 3 |
| 2019 XC90 | no elevated signal | 31% | 12 | 42 | 4/7 | 6 |
| 2020 XC90 | no elevated signal | 30% | 9 | 32 | 5/7 | 7 |
| 2021 XC90 | too few to score | – | 6 | 18 | – | 6 |
| 2022 XC90 | high | 42% | 11 | 29 | 2/7 | 4 |
| 2023 XC90 | no elevated signal | 16% | 6 | 40 | 7/7 | 6 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Volvo XC90 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Volvo XC90 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Volvo XC90 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 21 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2019 | 19V308000 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings | 2016 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V793000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm) | 2022–2023 |
19 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2015 | 15V342000 | air bags: side/window | 2016 |
| Aug 2015 | 15V497000 | air bags: side/window | 2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V268000 | visibility: sun/moon roof assembly | 2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V690000 | equipment: appliance: air conditioner | 2016–2017 |
| Nov 2016 | 16V798000 | seat belts: front: buckle assembly | 2016–2017 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V104000 | air bags: side/window | 2017 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V370000 | seat belts | 2017 |
| Nov 2018 | 18V800000 | electrical system: software | 2017–2019 |
| Mar 2020 | 20V144000 | forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking | 2019–2020 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V273000 | electrical system: software | 2016–2020 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V414000 | electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers | 2019–2020 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V716000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2020 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V001000 | steering | 2019, 2020, 2022 |
| Jan 2023 | 23V012000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2023 |
| Mar 2023 | 23V188000 | electrical system | 2023 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V827000 | seat belts: critical fasteners | 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 |
| Mar 2025 | 25V179000 | electrical system: software | 2020–2022 |
| May 2025 | 25V282000 | back over prevention: software | 2023 |
| Dec 2025 | 25V908000 | back over prevention: software | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Volvo XC90
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Volvo XC90
What are the worst years for the Volvo XC90?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Volvo XC90 years are the 2016 (52% of relevant complaints, high), the 2022 (42% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2017 (41% of relevant complaints, high). 3 of 7 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Volvo XC90?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Volvo XC90 years are the 2023 (16%), the 2018 (30%) and the 2020 (30%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 7 scored years, 178 of 442 relevant NHTSA complaints (40%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2016, 2017 and 2022.
Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 7 Volvo XC90 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 4 do not. Pooled across those years, 40% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Volvo XC90?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Volvo XC90 years we track, out of 21 in total: 19V308000 (Apr 2019, 2016), 22V793000 (Oct 2022, 2022–2023). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.