EN

2011 Volvo XC90 SUV AWD

1
Recalls
16
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Rollover Risk: 17.9%

Complaints
Recalls

16 Complaints

for 2011 VOLVO XC90
04/20/2021
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/25/2021
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ2B1******
Summary

94,000 MILES 2011 VOLVO XC90 PURCHASED 4 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WATER INTRUDED THE FRONT PASSENGER CABIN AND DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH A SUNROOF DRAINAGEDEFECT IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VOLVO XC90. SIX INCHES OF WATER POOLED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR AND PERMEATED THE DASH CAUSING THE CEM TO SHORT AND START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH THICK SMOKE FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THE CAR ALARM BEGAN TO GO OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FIRE BEGAN IN THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT HOUSING THE CEM. THE CEM WIRES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS EFFECTED AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT PLUS SMOKE/FIRE/WATER REMEDIATION. PER MECHANIC REPAIRS EXCEED VALUE OF VEHICLE. TOTAL LOSS.

12/15/2020
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 12/10/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4852CT8B1******
Summary

DRIVER SEAT BELT DOES NOT FULLY RETRACT AFTER EVERY RELEASE. IT WILL BE LOOSE UNTIL YOU GUIDE IT UP TO THE HOLE. IT IS KIND OF OKAY FOR NOW BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THIS ISSUE COULD GET WORSE. I AM ALSO ALMOST CERTAIN THIS IS SIMILAR TO RECALL #R10029 THAT AFFECTS OUR 2011 XC60. THE PART MUST BE WORN. IT STILL RETRACTS AROUND PEOPLE BUT IF IT GETS WORSE, IT COULD BE FATAL DOWN THE LINE IF IT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY WITH A SMALLER DRIVER. PASSENGER BELT IS FINE. RIGID AND FIRM AS PICTURES SHOW UNLIKE THE DRIVER SIDE.

02/24/2020
Components: AIR BAGS,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 07/08/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ1B1******
Summary

THE BUILT-IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE MIDDLE CRACKED AFTER THE FIRST TIME I OPENED IT SO I CAN'T PUT IT BACK DOWN AND DON'T KNOW IF IT AFFECTS THE CHILD AIRBAG. I ASKED VOLVO ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $500 JUST TO SIMPLY LOOK AT IT BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO FIX IT OR IF COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS ISN'T SAFE AND I NOW HAVE A CHILD SEAT I CAN'T USE AND A SEAT I CAN'T PUT DOWN. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ABOUT THIS AND AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AKA SONS. MY VIN IS: [XXX] AND IT'S A 2011 VOLVO XC90. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

06/10/2019
Components: SUSPENSION
Incident Date: 06/02/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CT8C1******
Summary

SPRING BROKE ON FRONT STRUT AND SLICED INTO THE INNER SIDEWALL OF TIRE CAUSING THE TIRE TO BLOWOUT. VEHICLE HAS BEING DRIVEN ON A DIRT LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED (10 MPH). IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON A MAIN ROAD, THE VOLVO XC90 WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT-OF-CONTROL !

07/23/2018
Components: WHEELS
Incident Date: 07/22/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4852CT3B1******
Summary

SPARE WHEEL WINCH CABLE SEPARATED FROM WHEEL HUB RETAINER HOOK. THE HOOK DEVICE IS HELD IN PLACE BY A COMPRESSION RING OVER THE CABLE. COMPRESSION FAILED CAUSING SEPARATION AND DROPPING SPARE WHEEL ON ROADWAY WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. SPARE WHEEL BECAME A 30 LBS UNCONTROLLED PROJECTILE/HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS. NO RUST OR CORROSION DETECTED, SEE PICTURES

11/10/2017
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 04/04/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ5B1******
Summary

WHINING NOISE IN STEERING..... I CHECKED AND LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID IN 2015... ALSO IN 2016, AND NOW AGAIN IN 2017... I ADDED FLUID EACH TIME....

07/18/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/08/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CY2B1******
Summary

THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN SEVERAL VOLVO CAR MODELS SINCE 2008. THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PLACE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE VOLVO XM/SIRIUS RADIO SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MANY VOLVO MODELS AND RESULTING BATTERY DRAIN, BATTERY REPLACEMENT COSTS, VOLVO FIRMWARE UPGRADE COSTS AND THE ADDITIONAL INABILITY TO PASS CALIFORNIA SMOG TESTS. THE PROBLEM: WHEN AN AFFECTED VOLVO VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION TO XM/SIRIUS RADIO, THE INTEGRATED VOLVO RADIO SYSTEM CONTINUALLY AND CONSTANTLY CHECKS FOR XM/SIRIUS ACCOUNT REACTIVATION, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS CONSTANT ELECTRONIC SEARCHING DRAINS A NEW AND FULLY CHARGED BATTERY WITHIN TWO TO THREE DAYS. THIS HAS LEFT MANY VEHICLE OWNERS STRANDED AND HAS COST OWNERS THOUSANDS IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS, BATTERY REPLACEMENTS AND TOWING CHARGES. (THIS FREQUENTLY OCCURS TO VOLVO OWNERS LEAVING THEIR VEHICLES AT AIRPORT PARKING FOR A FEW DAYS.) VOLVO HAS BEEN SLOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN CHARGING CAR OWNERS FOR BATTERY REPLACEMENTS AND FIRMWARE UPGRADES. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE BATTERY DIES, IT RESETS THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE OBDII WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR SMOG TEST READINESS. THE ONEROUS DRIVE CYCLE REQUIRED TO GET THE OBDII SYSTEM INTO READINESS STATE PREVENTS USERS FROM BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE SMOG CERTIFICATIONS IN CALIFORNIA. VOLVO DEALERS WANT TO CHARGE $500 TO COMPLETE THIS SMOG TEST READINESS DRIVE CYCLE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECTIVE AND BATTERY DRAINING XM/SIRIUS SYSTEM AND THE ONEROUS DRIVE CYCLE THAT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO COMPLETE ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROADS & HIGHWAYS. (OUR MECHANIC, MY WIFE AND I HAVE ALL TRIED TO COMPLETE THE DRIVE CYCLE AND HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.) THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN DESIGN AND USABILITY WHICH VOLVO SHOULD BE REPAIRING WITHOUT COST TO THE CAR OWNER.

03/06/2017
Components: STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/02/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ5B1******
Summary

RECENTLY WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT WITHOUT KNOWING IT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR COMPUTER MESSAGE CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE RUNNING ON BATTERY. THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WE DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A VOLVO REPAIR FACILITY AND LEARNED WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT, THUS THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP,POWER STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE INOPERATIVE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLS EVERYTHING AND WOULD NOT ISSUE A WARNING UNTIL THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND/OR THE BATTERY WAS CLOSE TO FAILING. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER FOR A DRIVER OR FAMILY WHO MIGHT DRIVE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR AT THE VERY LEAST HARM THE ENGINE THROUGH OVERHEATING. THE LOSS OF THE ALTERNATOR SHOULD SEND A WARNING TO THE DRIVER THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND TO STOP AT THE EARLIEST SAFE PLACE AND SEEK ASSISTANCE.

03/09/2016
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 02/16/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ0B1******
Summary

THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V579000 MY CAR STALLED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS TRANSMISSION WENT INTO PROTECTION MODE. IT STARTED FINE AGAIN WITH NO ISSUES AND SINCE THEN RUNNING FINE AND I PUT CLOSE TO 800 MILES. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE XC90 IN THE LIST OF CARS AFFECTED FOR MODEL YEAR 2011. DEALER SIMPLY SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($ 6681) AND VOLVO DENIED ANY HELP. I CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING UPGRADING SOFTWARE ON THE MODULES AND THEY SUGGESTED IT WOULD COST FEW HUNDRES TO DO IT.

12/26/2014
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/24/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ2B1******
Summary

THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE FAILS DUE TO A DRAIN IN THE POWER SYSTEMS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ,THIS FAULT IS KNOWN TO VOLVO AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR .IF THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS SEARCH FOR BLUE TOOTH PHONE SIGNALS AND SATELLITE RADIO SIGNALS CAUSING A DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ENOUGH TO KILL THE BATTERY ON A DAILY BASIS. VOLVO SAYS THEY HAVE A REPAIR FOR THIS AND SAY THAT I MUST PAY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO VOLVO THEY SHOULD REPAIR THIS. *TR

06/11/2013
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 06/10/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ1B1******
Summary

TAILGATE STRUT MOUNTING BOLT BECAME DETACHED FROM CAR BODY AS I OPENED THE TAIL GATE.THE TAILGATE STARTED TO FALL CLOSED BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BEFORE IT HIT ME. *TR

06/05/2013
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/04/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

EVERY TIME I DO NOT TURN MY CAR ON FOR 2 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS MY CAR BATTERY DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 7 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF MY 2 YEAR LEASE. EACH TIME IT IS TOWED AND SENT TO VOLVO FOR SERVICE THEY REPORT THAT THEY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY CLAIMED IT WAS MY BLUE TOOTH DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE NEXT TIME IT WAS SIRIUS RADIO DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE LOST GOES ON AND ON. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION AS MY VAR BATTERY DIES EVERY TIME IT IS LEFT UNATTENDED. WITHOUT FAIL! *TR

08/24/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 07/18/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CZ1B1******
Summary

FROM THE BEGINNING THIS VEHICLE HAS DELAYED ACCELERATION, VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ON-COMING TRAFFIC, OR MAKING LEFT HAND TURN WITH ON-COMING TRAFFIC. BRAKES MAKE LOUD CRACKING POPPING SOUND WHEN BRAKING AND TURNING THE WHEEL, DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH IT MAKING SUCH AWFUL SOUNDS. *TR

04/20/2012
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 04/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2011 VOLVO XC90. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS SEAT BELT AUDIO SYSTEM DEFECT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL, THE SEAT BELT REMINDER CONSISTED OF AN AUDIBLE SIGNAL, AN INDICATOR LIGHT ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, AND A SYMBOL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WOULD ALERT THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IF THEIR SEAT BELTS WERE NOT FASTENED. HOWEVER, THE AUDIBLE SIGNAL ONLY OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED, WHICH WAS VIRTUALLY INAUDIBLE AND DID NOT OCCUR THEREAFTER EVEN IF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER DISCONNECTED THEIR SEAT BELTS DURING THE DRIVE. THE INDICATOR ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SYMBOL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE ONLY MOMENTARY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WARNING WAS INADEQUATE AND ALL TOO EASILY MISSED ESPECIALLY BY SENIOR CITIZENS, WHETHER THEY ARE THE PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER. *JB

10/04/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED OUR 2011 VOLVO XC90 BRAND NEW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A LAGS IN ACCELERATION. WHEN ACCELERATING THE CAR WOULD ROLL VERY SLOWLY UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY FLOORED. WE WAITED UNTIL OUR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE WAS DUE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE CIRCUMSTANCE. THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD UPDATE THE CAR'S COMPUTER WHICH SEEMED TO WORK BRIEFLY, BUT SHORTLY AFTER THE LAGGING BEGAN AGAIN. IT EVENTUALLY BECAME MORE AND MORE COMMON AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING MANY TIMES A WEEK. AFTER OBSERVING THESE LAGS IN ACCELERATION WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS OCCURS WHENEVER YOU STOP TO MAKE A TURN. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH FOR SOME TIME NOW AND REPORTS ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO APPEAR. IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

09/15/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 07/28/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: YV4952CY1B1******
Summary

I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE DELAY IN RE-ACCELERATION ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP @ A STOP SIGN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS TO TAKE A TURN AND THE CAR HESITATED AT A VERY SLOW PACE TO TAKE OFF. I CHALKED IT UP AS THE CAR BEING COLD EARLY IN THE MORNING. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN PERIODICALLY UNTIL ONE DAY IT HAPPENED AS I WAS STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WAITING TO TURN LEFT. WHEN THE INTERSECTION WAS CLEARED OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM A REASONABLE DISTANCE I PRESSED THE GAS TO GO AND THE CAR LITERALLY DRAGGED IN SLOW MOTION INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO SLOW THAT IT ALLOWED TIME FOR THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO REACH ME. WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN THE INTERSECTION AND THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING DIRECTLY AT ME AT FULL SPEED I HAD TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO JUMP KICK THE CAR INTO SPEED TO GET ACROSS THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. AFTER THAT NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE I CALLED MY DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ME IN THE NEXT DAY, GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE AND KEPT MY CAR OVERNIGHT. I GOT A CALL FROM MY SERVICE ADVISOR THE NEXT AFTERNOON STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WILL RESET THE CARS COMPUTER TO SEE IF THAT HELPS. WELL IT DIDN'T. I NOW DON'T DRIVE THE CAR UNLESS I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. IT'S STILL HAPPENING AND I DON'T FEEL COMPLETELY SAFE WHEN DRIVING MY CAR. OUR DAUGHTER WILL BE GETTING HER LICENSE SOON AND WE THOUGHT OUT OF OUR TWO CARS THAT THE VOLVO XC90 WILL BE THE SAFEST FOR HER TO DRIVE. NOW I DON'T SEE IT AS EVEN BEING AN OPTION FOR HER. I'VE BEEN ONLINE RESEARCHING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BY OTHER 2011 VOLVO XC90 OWNERS AND DIDN'T FIND MUCH OF ANYTHING. PERHAPS THERE WERE JUST A FEW BAD APPLES OUT OF THE BUNCH AND I JUST HAPPENED TO GET ONE OF THEM. MY 2011 WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THE SHOWROOM'S FLOOR JUNE 2011 WITH 550 MILES AT DELIVERY. I NOW HAVE A LITTLE OVER 4000 MILES. *KB

1 Recalls

for 2011 VOLVO XC90
18/05/2011
CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V286000
STEERING
THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Campaign Number: 11V286000
Manufacture: VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC.
Components: STEERING
Summary

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 XC90 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 29, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 16, 2010. THE POWER STEERING FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE OIL PIPE CONNECTION AT THE STEERING GEAR VALVE HOUSING.

Notes

VOLVO'S SAFETY RECALL NO. R242. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

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