The Used Car Index

2005 Volvo XC90 problems

NHTSA lists 223 complaints for the 2005 Volvo XC90, 1 of them mention a crash and 3 mention a fire. 1 complaints mention an injury, with 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLVO XC90.

At a glance

Complaints
223
With crash
1
With fire
3
With injury (complaints)
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
0
Recalls
6
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
158,733
Investigations
4
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
219

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
POWER TRAIN6227.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5122.9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4017.9%
ENGINE2913.0%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2511.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM229.9%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE94.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER94.0%
STEERING83.6%
TIRES83.6%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION38
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGENGINE12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCOOLING SYSTEM5
POWER TRAINTRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)3
STEERINGLINKAGES3
STRUCTUREBODY3
TIRESTREAD/BELT2
VISIBILITYSUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
VISIBILITYWINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
AIR BAGSFRONTAL1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

6 recalls.

10V566000

Date: 2010-11-08. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT. (excerpt)

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE. (excerpt)

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMI (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

09V483000

Date: 2009-12-18. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

Defect: VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSE (excerpt)

Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. (excerpt)

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V221000

Date: 2007-05-25. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WHILE DOING BATTERY MAINTENANCE THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN BE MISPLACED UNDER A BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY.

Consequence: MISPLACEMENT OF THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK AS IT CAN RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY WHICH COULD THEN LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE JACK CRANK HANDLE AND A WARNING LABEL WITH APPROVED TEXT WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY. THIS WARNING LABEL WILL INFORM AN OPERATOR NOT TO PLACE THE JACK CRANK HANDLE BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

06V155000

Date: 2006-05-05. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES,THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT.

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

06V144000

Date: 2006-04-28. Systems: VISIBILITY.

Defect: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS DRIVESHAFT, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE WIPERS FROM THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence: INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V529000

Date: 2005-11-17. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID MAY DEVELOP INTO A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO GROUND.

Consequence: SMOKE MAY APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING, ELECTRICAL POWER COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN THE WARNING LAMPS BEING DEACTIVATED. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

4 investigations; 0 open.

PE10025

Opened: 2010-07-20. Closed: 2010-11-22.

Central Electronic Module Failure

Volvo acknowledged a problem affecting some subject vehicles involving water seepage into the plenum box area in the engine compartment.When this occurs water may enter into the interior / passenger compartment and track along the wiring harness for the Central Electronic Module (CEM), the device that controls many of the vehicle's electrical functions including wiper operation, lighting, and tran

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

EA06006

Opened: 2006-03-21. Closed: 2007-06-14.

VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

DURING PE05-057 AND EA06-006 ODI IDENTIFIED TWO CONDITIONS INVOLVING THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005 VOLVO XC90 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES THAT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE:(1) POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE GROUNDING TO THE STARTER SOLENOID HOUSING; AND (2) MISPLACED JACK CRANK HANDLES UNDER THE BATTERY BRACKET AFTER BATTERY SERVICE/MAINTENANCE.DURING PE05-057 VOLVO INITIATED A SAFETY RE

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT.

Linked campaign numbers: 07V221000.

PE05064

Opened: 2005-12-02. Closed: 2006-05-10.

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM PERFORMANCE

THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED NHTSA BY LETTER DATED APRIL 21, 2006, THAT A SAFETY RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED FOR CORRECTION OF THIS PROBLEM ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 - 2006 VOLVO XC90 VEHICLES. THE RECALL AFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 122,400 SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED BETWEEN AUGUST 2002 AND OCTOBER 2005.NHTSA HAS ASSIGNED NO. 06V-144 TO THIS RECALL ACTION.THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL CONSIST OF REPLACING THE E

Systems: VISIBILITY.

Linked campaign numbers: 06V144000.

PE05057

Opened: 2005-11-02. Closed: 2006-03-23.

VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION, PE05-057 BASED ON EARLY WARNING DATA SUBMITTED TO ODI BY VOLVO. THE DATA CONTAINED FIELD REPORTS OF THERMAL FAILURES OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE. ON NOVEMBER 17, 2005, VOLVO NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT HAD IDENTIFIED A SAFETY DEFECT IN THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES IN APPROXIMATELY 9,000 MY 2005 VOLVO XC90 VEHICLES WITH SIX CYLINDER ENG

Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Linked campaign numbers: 05V529000.

Manufacturer communications

219 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT110
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM70
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY19
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING14
UNKNOWN OR OTHER12
WHEELS11
POWER TRAIN7
SEAT BELTS7

11032678

Date: 2026-04-23. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.

This is a Technical Journal: Text plus 2 PDFs and 1 .PNG Oil Consumption test. Perform the test. Follow service procedure
 Description and Service sections updated to clarify that vehicle reports are not required.

11032671

Date: 2026-04-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This is a TJ text only - The purpose of this TJ is to be a master reference list to easily identify any components that are on prior approval. This TJ will be regularily updated as items are added or removed from prior approval.
 Current items under prior approval are listed in the "Service" sec

11027173

Date: 2025-12-06. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This is a Technical Journal. Vehicle type and platform identification.

11020437

Date: 2025-04-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session:
 a ?Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V.
 a ?Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a

11016002

Date: 2025-02-21. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibil

11015994

Date: 2025-02-13. Type: Service Campaign. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

Volvo Cars USA LLC and Volvo Car Canada LTD on behalf of the Volvo Car Corporation has decided to launch Service Action S10303 on certain model year 2025 EX90 vehicles.
 Volvo Car Investigations have identified that there is a pairing issue with the key fob.
 As a result, there is a possibil

11014112

Date: 2025-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

This is a Technical Journal: Remote connection, BOMGAR application. Before joining a remote session:
 a ?Connect a suitable battery maintainer/charger and verify that the battery voltage indicated in VIDA is between 12.5V and 14.9V.
 a ?Connect to the vehicle over a wired connection using a

11014113

Date: 2025-01-16. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This is a Technical Journal: Vehicle/Connectivity report checklist. To provide timely and high-quality feedback to the appropriate department or factory

11007925

Date: 2024-08-14. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Information about valid Software partnumbers to order and download Software for "PDS" Pre-Delivery Service

10249191

Date: 2024-01-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

This is a Technical Journal: 12V Battery Testing Method

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
XC90223

Same model, other years

All model years | All Volvo models

Other Volvo models, 2005

Sources

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