Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 12 safety complaints
about the 2010 Volvo XC90 with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system,
named in 3 complaints, 25% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 97,500 miles,
the median across the 10
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers May 2014 to April 2023 · How this is counted
What is on file
12 complaints on file
12
Complaints
0
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
0
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 · 25%
3 25%
STEERING 2 · 17%
2 17%
STRUCTURE 2 · 17%
2 17%
TIRES 2 · 17%
2 17%
AIR BAGS 1 · 8%
1 8%
ENGINE 1 · 8%
1 8%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 8%
1 8%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 8%
1 8%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 · 8%
1 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 · 8%
1 8%
WHEELS 1 · 8%
1 8%
048
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 12.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2018 at 3.
4 3 2 1
142014162016182018192019202020232023
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2014 to 2023.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2010 Volvo XC90, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not rated
Frontal crash
Not rated
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Not rated
Side barrier
Not rated
Side pole
Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover
17.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
NHTSA made its frontal crash test harder for the 2011 model year, and says ratings from before that change should not be compared with ratings after it.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
3 on file
STEERING
11V286000 · May 18, 2011
The defect
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.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL PIPES ON THE POWER STEERING RACK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. · up to 350 vehicles across all model years covered
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk
AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
The 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 GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. · up to 416 vehicles across all model years covered
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
10V147000 · April 16, 2010
The defect
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 XC90 VEHICLES. A LEAK MAY DEVELOP IN THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE LINE AND A CONNECTOR.
The risk
FUEL ODOR MAY BE DETECTED. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN LEAD TO A FIRE AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE PRINTED ON THE FUEL LINE AND REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE IF IT FALLS WITHIN THE RECALLED RANGE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. · up to 2,494 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
towed · 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. Due to failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and discovered a leak in the fuel line. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V147000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
NHTSA complaint 11516504. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
140,000 miles
I WAS DRIVING MY WHEEL LOCKED I CANNOT TURN MY WHEEL
NHTSA complaint 11360982. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
151,500 miles
ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. TWO CONSECUTIVE TANKFULS AT ABOUT 1/4 TANK OR 135 MILES TO EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RESTARTED ENGINE AND LIMPED TO NEAREST GAS STATION. AFTER FILLUP ENGINE LIGHT CLEARED AND IT DROVE FINE UNTIL DOWN TO APPROX A QUARTER TANK AGAIN WHEN IT REOCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint 11299955. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE GETS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE DRIVING AREA WHEN GAS TANK FILLED. NO FUEL FOUND TO BE LEAKING. SMELL COMES FROM UNDER FLOOR BY BACKSEATS
NHTSA complaint 11256965. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
95,000 miles
STEERING OFTEN SHAKES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING COLUMN STICKS AT TIMES AND THEN IS VERY WOBBLY.
NHTSA complaint 11209692. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
101,200 miles
DROVE VOLVO ONE DAY AGO AND WHILE DRIVING ON RURAL HIGHWAY ROAD EARLY MORNING IN THE DARK, VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING TOTALLY SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND STALLED OUT. HAD TO VEER OFF ROAD AND COAST ON INCLINE WITH NOT MUCH MOMENTUM DUE TO CARS BEHIND ME. WAS DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT LUCKILY GOT VEHICLE INTO SMALL DITCH OFF ROAD . HAD TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE AS WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS ADVISED BY VOLVO DEALER AFTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND PART BURNED OUT INSIDE IT AND NEEDS REPLACED. ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THEN A YEAR AGO VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UPON START AND WANTED TO STALL, WAS CHECKED OUT AND THOUGHT MAYBE BAD GAS AS NO FURTHER SYMPTOMS. NOTHING HAPPENED AFTER AND CAR RAN NORMALLY …
NHTSA complaint 11144238, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed May 18, 2011.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst