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Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2011 Volvo XC90

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Volvo XC90 have filed 19 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2011 and February 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 5 of them (26%). The typical failure was reported at 94,000 miles, the median across the 13 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle.

Recalls (1)

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 19.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 26%
ENGINE 5 26%
POWER TRAIN 3 16%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 11%
SEAT BELTS 2 11%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 11%
STEERING 2 11%
AIR BAGS 1 5%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 5%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 5%
SEATS 1 5%
STRUCTURE 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 3.

2011 2017 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ENGINE

2 injured

The catillatic converter exploded as we started the vehicle .was a very loud explosion..no fire but lots of smoke.

NHTSA complaint 11716016. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 94,000 miles

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

NHTSA complaint 11413129, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

128,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the check engine warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

NHTSA complaint 11453927. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Electrical, Brake lights suddenly stopped working on both sides at once. I checked the fuse only to be told a relay may be the issue. The location of said relay is vague and not serviceable by owner. Risk of rear end collision. Of following traffic

NHTSA complaint 11452346. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

127,200 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11383598. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
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

NHTSA complaint 11311027. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo XC90

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 27 2 —
2024 34 3 —
2023 39 6 —
2022 29 4 —
2021 32 6 —
2020 29 7 —
2019 40 6 —
2018 47 3 —
2017 75 7 —
2016 197 8 —
2010 12 3 —

Other 2011 Volvo models

XC60 36 XC70 15 C30 14 C70 12

Every Volvo on this site — 70 vehicles, 319 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

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.

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