CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2017 Volvo S90

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

Owners have filed 8 safety complaints about the 2017 Volvo S90 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. 4 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the fuel and propulsion system, named in 1 complaint, 13% of the total.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2017 to January 2023 · How this is counted

What is on file

8 complaints on file

8

Complaints

1

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
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 · 50%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 13%
POWER TRAIN 1 · 13%
STRUCTURE 1 · 13%
SUSPENSION 1 · 13%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 8.

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 2017 at 3.

4 3 2 1
17 21 22 23

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2023.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2017 Volvo S90. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

4 on file

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

18V800000 · November 13, 2018

The defect
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
The risk
If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 17,548 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

17V104000 · February 16, 2017

The defect
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017 XC90, S90, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The bolts that secure the Inflatable Curtain (IC) air bags in place may break, possibly resulting in the IC air bag deploying improperly in the event of a crash. As, such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
The risk
If the IC air bags do not deploy properly in the event of a crash, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 1, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89714.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 10,476 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

16V798000 · November 2, 2016

The defect
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 74,027 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

16V690000 · September 26, 2016

The defect
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Volvo XC90 and S90 vehicles manufactured April 15, 2015 through September 19, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning may leak into the passenger compartment due to a drain hose installation error during manufacturing.
The risk
Significant water drainage into the passenger compartment may adversely affect air bag deployment in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain hose for proper installation, replacing the hose as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on November the 14, 2016. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R89707.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 43,766 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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

crash · 5,000 miles

I LEASE A 2017 VOLVO S90 WITH AUTO-BRAKE AND START/STOP TECHNOLOGY. RECENTLY I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. I ROLLED FORWARD A FEW FEET AND REALIZED I NEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FOR SOMETHING. I BECAME DISTRACTED DUE TO AN ITEM ON MY DRIVERS SEAT AND SINCE THE VEHICLES ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING DUE TO START-STOP TECHNOLOGY I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE AND THAT THE IGNITION WAS IN THE ON POSITION. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DRIVERS DOOR. WHEN I DID SO , THE START-STOP TECHNOLOGY ENGAGED AND THE CAR DROVE OFF WITHOUT ME. THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE CAR WAS THAT IT RAN INTO MY HOME. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY FLAW THAT VOLVO NEEDS TO

NHTSA complaint 10985775, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Volvo re-engineered the front struts due to the ones they used to be defective/known to fail. This re-engineering requires both left and right struts to be what they call "upgraded" at the same time, because they changed the mounting brackets and no longer make the defective part. My safety is at risk because this is a major component in keeping my car stabilized on the road. I now no longer take the highway due to the danger of an accident at high speeds. The issue is known at both the dealership level and local level. The issues was reported to me by a Volvo dealership upon a routine oil change. No warning indicating light or notice by the manufacture (ether by mail or through there app).

NHTSA complaint 11502554. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The door latches freeze at low temperatures (e.g. -10F) and I can not access the vehicle. This can be very dangerous in emergency situations (sick child that needs to go to the hospital, a dangerous person in a dark parking lot, extreme cold in a remote location etc.). Volvo does not have a fix and cannot recommend preventative maintenance for this.

NHTSA complaint 11489618. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I could smell gasoline coming from the vents for several days. I opened the hood and found gasoline leaking from one of the hoses near the engine. I had the car towed to the volvo dealership and they found a leaking low pressure fuel sensor and replaced it.

NHTSA complaint 11462877. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
At low temperatures, the door latches are inoperable and you cannot open the doors. In instances of emergency this would make it very hard to get access to somebody inside the car. In addition, in extreme weather conditions or cases where you are personally in danger you may not be able to gain access to your car.

NHTSA complaint 11449434. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

40,000 miles

I HAVE HAD AN UNRESOLVED ISSUE WITH A PERSISTENT VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHILE AT 50MPH OR HIGHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A UNIVERSAL ISSUE WITH VOLVOS POST 2017 ACROSS MODELS. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF MY EMAILS AND NON-RESPONSES FROM VOLVO DEALER REPS WHO HAVE CLAIMED IT IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WITH WHOM I TEST DROVE THE CAR AFTER THEIR FAILURE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE AND THE SAME RESPONSE. THE AUSTIN, TEXAS VOLVO MECHANIC WHO DROVE WITH ME INDICATED THAT VOLVO CARS OF AMERICA MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO IDENTIFY A PROBLEM AND JUSTIFY A REPAIR TO THIS ISSUE WHICH SEEMS LIKE AN ORGANIZED CONSPIRACY. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A COMMON

NHTSA complaint 11397167, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

14,000 miles

I PERSONALLY, BACK IN AUGUST OF 2016 ORDERED A NEW 2017 VOLVO S90 T5 INSCRIPTION, AND TOOK DELIVER IN NOVEMBER 2016. I BEGAN NOTICING A LITTLE VIBRATION AROUND JULY TIME FRAME BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE FIRST MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIDN'T FEEL IT AS MUCH. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER WHEN DRIVING TO WORK WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR MORE, MOST NOTICEABLY AT 55 MPH PLUS ON AN INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY THERE WAS AN VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVER SEAT SO BAD THE CAR (PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT) FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. AFTER SEVERAL VISITS TO MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT ONE OR MAYBE 2 OF MY OEM TIRES (PIRELLI

NHTSA complaint 11054520, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo S90

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 16 2 —

Other 2017 Volvo models

XC90 79 S60 17 XC60 16

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Volvo on this site — 71 vehicles.

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.

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst