CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2017 Volvo XC90

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

75

Complaints

3

Crashes

7

Fires

9

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 Volvo XC90 have filed 75 safety complaints with NHTSA between January 2017 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 24 of them (32%). The typical failure was reported at 20,000 miles, the median across the 31 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 17 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 10 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (7)

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

23V827000 · December 7, 2023

The defect
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
The risk
An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 2,911 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

21V273000 · April 21, 2021

The defect
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
The risk
The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 162 vehicles across all model years covered

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

SEAT BELTS

17V370000 · June 8, 2017

The defect
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017 XC90 vehicles. The Micro Gas Generator (MGG), a subcomponent part used within the right hand side seat belt retractor for the third row seats, may detach after the seatbelt retractor pretensioner is deployed.
The risk
Although, the seat belt will operate as intended in the event of a crash, if the MGG detaches, it may be a projectile within the vehicle cabin, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the third row passenger's side seatbelt retractor, free of charge. The recall began August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89716.

Volvo Car USA LLC · up to 1,305 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

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 75.

ENGINE 24 32%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 28%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17 23%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 9%
STRUCTURE 7 9%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 5 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4 5%
AIR BAGS 3 4%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 4%
POWER TRAIN 3 4%
SUSPENSION 3 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 13.

2017 2024 2026
2017 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

4 injured · fire · 100,000 miles

The contact owned a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at 10 MPH, a white-colored smoke began to emit from the vehicle's engine compartment. The "Coolant Low" warning message soon appeared on the instrument panel as the contact pulled over into a parking lot and exited the vehicle with her three children. As the smoke grew rampantly, the vehicle quickly caught fire. A fellow motorist attempted to extinguish the fire but to no avail. The authorities quickly arrived at the scene and the fire department extinguished the fire. While the incident all mentally shook the contact and her 3 children; no medical treatment was rendered. A police report was not filed. The vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11615193, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

3 injured · fire · towed · 150,000 miles

The contact owned a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after driving 35 miles at 70 MPH on I-95 South in South Carolina, the contact started smelling an abnormally gasoline odor inside the vehicle entering through the AC vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact and her husband continued driving, believing that the odor was coming from the outside because the air recirculation switch was set to recirculate the air inside the vehicle. The contact stated that after driving an additional 5 miles, the gasoline odor grew stronger, and the contact suggested to her husband to pull over so that they could exit the vehicle. The contact stated that her husband pulled over and

NHTSA complaint 11705066, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

2 injured · 37,400 miles

WHEN THE VEHICLE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED, THE SEATBELT TENSIONS BECOME SO TIGHT HE CAN CAUSE INJURY.

NHTSA complaint 11269902. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY

fire · towed · 19,000 miles

WHILE DRIVING WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR, VOLVO HOOD STARTED TO SMOKE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS WENT OFF. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED ENGINE OFF, REMOVED KIDS FROM THE CAR, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, EVEN THOUGH FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE - ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, ETC - BUT THE CAR ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT. VOLVO HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEARS - HIGHLY UNUSUAL - BUT OTHERWISE WE HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT A PROBLEM. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE WERE ON CITY STREETS AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL

NHTSA complaint 11141828, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

94,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the window power switch was enabled; however, the window switch failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the rear-view camera, the door switch, and the air conditioner failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact became aware of water on the front passenger’s side floorboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11756005, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Spark plugs, fuel injectors, cylinders and cylinder walls, pistons, oxygen sensor. Our safety was put at risk because the vehicles "reduced performance" was triggered and it affected the acceleration of the vehicle. The Volvo dealership was able to reproduce the issue because of the engine misfires.The only alert we received was the day prior our engine needed a liter of oil. We topped off the oil and that alert went away. The day we had the reduced performance we were alerted of that at the time on the highway. It's a little turtle icon. We were not able to accelerate efficiently and it was definitely unsafe to be driving but we had to get home.

NHTSA complaint 11749713. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

towed · 85,000 miles

The contact's daughter owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while her son-in-law was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firmly depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the vacuum hose had detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA complaint 11742110. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

To whom it may concern. Our 2017 XC90 unexpectedly, spantaneously, and catastrophically caught fire under the hood and was a total loss 5 minutes after parking it on April 19, 2026. There were no leaks or other signs of mechanical issues. The vehicle had all regular maintenance completed at the Byers Volvo Service Department in Columbus, OH. It had no open recalls. It was always parked overnight in a garage. The Fire Inspector noted a possible vehicle manufacturing defect as the cause of the fire, however the vehicle was too heavily damaged to be definitive. We do have video of the entire incident as the Volvo was parked on Federal Government Property at the time. We are happy to share any

NHTSA complaint 11734076, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
VCM and Rearview camera glitching not working, can cause crashes. Everything was checked for voltage and works properly. It seems like it is a system infotainment issue for 2017 Volvo xc90

NHTSA complaint 11729350. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The rear door on the driver side will not open. The child lock will not deactivate. No accident. I took my son to school and when I returned to open the door for my [XXX] old the door would not open. No warnings. A regular maintenance appeared days later. I do not understand why this is not being recalled based on online research showing the same thing happening with other Volvos. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint 11728812. 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
2016 197 8
2011 19 1
2010 12 3

Other 2017 Volvo models

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.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst