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Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2018 Volvo XC90

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

Owners have filed 50 safety complaints about the 2018 Volvo XC90 with the US government. Of those, 2 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 3 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the seat belts and the electrical system.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 15 complaints, 30% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 16,719 miles, the median across the 16 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers December 2017 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

50 complaints on file

50

Complaints

2

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

3

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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15 · 30%
SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 22%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 · 18%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 12%
ENGINE 5 · 10%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 10%
STRUCTURE 4 · 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 4 · 8%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 · 6%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 · 4%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 4%
STEERING 2 · 4%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 50.

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 2026 at 13.

16 12 8 4
17 18 19 20 21 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2018 Volvo XC90. 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

3 on file

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

Defect investigations

1 on file

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.

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.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · 8,000 miles

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 15-40 MPH, THE SUV IS ACTIVATING THE CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING "CITY CRASH AVOIDANCE" WITHOUT ANYTHING IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION IS LOCKING UP THE VEHICLE AND SEAT BELTS LOCK UP SQUEEZE MY WIFE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALOR CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE MODULES THAT CONTROL THIS FEATURE WITHOUT THEM SHOWING BAD. THIS HAS HAPPENDED ON THE SAME ROAD ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint 11241056. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 injured

At approximately 6:30 PM, after normal driving and parking at a local park, our family was unloading children from the vehicle. One child was standing next to the vehicle while we removed a younger child from the rear seat. The child suddenly screamed and stated that he had burned himself. We later determined that he had accidentally come into contact with the exterior exhaust outlet. As we continued walking, we noticed the injury was more severe than initially believed. We took photographs of the burn and later sought medical evaluation. The physician determined that the injury was a second-degree burn due to blistering and provided treatment recommendations. The vehicle was operating

NHTSA complaint 11744366, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

crash · towed

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] CT, the vehicle experienced a sudden multi-system safety and actual brake failure while in a parking-lot/low-speed setting near [XXX} in Austin, Texas. The vehicle displayed multiple urgent warning messages and indicators, including power steering failure / stop safely, brake/ABS warning, SRS airbag service urgent warning, stability/traction warning, battery/electrical warning, check-engine warning, and tire-pressure warning. The vehicle ended in an irregular/distressed parking position after trying to locate a concrete block to force stop the car due to ABSOLUTE BRAKE FAILURE, E

NHTSA complaint 11746058, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

crash · 5,000 miles

VOLVO XC90 2018 MODELS WILL NOT ALWAYS DISPLAY REAR VIEW CAMERA CONTENT WITHIN 2 SECONDS OF SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AS PER FMVSS 111. THIS IS DUE TO REALLY SLOW AND LAGGING INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. BEHAVIOR IS EVIDENT ON MULTIPLE MODELS AND VEHICLES WHICH SHARE SAME SENSUS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint 11150284. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" "Gear Lever Locked" and related electrical system symptoms), the service manager at Volvo Cars Brooklyn was able to remotely diagnose the likely cause by telephone, before the vehicle was even towed to the shop, specifically instructing the owner to check for dampness under the driver's floor mat, which was confirmed to be present. This indicates the

NHTSA complaint 11759327, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on August 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" and "Gear Lever Locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 Volvo XC90 to be towed to Volvo Cars Brooklyn on August 11, 2026. At that time, dampness was discovered under the driver’s floor mat, leading to the discovery of a sunroof leak and resulting water intrusion. The dealership represented the vehicle as fully repaired and safe to drive. The same safety-critical malfunction occurred later that night, while driving about 90 miles away from the dealership, with the

NHTSA complaint 11759206, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
At first I was having issues with stop and start, replaced the battery then was told I wasted coffee in my center Console and it cause electrical issues and was told the repairs would be 3,400 in which collision issuance paid for. After the repairs my driver side seat belt would latch then the passenger side wouldn’t latch either so I currently don’t have working A/C or working seatbelts which is known problem for these vehicles.

NHTSA complaint 11757883. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The air conditioning evaporator core has been widely known to freeze and crack on 2016-2021 models of the xc90 which sends toxic refrigerant smell thru the vents. This is a big safety hazard and should be recalled. Volvo knows about this but only does a goodwill repair to loyal customers who purchased the vehicle new and have all service records from the dealership. This is a $4000 repair for everyone else for a manufacturer defect and safety issue

NHTSA complaint 11749955. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
VIN: [XXX] •Make/Model/Year: 2018 Volvo XC90 •Mileage at time of each incident (58,385 / 58,480 / 68,261) •Approximate dates of each incident Vehicle has experienced recurring brake system failures. First, a seized rear brake caliper (Sept 2025) requiring caliper/rotor/pad replacement. Four days later, brake pedal became stiff and hard to depress; brake booster diagnosed as internally failed and replaced. Approximately 9 months and 9,800 miles later, vehicle experienced complete loss of braking ability while driving — brake pedal would not stop the vehicle, driver had to use the parking brake to stop, vehicle was towed to dealer. All repairs performed at authorized Volvo dealer. This is a

NHTSA complaint 11748675, quoted in part. 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 29 2 —
2024 36 3 —
2023 40 6 —
2022 29 4 —
2021 37 6 —
2020 32 7 —
2019 42 6 —
2017 79 7 —
2016 197 8 —
2011 19 1 —
2010 12 3 —

Other 2018 Volvo models

XC60 36 S90 16 VNL 8

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