CSR

Volvo · NHTSA safety record

2025 Volvo XC90

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

Owners have filed 29 safety complaints about the 2025 Volvo XC90 with the US government. Of those, 5 describe a crash, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering back-over prevention.

The most complained-about system is back-over prevention, named in 7 complaints, 24% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 4,500 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers September 2024 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

29 complaints on file

29

Complaints

5

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

1

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
BACK OVER PREVENTION 7 · 24%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 · 24%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 17%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 14%
LANE DEPARTURE 2 · 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 7%
AIR BAGS 1 · 3%
ENGINE 1 · 3%
Other/I am not sure 1 · 3%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 3%
TIRES 1 · 3%
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 29.

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 2025 at 18.

20 15 10 5
24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2024 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 2025 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

2 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V908000 · December 23, 2025

The defect
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 413,151 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V282000 · May 8, 2025

The defect
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The risk
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.

Volvo Car USA, LLC · up to 413,151 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

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.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

1 injured · crash · towed

I was in an accident going about 35mph. I slammed into a vehicle that turned in front of me. His vehicle was totaled with all of his airbags deployed. My issue is NOT with my airbags. My issue is that the seatbelt pretensioner system (which is designed to prevent whiplash) the emergency braking system and the hazard lights ALL did not active during, and/or after the crash. My vehicle is equipped with the safety features and collision avoidance that consists of seatbelt pretension, auto hazard lights and auto braking in the event of or to prevent a collision. Ironically, a few months before my accident, the seatbelt compression system erroneously activated during a right hand turn in my

NHTSA complaint 11765680, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash · towed · 5,000 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving downhill at 15 MPH, while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not come to a complete stop as intended. No warning light illuminated. The contact stated that he drove up a hill in order to come to a stop. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic, where it was left for further diagnosis. The local dealer was not contacted. The air bags were deployed. No injuries were sustained, and no medical attention was sought. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact related to the failure to an NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V282000 (Back Over Prevention) that was

NHTSA complaint 11661009, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

crash

Two major incidents occurred: 1)My fiance and I were driving on the highway with our four children at a speed of >50 MPH. There were no cars around us (front or sides) and no debris in the road, and the automatic emergency braking system engaged and brought the car to an abrupt stop in the middle of the highway. It happened a second time shortly thereafter at a speed around 30 MPH, again without any obstructions. I'm happy to provide the car for inspection upon request unless the manufacturer takes responsibility for this very serious malfunction and grants us a manufacturer buy-back. Stopping abruptly for no reason on the highway could have caused someone to rear-end us at a high speed and

NHTSA complaint 11686070, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

crash

I was backing out of my drive. It was an early morning and it was very foggy. The windows were foggy and not totally defrosted yet. My camera wasnt showing everything around but we were having constant upgrade issues during this week of October 5th through the 10th. My automatic braking never activated even though it was turned on. I ran into a cattle feeder overhang. I never seen it in my camera view. The windows seem to have a really bad fog to them. My back driver tail-light got broken and back driver panel got dented and scratched. There are probably more things involved as its in the shop as I am typing this out. The adjustor had to send another estimate to my insurance company for

NHTSA complaint 11697846, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

20,551 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH from a stop, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated to 40 MPH while entering an access road and turning right. The contact was able to continue driving to the residence. The vehicle was taken to be repaired on several occasions for Google software issues. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer contacted manufacturer and reported that there was no fault found with the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 20,551.

NHTSA complaint 11765214. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

4,500 miles

The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the safety alert audible sounds failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the alerts failed to provide an audible alert. The contact turned off the vehicle and started and the system independently reset. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and an unknown software update was performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure became persistent. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera screen seized. The contact stated that the rear-view camera displayed a still image. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent

NHTSA complaint 11753962, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Component/system: The gear selector system failed, triggering a “Gear Selector Service Required” warning. The vehicle is a plug-in hybrid and remains available for inspection upon request. Safety risk: During the first incident, the vehicle became disabled while being driven, losing the ability to shift gears. This created a risk of being stranded in traffic and loss of vehicle control/mobility on the road. Confirmed by dealer: Yes. The dealer diagnosed a rotary encoder signal failure (DTC: TACM U200902) on the first occurrence and performed a full software update. The same warning recurred a second time; the dealer then replaced the gear selector assembly and start/brake switch module,

NHTSA complaint 11749143, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
I was parallel parked. I put the vehicle in reverse to pull out. When I’d gone a few feet in reverse I baked and the brakes were HARD and failed to stop the car immediately. I nearly hit the car behind me. He/she honked at me, that’s how close I was. It happened three times. I think in all three incidents I was going in reverse. I had the dealership look at the vehicle but they could not replicate the issue. So they claim that it is safe to drive!

NHTSA complaint 11742823. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The accident avoidance system engaged during a 55mph drive on a divided 4 lane road. no other cars on road, no animals. Car swerved sharply to left half way into left lane and brakes engaged sharply, enough that driver and passenger in front went forward. after clearing warning, and proceeding down the road a few hundred feet, same thing happened. Has also occurred during navigation of a sharp curve, possible due to picking up a small reflection sign well off road.

NHTSA complaint 11734492. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volvo XC90

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 36 3 —
2023 40 6 —
2022 29 4 —
2021 37 6 —
2020 32 7 —
2019 42 6 —
2018 50 3 —
2017 79 7 —
2016 197 8 —
2011 19 1 —
2010 12 3 —

Other 2025 Volvo models

EX90 72 XC60 35 XC40 11 EX30 9

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