Used Volvo XC90 2015-present reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

The XC90 is a large car and will have been used on school runs, rat runs and in tight car parks; so check bodywork carefully for scuffs and the alloy wheels for any kerb damage.

You should also inspect the carpets and upholstery for stains or marks, especially on versions with a light colour interior.

Potential engine fire

Volvo is presently in the process of recalling around 70,000 cars in the UK fitted with a 2.0-litre diesel engine, over potential engine fires. There isn't a fix at the moment, so owners are being told to pay attention to any unusual smells coming into the interior, if the engine warning light illuminates, or if the engine hesitates under acceleration. Read our news story on this for further information or contact Volvo directly on 01628 854 210.

Cracked fuel hose

There was a recall for 30,777 examples of XC90 because a fuel hose was found to be cracking up from the inside, which could lead to a fuel leak if not fixed. This applies to cars built between 11 April 2015 and 30 March 2016, and a Volvo dealer will be able to tell you if your car is affected or not.

Airbag might not deploy correctly in an accident

There have been three recalls for airbags that might not deploy correctly during a collision. This first is due to airbags that don't meet the required specification and were fitted to models produced between 29 August 2016 and 7 September 2016. The second is for the third-row curtain airbags and concerns that the surrounding interior trim prevents it from operating correctly – it applies to early XC90s built up to 10 July 2015. The last action is for the retaining bolt on the curtain airbag; it could break and reduce the level of protection the airbag can provide. This recall affects certain XC90s built between 21 November 2016 and 1 March 2017.

Software issue

A problem was found with the vehicle connectivity module (VCM), which sends location information to the emergency services after a collision. It applies to cars constructed between 4 May 2016 and 19 August 2016.

Seatbelt may separate from buckle

A small number of cars made between 16 February 2015 and 19 August 2016 had a problem with front seatbelt buckles that may not have been punched correctly during production. This could result in the buckle and seatbelt bracket separating during a collision.

Engine cooling hose may break

An engine coolant hose has been found to fail on a relatively small number of XC90 models built since the start of production and 26 May 2019, but your Volvo dealer will be able to tell you if your car is one of those affected.

Third-row seatbelt pretensioner

A pretensioner, which forms part of the seatbelt restraint system, has been found to be faulty on examples made between 21 November 2016 and 1 March 2017. It applies to the seatbelt fitted to the third row seat on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Braking issue

In March 2020 Volvo recalled nearly 750,000 vehicles worldwide amid concerns that their autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems are faulty.

The fault - affecting 736,430 cars, 56,368 of which are in the UK - was identified by Danish motoring body FDM during a road test in late 2019. The emergency brake on a Volvo XC90 consistently failed, meaning that the car did not automatically apply the brakes as expected when driven towards a special test pillow that normally would engage the system. The affected cars are safe to use: the regular braking system in these cars is not affected by the AEB issue and has full functionality. It's worth checking that this recall has been applied to the vehicle you're looking at.

Click here for more information. Contact your local Volvo dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

Reliability is good. In our most recent What Car? Reliability Survey, the Volvo XC90 was fifth out of 12 cars in the seven-seater class.

Reliability rating 93.2%

What went wrong? Non-engine electrics 7%, battery 4%, exhaust 4%, fuel system 4%, sat-nav/infotainment 4%, suspension 4%

Although 25% of the Volvo XC90 we were told about had suffered a fault, none was costly or time-consuming to put right. Very few of the afflicted cars were undriveable, and 50% of the issues were sorted within a day. Volvo and its dealers covered the cost of all remedial work.

You can check out the full list of seven-seat cars here.

Volvo as a brand ranked 13th out of 34 manufacturers featured with an excellent score of 92.8%. That put it above Audi and BMW but below Honda, Hyundai and Lexus. Check out the full list of manufacturers here.

All XC90s come from new with a three-year, 60,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty. T8 XC90’s have their battery packs covered by a separate eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Used Volvo XC90: the owners' view

It's good news on the whole regarding reliability.

Several owners praised the XC90 for its dependable performance, noting few issues within the first years of ownership. However, others reported recurring problems, including faulty warning lights, electronic glitches and drivetrain malfunctions. These issues sometimes led to costly repairs.

Feedback on dealer service was also varied. Positive remarks were made about the professionalism and helpfulness of Volvo dealerships, with many readers feeling well-supported during repair processes. Nevertheless, some expressed frustration over the lengthy wait times for service appointments and parts, which compounded the inconvenience of repairs.

Overall, the Volvo XC90 demonstrates good reliability with one or two exceptions, and while dealer service is generally praised, there is room for improvement in efficiency and parts availability.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information