2005 Volvo XC90

■ Significantly worse — known issue year

2005 Volvo XC90
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

2005: 223 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
2003	93
2004	462
2005	223
2006	53
2007	38
2008	29
2009	7
2010	12
2011	19
2012	3
2013	11
2014	4
2015	0
2016	195
2017	73
2018	46
2019	37
2020	28
2021	32
2022	28
2023	39
2024	30
2025	26

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%

22% of complaints: electrical system — 50 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

DRIVING IN PITCH BLACK NIGHT ON BACKROADS OF CHARLESTON, SC. LIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED FOR A FEW DAYS. LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR WENT OFF ROAD AS WE WERE IN A CURVE. REGAINED CONTROL AFTER SPINNING ON WET GRASS.

NHTSA ODI report, 20130102

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO X90. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER, AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI report, 20070328

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 VOLVO XC90 AWD A FROM MY HOME TO WORK(ABOUT 20 MILES) WHEN I WAS PARKING THE CAR ON A PARKING LOT, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT MOMENT I SAW A LITTLE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI report, 20070313

POWER TRAIN 17%

17% of complaints: power train — 38 distinct reports on file.

ENGINE 13%

13% of complaints: engine — 29 distinct reports on file.

FIRE

Show complaint excerpts

WHEN CRANKING IT STALLS AND CUTS OFF AND AFTER DOING IT AROUND 10 TIMES IT FINALLY CRANKS THEN I HAVE TO HURRY TO PUT IN DRIVE TO GET THE MOTOR GOING IN ORDER TO KEEP HER CRUNK AND COUPLE WEEKS AGO BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM SHE STALLED OUT AND I HIT A...

NHTSA ODI report, 20200718

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%

11% of complaints: exterior lighting — 24 distinct reports on file.

CRASH

Show complaint excerpts

NHTSA ODI report, 20130102

I was getting off the highway and made a left turn. As I was accelerating the motor gentle cut off.. (You wouldnt even notice if you wasnt driving) Full Traffic was behind me, so luckily I was able to get out of the way and pull to shoulder.

NHTSA ODI report, 20250305

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%

10% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 23 distinct reports on file.

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2005 — complaint volume: 223

I 20051102 — PE (closed 20060323)

VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

I 20051202 — PE (closed 20060510)

WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM PERFORMANCE

R 20060131 — electrical system

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CONFLICT B

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-45

Campaign 05V529000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20060321 — EA (closed 20070614)

VOLVO XC90 BATTERY CABLE FAILURES

R 20060623 — steering

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES,THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Campaign 06V155000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060905 — visibility

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Campaign 06V144000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20070703 — electrical system

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WHILE DOING BATTERY MAINTENANCE THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN BE MISPLACED UNDER A BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE JACK CRANK HANDLE AND A WARNING LABEL WITH APPROVED TEXT WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY. THIS WARNING LABEL WILL INFO

Campaign 07V221000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20100115 — fuel system, gasoline

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIF

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL

Campaign 09V483000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20100720 — PE (closed 20101122)

Central Electronic Module Failure

R 20101118 — equipment

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A N

Campaign 10V566000 — check if this car was fixed