Two problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2003 Volvo XC90. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Volvo XC90 based on all problems reported for the 2003 XC90.
Driving the Xc90 and suddenly there is a huge thump and clicking from the dashboard. All the dials around the spedometer stop working. . If we keep driving there are more thumps and we quickly lose engine power - it is extremely scary when it happens. . All the lights come on (inside the car), dashboard goes dead etc etc. It is extremely dangerous . . It happened to use a number of times with 3 children in the car. It has occurred when we were driving on the highway, 2-3 times, it has occurred on short trips - it happens at seemingly random times, usually after driving for over 30 minutes, but then yesterday it happened on a trip just down to the park, not 5 minutes down the road. . On this occasion the car had been sitting in the sun for a while (maybe heat related?). It has happened in hot weather, cold weather . . We are in constant fear when driving the car. I have contacted Volvo australia about the issue but they said they have no responsibility, that there is no recall for the problem and didn't want to help at all!! I see a lot of people have this same problem, is Volvo not going to fix it until someone is killed??? what will it take!?!?!?! it is a joke ! we bought a Volvo to have something safer than normal but its more dangerous! I cannot even sell the car because I don't know what's wrong with it and I don't want another family / person to be injured . . No resale value, no safety! come on Volvo, this is crazy!.
When this vehicle was purchased it started within 4 days to have problems with the transmission, after the transmission the transfer case began to have problems, so the vehicle was placed in the shop before the thirty days tags could expire and both parts were rebuilt by an outside company which was added to the original price tag of the vehicle. Then a year later the vehicle was placed in the shop for the turbo's had gone out on the vehicle on April 11, 2015 until current date. They are now saying the vehicle has a blown head gasket and it is still in the shop.