Electrical System Problems of Volvo XC90 - part 1

The contact owns a 2020 Volvo Xc90. The contact stated that while driving 35-40 mph, the message "vehicle not in park" was displayed intermittently, and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was restarted after several attempts and was driven to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. While investigating the failure online, the contact became aware that it was a common failure, and that the dealers were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

See all problems of the 2020 Volvo XC90 🔎.

The vehicle experienced a major electrical system malfunction involving multiple critical components. The issue began with the Volvo on call system light remaining illuminated continuously, which suggested a possible communication or battery-related fault. Shortly after, additional systems failed, including the turn signal system, windshield wipers, and high beam headlights. These components are currently non-functional and can be made available for inspection upon request. The failure significantly impacted vehicle safety. The loss of turn signals made it impossible to properly indicate lane changes or turns to other drivers, increasing the risk of collisions. The failure of the windshield wipers created a serious hazard in adverse weather conditions, reducing visibility. Additionally, the loss of high beam headlights limited nighttime driving visibility. While daytime running lights and hazard lights remain functional, they are not sufficient substitutes for the failed systems. The problem has been consistent and reproducible. Each time the vehicle is operated, the same warning messages appear, including “turn indicator system malfunction” and “wiper failure – service required,” and the affected systems do not respond. At this time, the issue has not yet been formally confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, but diagnostics codes (including communication-related fault codes) have been observed. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, law enforcement, or insurance representatives. However, based on the symptoms, the issue appears to involve a failure in the vehicle’s central electronic or communication control systems. Prior to the complete failure, warning signs were present. The Volvo on call light remained on persistently, indicating a potential underlying electrical or module communication issue. This warning appeared before the loss of the turn signals, wipers, and high beams, suggesting a progressive system failure.

See all problems of the 2017 Volvo XC90 🔎.

Had to replace emission coil plugs. My mechanics said it has wiring issues.

See all problems of the 2006 Volvo XC90 🔎.

In the middle of a cold snowstorm the screen froze and started glitching. As I was trying to change the drive mode to all wheel drive the esc off button triggered and esc stayed off without awd mode and screen was unresponsive. Had to pull over and turn car off and back on for screen to reset.

See all problems of the 2022 Volvo XC90 🔎.

The erad (electric rear axle drive) transmission on my 2021 Xc90 t8 recharge has suffered an internal failure at approximately 112,550 miles. The vehicle makes loud grinding and slamming noises from the rear drivetrain and locks up when attempting to drive, making the vehicle completely undrivable. The dealership (Volvo cars gilbert, az) diagnosed the erad clutch as slamming and suspects internal gears are missing teeth. A software update was attempted but did not resolve the mechanical failure. The erad transmission needs full replacement at a quoted cost of $5,211. 56 (part number 32324105-9). This is a known failure point on the t8 platform and Volvo has redesigned this component (erad2) for newer models due to reliability issues with the original design. This failure presents a safety concern as the rear drivetrain can lock up unexpectedly during driving. This erad failure occurred alongside two other hybrid system component failures within a 3 month period: the high voltage coolant heater (hvch) and the vehicle batteries (vcm and main), suggesting a systemic hybrid system reliability problem.

See all problems of the 2021 Volvo XC90 🔎.

While driving the vehicle under normal conditions, a sudden electrical fire occurred, requiring immediate evacuation. The vehicle was pulled over safely and the driver exited before the fire escalated. The fire department responded and the vehicle was declared a total loss due to fire damage. The failure is believed to have originated from an electrical short involving the climate control/defroster system. The affected wiring and components were destroyed by the fire and are not available for inspection. The day prior to the fire, the fuse controlling both the climate control system and the instrument cluster blew twice when the defroster was activated. The fuse was replaced, and the defroster was not used again. At the time of the fire, the defroster systems was not operating. There were no warning lights or alerts immediately prior to the fire. The fire occurred while the vehicle was in motion, creating a serious safety risk to the occupant and surrounding traffic. The incident has not been reproduced or inspected by a dealer. The vehicle was inspected by the fire department. No manufacturer inspection has occurred.

See all problems of the 2007 Volvo XC90 🔎.

The failure involves the instrument cluster (driver information display) on my 2017 Volvo Xc90. This component is responsible for displaying speed, warning indicators, and all critical driving information. The failed component remains installed and is available for inspection. The issue began while driving on public roads. The display intermittently showed distorted, “barcode-like” patterns that would appear suddenly, disappear, and then return. The condition progressively worsened over time. The failure is now consistent and reproducible. When starting the vehicle, the cluster may appear normal for a few seconds before becoming severely distorted or completely unreadable. Now it is nonfunctional from the moment of ignition. This creates a significant safety hazard because I cannot view speed, warning lights, gear position, or any system alerts. The initial failures occurred while the vehicle was in motion, which increased the risk at the time of occurrence. The vehicle is not safely operable in this condition. The vehicle has approximately 24,000 miles, has never been in an accident, and has been properly maintained. There were no external factors that could explain the failure. The only prior symptoms were the intermittent display distortions described above. An authorized Volvo retailer inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the instrument cluster as failed, recommending replacement. No repair has been completed. Volvo car USA declined goodwill assistance despite the extremely low mileage and safety?critical nature of the failure. I am aware of similar instrument cluster failures reported by other 2016–2017 Volvo Xc90 owners, suggesting this may be part of a broader pattern.

On the morning of January 12, 2026, I attempted to unplug my 2023 Volvo Xc90 recharge (plug-in hybrid) from my home charging station in order to drive to an appointment. I had turned on the climate control remotely from the Volvo app while inside the house. When I went to unplug the vehicle, the charging connector was locked in the vehicle’s charging port and could not be removed. I contacted Volvo customer service, who instructed me to try several troubleshooting steps, including locking and unlocking the vehicle multiple times with the key fob and resetting the infotainment system. These steps did not resolve the issue. Because the charging plug remained locked, I was unable to use my vehicle and had to borrow a neighbor’s car, causing me to arrive late to a scheduled appointment. While away from home, I contacted my Volvo dealer, whose service representative advised me to use force to remove the plug, stating it would likely break the internal clip in the charging port. When I returned home several hours later and unlocked the vehicle, the charging plug released normally without any physical intervention. This suggests a software or electronic malfunction rather than a mechanical obstruction. The incident temporarily immobilized the vehicle and could pose a safety or reliability concern if it occurs in other situations. Furthermore, we have been experiencing intermittent issues with the infotainment system, including the backup cameras not coming on, random radio stations playing and complete blackout of the screen and/or flickering. The last software update was completed on Aug 15, 2025.

See all problems of the 2023 Volvo XC90 🔎.

If a passenger or child in the second row attempts to open a door before/while the doors are unlocked, the interior and exterior handles no longer function. This can be temporarily fixed by doing a complicated and long random series of enabling/disabling electronic child locks and unlocking and re-locking the doors, but in an emergency situation it would not be possible. Passengers would be trapped in the case of a car fire or submerging event. This needs to be addressed by the manufacturer with a properly engineered lock that does not prevent the door handles from working if the handles are operated while locks are actuated! here are two threads full of people with this issue: https://volvoforums. . Read more...

Some back info: I keep the auto start/stop feature disabled. There are three identical incidents total. One about a year or two ago and two back to back a few weeks ago. The first time I was stopped at a drive through but in “drive” with my foot on the brake. All of the sudden the car completely turns off. Screens black, engine off. Completely black car no inside lights on. Within a couple of seconds, I hear the engine reengage and the car “starts” as normal like when you turn the switch. All of the lights and screens turn on and apple car play reconnects. The most recent two incidents were the same day and in drive having stopped at stoplights. The car goes “dead” then restarts all in drive with my foot on the brake. No warnings come up after the incident either. This time my husband and children were with me and can confirm it happened. I did not get these incidents checked out since the car was instantly back to normal with no warning messages. Very unnerving though and feels like the car is being remotely restarted somehow. The first time I just brushed it off, now I am concerned about this happening while in motion.

See all problems of the 2019 Volvo XC90 🔎.

While the vehicle was parked, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded. Using the buttons on the trunk, I shut the trunk and locked the car. A few moments later, the trunk opened and the alarm sounded again. This continued for 40 minutes. Today, if I place a battery in the main black key fob, the trunk will open with the car running. I have an appointment next week at the dealer, however, most correspondence with Volvo has been by phone during the time it occurred. Both key fobs are not recognized by the vehicle unless specifically placed in a vertical direction in the cup holder. While driving, I receive messages that the key is not detected (although, I understand the car should not shut off while running after started and this has not occurred thankfully. ). I will provide further documentation once available but want to report in case others experience this issue.

I am extremely disappointed with my 2025 Volvo Xc90. The vehicle’s interface shuts down frequently, which is extremely dangerous—especially at highway speeds. On several occasions, including at night, the entire system has gone completely blank. This creates a serious safety hazard and puts lives at risk. Despite repeated complaints, the dealership has been ineffective and has provided no meaningful fix. In addition, when exiting a parking position, the exterior side mirrors deploy very slowly, making it unsafe to merge into traffic or assess surrounding vehicles. This delay is another clear hazard. Most concerning, the vehicle has shut down entirely while driving on multiple occasions. This is a life-threatening defect and completely unacceptable in a vehicle of this class. I paid over $90,000 for my Xc90, expecting the highest standards of safety and reliability. Instead, I regret this purchase every day. Volvo’s failure to address these critical safety issues has severely undermined my confidence in the vehicle and the brand.

See all problems of the 2025 Volvo XC90 🔎.

Upon driving a symbol with a turtle and engine cation sign flashed upon the dash displaying and reading reduced power train mode as this is being shown on dash the passenger next to me smelt smoke as we next seen smoke coming from the air conditioning system we immediately pulled over to the safest spot out of the ongoing traffic as smoke continued to worsen now under the hood when flames engulfed the engine and spread to rest of car.

The sunroof has leaked pouring water into the car. October 29, 2025 this is the second time this has occurred. First flood was January 3, 2023. Volvo covered the first repair done by a Volvo dealership. The current estimate to repair is $13,000 by the Volvo dealer. They have the car. The electronics have not been checked yet or are part of the estimate. It is unsafe to drive a car if the electronics may fail. I have filed a claim with Volvo and to date (42 days) there is no resolution. I cannot drive a car that fills with water when it rains. My daughter has a severe heart defect and cannot be in a car with mold and mildew.

My 2021 Volvo Xc90 recharge has experienced multiple hybrid system failures under Volvo's factory 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid warranty, with fewer than 45,000 miles on the odometer. The high-voltage battery modules have failed multiple times, directly related to recall r10312 (NHTSA 25v-179), which identifies a supplier process deviation in lg battery modules creating a risk of internal short circuit and thermal runaway — an acknowledged fire risk. Critically, my vehicle has suffered two actual battery module failures, not preemptive recall replacements. This places my vehicle in a substantially higher risk category than others in the recall population with no prior symptoms. A vehicle that has already experienced the exact failure mode identified in a safety recall presents a materially greater ongoing safety risk. Additionally, my vehicle suffered a complete erad (electric rear axle drive) failure — a known defect that Volvo acknowledged by releasing a redesigned erad2 unit, confirming awareness of this systemic issue. These repeated failures left my vehicle un-drivable and parked at the dealership for more than 6 months, with replacement parts repeatedly placed on backorder, causing severe and prolonged loss of use. I filed a formal complaint with Volvo customer care requesting a vehicle buyback. After months of inadequate communication, Volvo declined to buy back the vehicle or offer reasonable trade-in accommodation. Instead, Volvo offered a nominal monetary concession contingent on signing an nda, which I declined as insufficient given the documented safety risk, repeated failures of a recalled component, extended loss of use, nor out of pocket car rental expenses. I am filing this complaint to ensure my vehicle's actual failures are part of the NHTSA record for r10312/25v-179, and to request NHTSA evaluate whether Volvo's response to owners who have experienced actual failures — rather than preemptive recall repairs — warrants further regulatory scrutiny.

My 2023 Volvo Xc90 was recalled for issues with the backup camera. Software update was installed twice without success. Finally camera was replaced. No success either.

Safety complaint – Volvo Xc90 electrical and airbag malfunction issues I am reporting ongoing safety concerns with my Volvo Xc90 related to electrical malfunctions and unexpected engine shutdowns while driving. The vehicle has suddenly turned off multiple times, including: •once before merging onto a highway, •once while entering a roundabout, and •once while driving in traffic. Each incident occurred without warning and created a hazardous situation with the potential for a collision. Additionally, the vehicle displayed an airbag malfunction warning once, raising concern about the reliability of the vehicle’s safety systems. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times, but the issues persist. I am requesting a formal investigation into these failures, as they pose a significant safety risk to the driver, passengers, and others on the road.

See all problems of the 2024 Volvo XC90 🔎.

My car is a 2022 Volvo hybrid t8, 6-passenger Xc90. I purchased the SUV in August of 2023 as a "certified pre-owned" vehicle with only 17,923 miles on it at the time of purchase. This SUV has been fine until within the last two to three months (July-sept. 2025). Now, in sept. Of 2025, my SUV only has 30,795 miles and we have had it serviced regularly, as required, and taken care of it as responsible vehicle owners. Beginning around June or July of 2025, I began seeing the "check engine" light, so I called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and took it in for servicing. After a day, they said it was fixed and that it was a blown fuse or two, and it was good to go. Not even 3 weeks to a month later, the "check engine" light came on again. I called and took it back to the dealership. Same story, after less than a day they called me back after fixing something else (don't remember off the top of my head what they said it was, but it was allegedly minor). Now, about 3 days ago, sept. Of 2025, I began seeing the "check engine" light again, so for the 3rd time in less than 3 months I arranged for it to be serviced by the dealership again on 9/30. A day later, another "propulsion system/maintenance required!!!" light came on as well, so I called to get servicing sooner because obviously the message is scary. I was told to bring it in, they would "work me in" but had no loaners I could use to get to and from work. So, at that point, I got my husband involved and now no one from the dealership is returning either of our calls, and I'm being told there is no recall on my car, even though a simple google search reveals there is a recall on my same make/model/year SUV. I'm getting the same messages people got about the recall, so no clue why my vehicle isn't considered as part of the recall when I am having the same issues as the recalled vehicles are having. I am beyond frustrated and ready to dump this SUV if they are unable to properly repair it!!!!!.

Interior car speakers stopped working which made collision audio cues not operational. During driving no blind spot audio, turn signal, and other audio was playing.

Some critical functions on the center display console instrument panel are freezing up while driving - we are unable to change the drive mode while the car is in motion. This has not happened before, and it is glitching a lot lately. The display has been extremely slow and unresponsive, and the problem is multiplied as all critical functions of the car are controlled through the display panel. There were no warnings issued when we tried to change the drive mode. We had to pull over to the roadside, turn off the car for 30 seconds, then restart the car to fix the issue. We have [xxx] and [xxx] ) in the car, so this is becoming increasingly risky to drive this "safe" car by Volvo. We have reported such issues with the display to our Volvo service unit multiple times, and the car has been returned to us with such issues still lingering (despite the service reloading/updating the software multiple times) for the last 6 months since March of this year. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The vehicle is subject to NHTSA recall 25v-282 for a rearview camera failure that increases the risk of a crash. First repair attempt (August 15, 2025): a Volvo dealership performed the prescribed software update but failed to fix the safety defect. The vehicle was returned to me in the same unsafe condition. Second repair attempt (August 20, 2025): the dealership identified the root cause as a failed front parking sensor. They refused to cover the repair, classifying it as "physical damage" despite providing no evidence of an external impact. Manufacturer refusal (August 22, 2025): Volvo car USA formally denied my request to have the safety recall completed, improperly claiming the issue was due to "outside influence. " they have refused to honor the recall and their new vehicle warranty. The manufacturer and its dealer have failed to remedy this acknowledged safety defect, leaving me with an unsafe vehicle. The dealership returned the vehicle to my home against my wishes while I was at work.

The vehicle’s start/stop system began displaying warning messages and malfunctioning prior to the expiration of the factory warranty. The issue first appeared before 50,000 miles and reappeared at 49,997 miles, when a warning was displayed on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer for inspection. A diagnostic review confirmed the need to replace the start/stop auxiliary battery and repair the park assist system. A diagnostic fee was charged, and both system failures were documented. The start/stop system’s failure raises a potential safety concern because the vehicle may not reliably restart after automatically stopping at intersections or in traffic. This could lead to dangerous situations if the vehicle stalls unexpectedly or fails to re-engage power at a critical moment. Although the issue has not caused a crash or injury, it introduces unpredictable behavior that could compromise safe operation. The park assist system also failed, triggering system warnings and disabling parking assistance features. If a driver is relying on these systems during low-speed maneuvers, a sudden or silent failure may increase the risk of collision with objects, pedestrians, or other vehicles. The dealership confirmed the problem through inspection and diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was contacted and declined to cover the repairs under warranty, despite the vehicle being within the mileage limit when the issue was first documented and presented for service.

The trunk fails to open via kick correctly and then has closed in the midst of using the trunk space. It has not performed the “kick to close” function since purchasing the vehicle. We have two young children and this has brought a scare a few times. We love our Volvos but this has been our only concern.

3 weeks ago we had the transmission module fail on our vehicle while it was being driven. According to Volvo forums, this is a multi-model year, multi vehicle issue for those with sunroofs. Accrding to the dealer in our case, the seal failed, and water runs into the compartment where the transmission module is located, causing it to fail. We had it happen twice, and both times on the highway, with the engine running ragged causing it ot accelerate and then quickly decelerate. There were 3 warnings that popped up-"gear lever locked," "transmission acceleration performance reduced," and "parking brake unaavialble. " it happened twice and and was towed to the dealer both times, as it was not drivable-once the vehicle was parked it would no longer move out of park. The first time the diagnosis and module reset was comped by the dealer (borton Volvo, golden valley, mn) and the second time, the transmission module was "dried out," and the sunroof seal was replaced, which was just under $700. It is available to be inspected if necessary. The vehicle was a hazard to others on the road while it was "acting up. " dealer was familia with the issue. No inspection was done other than by the dealer warning lamps as outlined above.

See all problems of the 2018 Volvo XC90 🔎.

Urgent safety concern: intermittent total loss of all vehicle audio alerts this issue has occurred multiple times and poses a serious safety concern. While driving, the vehicle intermittently experiences a complete loss of all audio output. This includes: •turn signal indicators •hazard warning sounds •blind spot monitoring alerts •park distance control tones •navigation guidance •audio system playback (music, radio, etc. ) •all other safety-related audio warnings and notifications the vehicle becomes completely silent, eliminating essential auditory cues that are critical for safe operation. Temporary workaround (while driving): the only way to restore functionality is by performing a forced reboot of the infotainment system. This requires the driver to press and hold the home button until the system power cycles—a distracting and unsafe action that must be done while the vehicle is in motion. Please note that while rebooting does not disable the vehicle’s ability to drive, it temporarily resets multiple core systems, including the climate control and infotainment interface. This creates a significant distraction and impairs the driver’s ability to safely monitor vehicle status and surroundings. This malfunction poses a significant safety risk and must be investigated immediately.

The contact owns a 2022 Volvo Xc90. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 25v179000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The emergency flashers on occasion and randomly malfunctions with the red triangle button flashing but the green arrows intermittently blink on the dash screen and the ticking sound also intermittently working. I have a video clip of the issue but can’t upload on this webpage.

The instrument panel just stopped working. Our safety and the safety of others was/is put at risk because you are unable to see how fast you are going in the car. It also doesn’t let us know how much gas we have left in the gas tank so if the car just stalled out on a highway, it could cause a major safety issue. This is also where cruise control is run from. It’s also the panel where any and all vehicle warnings would show up so if there’s another issue in the car, we are unable to see it.

While actively driving into an intersection, driving on the street and or stopped at a light or at a stop the vehicle will shut off, the lights on the dashboard will sometimes be on, other times go completely black, a notification pops up on the dashboard saying "engine not in p". There is no way I'm aware of to re create this action. My children's safety as well as mine has been put at significant risk and in harms way as well as others due to the severity and nature of this unexpected risk while driving on the freeway, through intersections and in general driving through traffic and busy streets. I've had multiple close calls of almost being hit when the car stopped while I'm driving with my children. The problem has yet to be reproduced by the dealer at this time however we have photos and video of it's ongoing safety concern. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer nor police but is currently at the dealer undergoing inspection. There has not been any notifications or warnings prior to any one of these serious events, the message only comes up when the car is off and won't go.

The led instrument panel will intermittently flicker or in some cases completely go out for extended periods of time making the vehicle unsafe to operate. The instrument panel in these instances is completely unusable and the driver is unable to see critical vehicle information such as speed, any warnings lamps or caution messages, remaining fuel, etc. This is obviously a massive safety issue for anyone in the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a Volvo dealership, who acknowledged that this is a pervasive problem and performed an inspection per our request. We were informed that the entire instrument panel would need to be replaced but were not given any explanation as to what caused the issue. Additionally, the part is marked as backordered with no known arrival date, effectively making our car unusable in a safe condition. We as the owners should not be responsible for rectifying this safety issue and the component(s) responsible for this should be covered under a recall notice with the cost / burden placed on the manufacturer, not the consumer.

I am reporting multiple critical component failures on my 2017 Volvo Xc90, which I believe represent potential design or manufacturing defects related to vehicle safety and reliability. At approximately 93,000 miles, my Volvo Xc90 experienced a battery failure, thermostat failure, which did not resolve the vehicle's engine issues. Subsequently, the dealership diagnosed a failed engine control module (ecm), requiring complete replacement at a cost of over $5,000. The ecm is a critical motherboard component responsible for engine control and vehicle safety operations. Its failure risks sudden engine malfunction, stalling, or loss of power while driving, which could cause unsafe conditions. I am concerned that multiple major component failures, especially in a premium brand vehicle under 100,000 miles and less than 10 years old, represent a systemic reliability issue. These failures occurred despite regular maintenance and responsible usage. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether similar cases exist for 2016–2018 Volvo Xc90 models involving premature ecm or engine cooling, electrical, short circuit system failures. I am available to provide service records and additional documentation as needed.

While driving in a parking lot going around 15 mph my drivers side door opened. No warning, no alarms just fully ajar swung open. Fortunately I was going 15 mph, im glad I had my seatbelt on and that no one was crossing or passing when the door flung open. Ive documented and recorded my ability to begin driving and open the door including ability to open the door while reversing. I took the SUV to Volvo and the electrical wiring was replaced along with the door hinges.

Vehicle is slightly off-balance no matter if I do an alignment ball joints seem to always get affected. I’m not sure if the hydraulics are working correctly. Yesterday I just started leaking antifreeze fluid.

The contact owns a 2025 Volvo Xc90. The contact stated that the camera was leggy and was inoperable while in reverse. While in a parking lot and driveway, the camera was inoperable. While on flat surfaces, the parking brake engaged without application. The driver had to manually release the brake. The vehicle was restarted, and the camera worked at times. While reversing, she bumped/crashed into a piece of metal in the driveway left by workers. There was no alert indicating that there was an object there. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, fire, or police report filed. The google assistant was glitching and went into spanish mode. While using the turn signal, there was no sound. There was no air conditioning; the center screen had frozen. The cross-traffic sensor alert was triggered, causing the auto brake system to engage when there was no object, windy weather, or rain. While using a loaner, the vehicle has similar symptoms. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to the local dealer on seven occasions for software issues, and a computer processor chip was installed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, and they opened a case. The failure mileage was 100.

Instrument panel shuts down while driving on street. I believe it is the central electronic module that fails. It has happened numerous times and it is unsafe to drive without a speedometer, tachometer, odometer fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. It has now stopped altogether. Gauges just sit there and bounce.

See all problems of the 2004 Volvo XC90 🔎.