Volvo S90 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 69 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls on file for the Volvo S90, across 13 model years (1997–2025). The 1998 model year has the most complaints (25). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes, hydraulic.
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Volvo S90 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S90 year: 1998, 2018. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 S90: 25 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2018 S90: 16 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2017 S90: 8 complaints, 4 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Volvo S90 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 5 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Wheels | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Volvo S90 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 S90 | 0 | 3 | — | — | |
| 2024 S90 | 2 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2023 S90 | 2 | 3 | — | Back Over Prevention | |
| 2022 S90 | 2 | 3 | — | Seat Belts | |
| 2021 S90 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2020 S90 | 3 | 3 | — | Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| 2019 S90 | 3 | 4 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2018 S90 | 16 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2017 S90 | 8 | 4 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2016 S90 | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 1999 S90 | 1 | 0 | — | Suspension | |
| 1998 S90 | 25 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 S90 | 7 | 0 | — | Air Bags |
More from Volvo: all Volvo models · Volvo VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Volvo S90 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1998 (25), 2018 (16) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical S90 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Volvo S90?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 9 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Volvo S90 have?
13 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.