2004 Volvo XC90 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 145 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2004 Volvo XC90, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “transmission service” (12% of reports).
- 145power train complaints
- 78,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $8,050typical repair cost reported by owners
- 37%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Transmission service: mentioned in 18 of 145 complaints (12%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2004 Volvo XC90 at $8,050, and half of them between $6,700 and $9,450.
Based on 24 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2008–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 139 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 145 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Volvo XC90 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 XC90 | 5 | 14% | — |
| 2023 XC90 | 3 | 7% | 1,000 |
| 2022 XC90 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2021 XC90 | 3 | 8% | — |
| 2020 XC90 | 3 | 9% | 79,000 |
| 2019 XC90 | 3 | 7% | 50,000 |
| 2018 XC90 | 5 | 10% | 2,800 |
| 2017 XC90 | 5 | 6% | 7,766 |
| 2016 XC90 | 10 | 5% | 5,000 |
| 2014 XC90 | 1 | 25% | 5,200 |
| 2012 XC90 | 1 | 33% | 75,000 |
| 2011 XC90 | 3 | 16% | 1,500 |
| 2008 XC90 | 4 | 14% | 60,500 |
| 2007 XC90 | 5 | 13% | 73,000 |
| 2006 XC90 | 3 | 6% | 78,000 |
| 2005 XC90 | 62 | 28% | 71,500 |
| 2004 XC90 | 145 | 31% | 78,000 |
| 2003 XC90 | 49 | 53% | 76,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2004 Volvo XC90. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I am concerned these 2 issues may pose a safety risk. I recently purchased this car from a friend and have had it about a month. I notice the steering is very stiff and difficult to maneuver. I was trying to find out if there were any recalls on this but having no luck. Also, when the car is in…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ALERTED TO A MESSAGE DISPLAY WHICH INDICATED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT TO…
While i'm motion the srs airbag light came on transmission urgent light came on and abs light the battery keeps bubbling like its gone blow up in my trunk i have to jump it off every morning i paid alot for this suv can you please help me keep my only car in working order i have had all maintains…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2004 Volvo XC90s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 145 owner complaints about power train for the 2004 Volvo XC90 (31% of the 462 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Volvo XC90 power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 78,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2004 Volvo XC90?
Owners report a typical cost of $8,050 (half paid between $6,700 and $9,450), from 24 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2004 Volvo XC90?
The most frequent phrase is “transmission service”, in 18 of 145 complaints.
Other 2004 Volvo XC90 problems
See all 2004 Volvo XC90 problems or power train problems across all XC90 years.