2018 Volvo XC90 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other XC90 years
- More complaints than other years 7th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Volvo XC90. That ranks 7th out of 23 XC90 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (15 complaints, 29%), typically at around 21,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 51owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Volvo XC90 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 15 | 29% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 24% | 16,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 18% | 19,400 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 12% | 17,250 | — | — |
| Engine | 5 | 10% | 11,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 5 | 10% | 2,800 | — | — |
| Structure | 4 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 8% | 3,125 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 6% | 13,580 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | 14,037 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 Volvo XC90 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:critical fasteners
Problem: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
Electrical system:software
Problem: Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Risk: The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.
Electrical system:software
Problem: Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
Risk: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
On Wednesday 9/23, I was driving on a residential road and came to a stop sign. When I tried to stop at the intersection my brake pedal seized up and the car would not stop. The check engine light came on. I had to shift the car into park in order to stop the vehicle. I towed it to the dealer and…
This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including…
The vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on August 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" and "Gear Lever Locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 Volvo XC90 to…
At first I was having issues with stop and start, replaced the battery then was told I wasted coffee in my center Console and it cause electrical issues and was told the repairs would be 3,400 in which collision issuance paid for. After the repairs my driver side seat belt would latch then the…
The air conditioning evaporator core has been widely known to freeze and crack on 2016-2021 models of the xc90 which sends toxic refrigerant smell thru the vents. This is a big safety hazard and should be recalled. Volvo knows about this but only does a goodwill repair to loyal customers who…
Other Volvo XC90 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 XC90 | 29 | 2 |
| 2024 XC90 | 36 | 3 |
| 2023 XC90 | 41 | 6 |
| 2022 XC90 | 29 | 4 |
| 2021 XC90 | 39 | 6 |
| 2020 XC90 | 33 | 7 |
| 2019 XC90 | 42 | 6 |
| 2018 | 51 | 3 |
| 2017 XC90 | 80 | 7 |
| 2016 XC90 | 197 | 8 |
| 2015 XC90 | 0 | 1 |
| 2014 XC90 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 XC90 | 11 | 0 |
| 2012 XC90 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 XC90 | 19 | 1 |
| 2010 XC90 | 12 | 3 |
| 2009 XC90 | 7 | 1 |
| 2008 XC90 | 29 | 3 |
| 2007 XC90 | 38 | 2 |
| 2006 XC90 | 53 | 3 |
| 2005 XC90 | 223 | 6 |
| 2004 XC90 | 462 | 6 |
| 2003 XC90 | 93 | 5 |
See all Volvo XC90 problems by year, every Volvo model, or the Volvo VIN decoder.
Similar Volvo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volvo XC90?
Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, unknown or other problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 15 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Volvo XC90?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Volvo XC90 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other XC90 model years, the 2018 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.