2018 Volvo XC90: What to check before buying

Water getting inside causes the most serious faults. Leaks at the windshield or sunroof seal drip down behind the rearview mirror and make the center display glitch. Water can also reach the transmission module, which then fails on the highway. The engine surges, warnings say the gear lever is locked, and the car has to be towed. Other reports describe the tailgate opening by itself, a recurring 12V battery charging fault, a frozen center screen, a no-start traced to a starter motor fuse near 101,000 miles, and squealing brakes.

Rear doors can open while driving in cold weather, even when the dash shows them closed and locked. A driver's door handle can snap off, which makes getting out difficult. The panoramic sunroof leaks water into the cargo area and the compartment over the battery. Water also comes in near the rearview mirror, soaking the dash, screen, and shifter, and onto the second-row seat. The secondary hood release cable can fail and leave the hood stuck shut. A service bulletin covers it, but owners report being asked to pay.

The backup camera image can be slow to appear after shifting into reverse. Owners blame the slow infotainment system, and this complaint is flagged as crash-related. Wipers can also switch on by themselves, and a technical service bulletin covers this. Owners warn the wipers may stop working entirely soon after. One out-of-warranty repair near 38,000 miles cost more than $1,500. A separate report describes a windshield that cracked from an almost invisible chip on a car with very low mileage.

The electric rear axle drive (ERAD) can fail without warning. The car either makes a loud whine from the rear and becomes undriveable or locks up and screeches to a stop on the road. One report involves a T8. Repairs can cost close to what the car is worth, and a replacement unit can fail again. One dealer blamed improper earlier service for a repeat failure. Separately, the car can lurch forward without any throttle when the engine restarts from auto stop-start, nearly causing collisions.

Sudden shutdowns are the main pattern. The motor can cut out right after starting or while driving, sometimes after a low-performance warning, and the dashboard may go black. Restarting is slow or difficult. In one case the fault traces to the fuel filler pipe and low fuel pressure, and the repair needs a software calibration. A cracked coolant bleeder hose on the supercharger causes a sudden coolant leak and overheating, and the car will not go past 20 mph. Owners report Volvo declining goodwill repairs.

Pads and rotors wear out unusually fast, often well before owners expect. Some cars need new brakes all around at low mileage, and the rear brakes can wear out before the fronts. Dealers either call it normal wear or a known issue and quote about $1,000 to fix it. Brake booster failure is a more dangerous problem. It starts with a hissing sound, then the pedal turns very hard and the car becomes difficult to stop. A Volvo specialist confirms the booster failure and replaces it.

Neither complaint involves steering parts. Water leaking in at the rearview mirror, which owners link to the panoramic sunroof, reaches the driver-assist computer mounted there. Pilot Assist and other electrical systems then malfunction, and the problem returns after a dealer visit. The other report describes the car shutting off at random while driving, in intersections, or at a stop. The dash sometimes goes black and an "engine not in P" message appears, which creates a real risk of being hit in traffic.

A leaking fuel filler pipe turns on the check engine light, usually while the car still has low mileage. The repair does not always last, and one car needs three replacement pipes. A dealer replaces the part under warranty and calls it a common problem. The same part also appears in engine complaints, where a filler pipe fault comes with the engine cutting out.