Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, brakes, and engine. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2019 Volvo XC90: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/5
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Volvo XC90. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 23–24 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cylPlug-in hybrid | AWD | 490 mi range |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
AC evaporator coil leak
27,000–56,500 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Volvo XC90, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Water leaks in through blocked sunroof drains and reaches wiring and airbag components. Reports describe puddles in the driver footwell, a sunroof that stops working, and possible mold. Separately, the car shows "Vehicle key not found" and will not start, sometimes again after the dealer replaces the fob antenna. Other reports cover rear doors that will not open in freezing weather, stalling at about 8,000 miles that a fuse replacement did not fix, rodents chewing through the seal between the dashboard and engine bay, and an AC evaporator leak.
Braking power disappears suddenly with no warning lights when the brake booster fails. The pedal goes soft or to the floor, sometimes at parking-lot speeds. In some cases the master cylinder fails along with the booster, and the problem can return after a repair. In one reported injury, the automatic park brake released while the car sat in reverse, with the door open and the pedal not pressed. Another pattern is front rotors replaced repeatedly at low mileage, steering shake when braking, and front pads that wear out early.
Oil burns away and cylinders misfire because the valve rings do not seal, according to dealer diagnoses. This shows up around 89K to 95K miles, after the warranty has run out, so owners pay for the repair. One owner reports an engine fire with no known cause, and one report is flagged as crash-related. One starter failed at about 66,000 miles with a stripped mounting stud, which the repair shop called a manufacturing defect.
In one report the car accelerates forward by itself after sitting in park for several minutes and crashes, setting off the airbags and injuring two people. In another, the dash warns of reduced power mode, smoke comes out of the air conditioning vents, and flames then spread from the engine across the car. Only two complaints are on file here, but both involve a crash or a fire.
Excerpts from complaints XC90 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Rear passenger door won’t open. We had freezing temps in Colorado, when I tried to open the rear door to get my 2 month old out of the car the door would not open. Apparently this is a known problem for this vehicle the rear door motors spontaneously stop working.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
The front rotors on my truck had to be changed twice already. The truck has 25k miles on it. The dealer warrantied them both times but they keep putting in the same kind of rotors. After a few month of driving with the new rotors the steering starts to shake when brakes are applied. The front brake pads also wear out pretty quickly. With only 25k miles they told me I needed new ones. I have invoices if needed to prove the rotors have been changed twice
Filed with NHTSA, November 2021
According to Volvo, there is a problem with the valve ring(s) not sealing, oil coming into the #1 piston chamber and excessive oil consumption. However, they have yet to provide everything clearly in writing with an explanation. As mileage was about 89K when we first brought into them for what we viewed as major engine problems, they are saying we are outside warranty period.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2023
Engine began to misfire. According to Volvo, there is a problem with the valve ring(s) not sealing, oil coming into the #4 piston chamber and excessive oil consumption. Vehicle has under 95K miles, and has been properly maintained, but Volvo is saying we are outside warranty period.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
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.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2025
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 ranks third for owner complaints among 9 XC90 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the fourth model year of the XC90's second generation (2016 on).
Volvo updated the XC90 for 2020, so a 2019 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2020 (not on a 2019)
Recall repairs are free at any Volvo dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.
Risk: A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.
Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
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.
Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
Risk: If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volvo XC90, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
