The Lemon IndexVolvo XC90 reliability.
Is it reliable? Yes. A bit over half as many complaints as the average car.
Better than average · 2011–2022
20162nd generation
What owners say on YouTube: we haven't studied Volvo XC90 videos yet. When that study runs, the most-watched owner reviews and buyer guides for each generation, and what owners praise and complain about, show up here.
Fewest complaints
2019.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volvo-xc90/" title="Volvo XC90 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="514" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/volvo-xc90/">Lemon Index</a> (Volvo XC90 reliability by year)</p>Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Compare the Volvo XC90.
Opens the compare tool with both cars, every year side by side. Compare with any car →
Quick answers.
Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
Yes. It draws a bit over half as many complaints as the average car. Fewest complaints: 2019. Most complaints: 2016.
Is the Volvo XC90 a good car?
Yes, it draws fewer complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2011-2022: Lemon Index 58; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: 2019 drew the fewest complaints since 2010 and 2016 the most.
What are the best Volvo XC90 years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold since 2010: 2019, 2020, 2011. 2019 drew the fewest.
What Volvo XC90 years should you stay away from?
The 3 years with the most complaints per car sold since 2010: 2016 (worse than average, Lemon Index 134), 2017 (better than average, Lemon Index 61), 2022 (better than average, Lemon Index 61). 100 is the average car; lower is better.
How many recalls does the Volvo XC90 have?
79 safety recalls across the 20 model years we track. Most: 2016 (8), 2017 (7), 2020 (7). Each year's page lists them, and every Volvo XC90 recall is in one list here.
What are the most common Volvo XC90 problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name electrical, engine and brakes most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | – | too few complaints to score | 18 | transmission & drivetrain (28%) | 5 | — | 16–18 |
| 2004 | 138 | about one and a half times the average car's complaints | 46 | suspension (33%) | 6 | — | 16–19 |
| 2005 | 120 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 30 | transmission & drivetrain (27%) | 6 | — | 15–18 |
| 2006 | – | too few complaints to score | 16 | tires (44%) | 3 | — | 15–18 |
| 2007 | – | too few complaints to score | 10 | transmission & drivetrain (30%) | 2 | — | 15–18 |
| 2008 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 8 | engine (25%) | 3 | — | 15–16 |
| 2009 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | electrical (100%) | 1 | — | 15–17 |
| 2011 | 28 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 7 | transmission & drivetrain (43%) | 1 | — | 16–18 |
| 2013 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 7 | electrical (29%) | 0 | — | 18–19 |
| 2014 | – | complaints only, too few sold to score | 1 | airbags (100%) | 0 | — | 18–19 |
| 2016 | 134 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 61 | electrical (49%) | 8 | ★★★★★ | 22–25 |
| 2017 | 61 | a bit over half as many complaints as the average car | 23 | engine (35%) | 7 | ★★★★★ | 22–25 |
| 2018 | 53 | about half as many complaints as the average car | 17 | brakes (29%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–27 |
| 2019 | 19 | about a fifth as many complaints as the average car | 7 | electrical (57%) | 6 | ★★★★★ | 22–25 |
| 2020 | 27 | about a quarter as many complaints as the average car | 9 | brakes (33%) | 7 | ★★★★★ | 21–27 |
| 2021 | 40 | a bit under half as many complaints as the average car | 15 | brakes (27%) | 6 | ★★★★★ | 22–27 |
| 2022 | 61 | a bit over half as many complaints as the average car | 26 | electrical (46%) | 4 | ★★★★★ | 22–27 |
| 2023 | 86 | somewhat fewer complaints than the average car | 41 | backup camera (39%) | 6 | ★★★★★ | 22–27 |
| 2024 | 106 | about average | 36 | electrical (47%) | 3 | ★★★★★ | 23–27 |
| 2025 | 119 | a bit more than the average car's complaints | 29 | backup camera (28%) | 2 | ★★★★★ | 23–27 |
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. U.S. sales source: en.wikipedia.org. How it works
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Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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