The Lemon Index
20041st generation
18 owner complaints, first 3 years 16–18 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2003 Lexus RX2003 Acura MDX 562003 BMW X5
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2003 Volvo XC90
- Transmission failure20 complaintsmostly at 59,000–92,000 miles (95,000–148,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Volvo XC90 (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 13 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 10V566000 (equipment), 09V483000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 06V155000 (steering) done? It has 5 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Volvo sent dealers 239 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Plastic nipple of the positive crank ventilation (pcv) system may crack or become loose”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Volvo's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 18 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 12K to 30K miles (19K to 49K km) on the car (13 of all 18 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
When shifting vehicle from park to drive vehicle accelerated or decelerated followed by a noise. Dealership could not duplicate the problem.
2003 Volvo XC90 owner · NHTSA complaint 10079652
More owner reports
The consumer purchased new tires because of extreme wear at low mileage. The 2003 Volvo XC90 had numerous problems that had to be corrected on a regular basis.
NHTSA complaint 10103496
Problems with vehicle's transmission, seat belts do not latch, driver's seat reclines by itself.
NHTSA complaint 10045003
Problems Volvo told dealers about
Volvo sent dealers 239 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Plastic nipple of the positive crank ventilation (pcv) system may crack or become loose
- Angle gear leakage and resealing for 5 cylinder awd only vehicles
- The 5 speed automatic transmission, aw55-50/51, has a bolt on top that anchors the b4 band, which
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 5
- Equipment · recall issued 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2009
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 S80, MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 V70, S60, XC70 AND MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 XC90 VEHICLES SOLD IN OR REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEOR…
- Steering · recall issued 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES,THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL J…
Show all 5 recalls
- Visibility · recall issued 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS DRIVESHAFT, RESULTIN…
- Seat belts · recall issued 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT ATTACHMENT(S) FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW SEAT(S) MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FITTED PROPERLY.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★★★ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,200–$4,700 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 2.5L 5-cyl, 2.9L 6-cyl.
Every Volvo XC90 year. 2003 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2003 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volvo-xc90/?y=2003" 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-xc90/2003/">Lemon Index</a> (2003 Volvo XC90 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2003 Volvo XC90 reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 18 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2003 Volvo XC90 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (28%), electrical (28%) and engine (22%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2003 Volvo XC90 have?
5 safety recalls (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Volvo XC90 get?
16 to 18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2003 Volvo XC90 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 28% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2003 Volvo XC90 cost in fuel a year?
About $4,200 to $4,700 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2003 Volvo XC90 have?
2.5L 5-cyl, 2.9L 6-cyl.
What Volvo XC90 year is better than the 2003?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2019 drew the fewest (about a fifth as many complaints as the average car).
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. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works