The Lemon Index
200720091st generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 18,981 in the U.S. in 2008 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 8 complaints in its first 3 years.
8 owner complaints, first 3 years 15–16 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2008 Lexus RX 612008 Acura MDX2008 BMW X5
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 10V566000 (equipment), 08V206000 (engine) and 07V563000 (visibility) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do the seats adjust, heat and lock in place properly?
- Volvo sent dealers 215 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : The Volvo Replacement…”?
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 8 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 0K to 25K miles (1K to 42K km) on the car (8 of all 8 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.
Problems Volvo told dealers about
Volvo sent dealers 215 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- VOLVO CARS SERVICE AND PARTS BUSINESS Service Manager Bulletin TITLE : The Volvo Replacement…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 3
- 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.
- Engine · recall issued 2008
VOLVO IS RECALLING 102 MY 2008 XC90 AND S80 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES.
- Visibility · recall issued 2007
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE (CCM) MAY RECEIVE A 'SHUT-DOWN SIGNAL' FROM THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) AFTER IGNITION KEY INSERTION.
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 $4,700–$5,000 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.2L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl.
Every Volvo XC90 year. 2008 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.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/volvo-xc90/?y=2008" 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-xc90/2008/">Lemon Index</a> (2008 Volvo XC90 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2008 Volvo XC90 reliable?
We can't score it: only 18,981 were sold in the U.S. in 2008 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2008 Volvo XC90 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (25%), transmission & drivetrain (12%) and seats (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo XC90 have?
3 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 2008 Volvo XC90 get?
15 to 16 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2008 Volvo XC90 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2008 Volvo XC90 cost in fuel a year?
About $4,700 to $5,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Volvo XC90 have?
3.2L 6-cyl, 4.4L 8-cyl.
What Volvo XC90 year is better than the 2008?
Nearby, the 2011 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car). Across every year, 2019 drew the fewest.
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