2003 Volvo XC90: complaints, problems and recalls

PROBLEMS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. CAR WAS IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF SIX WEEKS. ENTIRE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED USING PARTS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE 2005 MODELS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028723 at NHTSA ↗

MAXIMUM TIRE PRESSURE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE TIRE PRESSURE USED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.THE MICHELIN PILOT HXMXM4 (235/60-18) WHICH ARE THE DEFAULT 18" TIRES ON THE VOLVO XC90 FROM THE FACTORY HAS A MAX 35PSI WHILE OTHER TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE HAS UPTO 51PSI MAX. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 39PSI FOR FULL LOADS WHICH IS ABOVE THE MAX PSI.CONTACTED MICHELIN CUSTOMER SERVICE [phone removed] DIRECTLY TO INQUIRE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS "THE WRONG TIRE WAS INSTALLED." STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM VOLVO.SO FAR NO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033484 at NHTSA ↗

WE BOUGHT A 2003 VOLVO XC 90 IN JANUARY 2003, THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND HAS ABOUT 12,600 MILES. IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS, WE HAVE HAD FOUR SYSTEM PROBLEMS, BRAKES, CRUISE CONTROL, AC/ DEFROSTER AND MOST RECENTLY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE IT FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATING THAT A CORRUPT SOFTWARE WAS THE CAUSE. VOLVO USA STATED THAT THE "NEW " SOFTWARE WAS A MODIFICATION/UPGRADE WHICH IS BEING PUT IN THE 2…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041548 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION, SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH, DRIVER'S SEAT RECLINES BY ITSELF. *MR THE RADIO WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE MADE A GRINDING NOISE *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045003 at NHTSA ↗

FOR BOTH OUR 2001 VOLVO S60 2.4T AND OUR 2003 VOLVO XC90 2.5T AWD THERE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR A TRANSMISSION DEFECT (ESSENTIALLY SAME TRANSMISSION IN BOTH VEHICLES PER VOLVO TECH SUPPORT). BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD THERE IS INTERMITTENT/UNPREDICTABLE FAILURE TO ENGAGE 3RD IN TIMELY FASHION WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF ACCELERATION AS VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONALLY IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE RACING FOR ~0.5-2.5 SECONDS. THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING ON TO A HIGHWAY. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 NEAR COLLISIONS (ALMOST BEING …

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049611 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH REAR PASSENGER DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053351 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN A VOLVO XC90. MY SEAT BACK FAILED DURING THE ACCIDENT AND I AM NOT REFERRING TO THE WHIPS SYSTEM. I SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES INCLUDING A WHIPLASH INJURY AS WELL AS INJURIES OF MY BACK AND LEFT SHOULDER THAT I BELIEVE WERE EXACERBATED BY THE SEAT BACK ASSUMING A FAIRLY RECLINED POSITION. I ALSO FEAR THAT IF EITHER OF MY CHILDREN HAD BEEN SITTING BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT (ESPECIALLY IN A REAR-FACING INFANT SEAT) THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE OF TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054714 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING UNDER SNOWING CONDITIONS EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED IT ONLY LOCKED THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WHEEL. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED TWICE IN THE SAME DAY. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055509 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-10-10 (October 10, 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.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR THE SECOND AND/OR THIRD ROW SEAT BELT ATTACHMENTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2006-04-28 (April 28, 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, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE WIPERS FROM THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence: INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2006-05-05 (May 5, 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 JOINT.

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2009-12-18 (December 18, 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, GEORGIA, HAWAII, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS, UTAH, VIRGINIA AND THE U.S. TERRITORIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS (HOT CLIMATE AND TEMPERATURE CYCLING) OVER TIME AND IN COMBINATION WITH VARYING FUEL QUALITY, THE FUEL PUMP CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE.

Consequence: IF THE CONDITION OCCURS VEHICLE OWNERS MAY NOTICE FUEL SMELL AND/OR FUEL LEAK WHICH, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WITH A PART OF A MODIFIED DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

Reported: 2010-11-08 (November 8, 2010)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.