2005 Volvo XC90: complaints, problems and recalls

ON FEBRUARY 16 OF THIS YEAR, I HIT SOME BLACK ICE THAT CAUSED ME TO HIT A CURB SIDEWAYS. THE IMPACT KNOCKED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KEN GARFF SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE SOUTHTOWNE LOCATION IN SANDY, UT WHERE IT WAS "REPAIRED". A FREE LOANER CAR WAS GIVEN TO ME, AND THE CHARGES WERE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE. AT THAT TIME THE CAR HAD APPROX 3700 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT REPAIR I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR APPROX 5000 MILES. I HAD THE 7500 MILE SERVICE COMPLETED AT THE KEN GARFF DOWNTOWN SLC LOCATION AROUND JULY …

Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10135911 at NHTSA ↗

THE LIGHTING OF DASH INSTRUMENTS, I.E. RADIO AND HVAC CONTROLS IS TOO DIM TO READ DURING NORMAL SUNNY DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD IN THAT THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE IMPORTANT INFORMATION.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136106 at NHTSA ↗

AT TIME OF PURCHASE, A VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE OCCURS UPON TURNING, MANUFACTURER REPLACED ENTIRE STEERING ASSEMBLY AFTER 5K MILES. OTHER VOLVO XC90 OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS OF STEERING ASSEMBLY AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE ISSUE TO NSTB AS IT MAY REFLECT POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES IF NOT REPAIRED.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10139754 at NHTSA ↗

VOLVO XC90 AWD: THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED THREE TIMES WITH ME AND ONCE WITH THE DEALER. DECEMBER 2005 THE VEHICLES FAILED TO START. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS A FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTION. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, AND I DROVE THE TRUCK MAYBE A GOOD TWO WEEKS AND EARLY ONE MORNING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE JUST SLOWED SPEED TO 20 MPH. I MERGED RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE CUT OF AFTER WAITING A SHORT TIME I STATED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND IT CONTINUED WITH THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS. AFTER ABOUT 1 HOUR AND A HALF I ARRIVE TO MY 20-M…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148501 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TOWING CAPACITY LISTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL CONFLICTS WITH A BROCHURE PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. THE BROCHURE MADE NO MENTION OF THIRD ROW SEATING HAVING AN IMPACT ON TOWING CAPACITY WHILE THE OWNER'S MANUAL INDICATED THE THIRD ROW SEATING REDUCED TOWING CAPACITY. WHILE TOWING A SNOWMOBILE TRAVELING 30MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN AND THE FRONT WHEELS LOST TRACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149708 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PROBLEM AT 13000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 25000, COSTLY REPAIR, THE TRUCK WEIGHS 6000 LBS AND BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE. CALIPER HAD TO BE REPLACED ON NEW VEHICLE! PLEASE INVESTIGATE, I KNOW THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, BRAKES HAVE EXCESSIVE DUST, WEAR FAST. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156932 at NHTSA ↗

I TOOK MY 2005 VOLVO XC-90 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE OUTER TIE RODS REPLACED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED FROM VOLVO. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISER THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE REAR WHEELS ALIGNED BECAUSE THEY WERE FINDING THAT WHEN THIS RECALL SERVICE WAS BEING PERFORMED, THE REAR WHEELS NEEDED ALIGNMENT AS WELL AS THE FRONT WHEELS. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT VOLVO WOULD BE PAYING FOR THE FRONT WHEELS TO BE ALIGNED, BUT THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT THE SPECIAL PRICE…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,115 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163449 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT 15,000 MILES WAS PERFORMED, IT WAS DETERMINED ALL FOUR TIRES WERE 60% WORN, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THESE ARE PIRELLI SCORPION TIRES.*AK UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168086 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-17 (November 17, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID MAY DEVELOP INTO A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO GROUND.

Consequence: SMOKE MAY APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING, ELECTRICAL POWER COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN THE WARNING LAMPS BEING DEACTIVATED. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY 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: 2007-05-25 (May 25, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WHILE DOING BATTERY MAINTENANCE THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN BE MISPLACED UNDER A BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY.

Consequence: MISPLACEMENT OF THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK AS IT CAN RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY WHICH COULD THEN LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE JACK CRANK HANDLE AND A WARNING LABEL WITH APPROVED TEXT WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY. THIS WARNING LABEL WILL INFORM AN OPERATOR NOT TO PLACE THE JACK CRANK HANDLE BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2007. 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.