2025 Volvo XC90: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
3,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 27 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 37.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 3 |
| Back Over Prevention | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 |
Electrical System: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 3; Back Over Prevention: 2; Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 18 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2024: 1; 2025: 18; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11616288 · 2024-09-24 (September 24, 2024)
Brand new vehicle emitting moderate amount of smoke from exhaust when stopping, idle, or when pulling out from stopped position (I.e. traffic light, stop sign). Notice exhaust smoke more when coming to stop on slight decline or accelerating from stopped position to incline roadway. Smoke is malodorous (burning metal/wire smell). No warning lights on vehicle dash. Inspected by Volvo dealership service team and unable to find source of smoking. Smoke odor causes headache in vehicle occupants if windows down when smoke present. Thankfully, no…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11616288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11633554 · 2025-01-01 (January 1, 2025)
When I try to back the car out of parking lot, it shows "Camera temporary unavailable". The problem disappears sometime. It is a new car and this has happened a couple of times already.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11633554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11637435 · 2025-01-21 (January 21, 2025)
Remote start, infotainment system which controls everything, dashboard, lights, and cigarette lighter all intermittently turn off and on. Everyday, something else seems to stop working. My vehicle is 2.5 weeks old. This is apparently is a know latent defect that Volvo has chosen to keep from customers, based on feedback from VOLVO service, who are actually denying appointments stating that there is nothing they can do.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11637435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11640263 · 2025-02-03 (February 3, 2025)
Remote start - when the vehicle is running by remote start using the Volvo app, it is not possible to directly fully start to the normal operating mode. If foot is placed on brake and the start/stop knob is turned, the display briefly shows the normal operating display and then reverts back to the limited display showing miles to empty and door status. If attempted again, the same occurs (1-2 seconds of normal display followed by limited display). The car cannot be driven until and unless the start/stop knob is turned without your foot on the b…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11640263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11643056 · 2025-02-16 (February 16, 2025)
Complete brake failure. Vehicle would no slow at all. Brake failure warning on dash. Now multitude of warnings.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11643056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11645568 · 2025-02-28 (February 28, 2025)
The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag light illuminated, and a message to return the vehicle to the dealer was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with a software installation failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and remained with the dealer for further diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11645568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11646570 · 2025-03-05 (March 5, 2025)
On 2 occasions (only had vehicle 3 weeks), Ive received a message on the screen that the camera is temporarily unavailable when in reverse. The message suggests I press the home button but didn’t help. I then rebooted the Google based system by long pressing the home button again. After the reboot, hit the same message the camera is unavailable. I then tried to select the other cameras (side mirrors, front bumper), but nothing displayed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11646570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11650504 · 2025-03-25 (March 25, 2025)
The contact owns a 2025 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving through a residential area at 35 MPH, the vehicle independently slowed down with the message "Engine Has Now Stopped" displayed on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle initially failed to restart after the first attempt; however, the vehicle restarted after the second attempt and resumed normal operation after the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the d…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11650504 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
25V282000 · Back Over Prevention:Software
Reported: 2025-05-08 (May 8, 2025)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, C40, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40 and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10320.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V908000 · Back Over Prevention:Software
Reported: 2025-12-23 (December 23, 2025)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021-2025 XC40, 2022 V90, 2022-2024 C40BEV, 2022-2025 S90, V90CC, XC60, 2023-2025 S60, V60, V60CC, XC90, and 2025 EC40, and EX40 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2026. Owners may contact Volvo Car’s customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10333. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 16, 2026. This recall replaces previous NHTSA recall number 25V282. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 25V282 will need to have the new remedy performed.
NHTSA campaign record ↗