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U.S. public vehicle records

Volvo S90 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

54 owner complaints analyzed

13 distinct recall campaigns

49,350 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 54 complaints (20.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1018.5%
Steering behavior47.4%
Transmission and shifting23.7%
Electrical and battery issues23.7%

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.

Unknown Or Other
11
Vehicle Speed Control
7
Electrical System
6
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
4
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
3
Wheels
3
Air Bags:Frontal
2
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other11
Vehicle Speed Control7
Electrical System6
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly4
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings3
Wheels3
Air Bags:Frontal2
Fuel/Propulsion System2

Unknown Or Other: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Electrical System: 6; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 3; Wheels: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 38 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.

2000
3
2001
2
2002
1
2003
2
2004
2
2005
1
2006
3
2008
2
2010
2
2014
1
2017
3
2018
1
2019
2
2020
1
2021
3
2022
7
2023
3
2024
1
2025
7
2026
7
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20003
20012
20021
20032
20042
20051
20063
20082
20102
20141
20173
20181
20192
20201
20213
20227
20233
20241
20257
20267

2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2014: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 7; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 7; 2026: 7

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10168742 · 2006-09-20 (September 20, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING A STATE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE WORN AND FRACTURED. THE PARKING BRAKE LINES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THE SAME CONDITION, BUT THE PROBLEM HAD REOCCURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

Owner-reported narrative. 89,187 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168742 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10319904 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)

WHILE BACKING INTO MY GARAGE ON 2/6/2010, MY 1998 VOLVO S90 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS SPEEDING AND I APPLIED THE BRAKE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS GOING SO FAST THAT IT CRASHED INTO A WOODEN PLATFORM IN MY GARAGE. THE PLATFORM AND MY CAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE PLATFORM HAS BEEN REPAIRED; BUT MY CAR WAS TOTALED (>$5000.00 IN DAMAGES). I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALER AND VOLVO CUSTOMER CAR AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 212,994 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319904 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041920 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)

TRANSMISSION SHIFTER STICKS CONSTANTLY. CURRENTLY, IT STICKS IN PARK. VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK NOISES COMING FROM STEERING. GEAR SHIFT DID NOT RELEASE, WASHERS ARE INOPERABLE, KEY STICKS IN IGNITION.*TS ALSO THE POWER STEERING RACK AND ANTENNA WERE REPLACED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 48,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041920 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11054520 · 2017-12-13 (December 13, 2017)

I PERSONALLY, BACK IN AUGUST OF 2016 ORDERED A NEW 2017 VOLVO S90 T5 INSCRIPTION, AND TOOK DELIVER IN NOVEMBER 2016. I BEGAN NOTICING A LITTLE VIBRATION AROUND JULY TIME FRAME BUT AFTER THE VEHICLE FIRST MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDED SERVICE DIDN'T FEEL IT AS MUCH. IT WASN'T UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER WHEN DRIVING TO WORK WHEN REACHING SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR MORE, MOST NOTICEABLY AT 55 MPH PLUS ON AN INTERSTATE OR HIGHWAY THERE WAS AN VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND DRIVER SEAT SO BAD THE CAR (PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT) FEEL LIKE THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11054520 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10135037 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 VOLVO S90 WITH 69,000 MILES. THE ETM UNIT ON THE CAR HAS FAILED. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT AND FOUND THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR. IT CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO ACT ERRATICALLY. MY MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT EVEN IF I CHANGE IT , IT WILL FAIL AGAIN IN A SHORT WHILE BECAUSE IT HAS A BAD DESIGN. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO ABOUT IT, AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE THIS COMPLAINT REGISTERED IN CASE VOLVO IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS THROUGH SOME LAWSUIT OR OTHER. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135037 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11463882 · 2022-05-09 (May 9, 2022)

The contact owns a 2018 Volvo S90. The contact stated that the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) had an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. The contact stated the "Volvo on Call Service Required" warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V800000…

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11463882 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11743843 · 2026-06-13 (June 13, 2026)

Component: Electrical / Instrument Cluster The vehicle experienced a failure of the digital instrument cluster while driving. The instrument panel intermittently malfunctioned, including going blank, freezing, or failing to display critical information such as vehicle speed, warning indicators, and system alerts. This issue occurred without warning and created a safety concern because the driver was unable to reliably monitor essential driving information. At times, the display did not function properly, which impacted the driver’s ability to…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11743843 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2016
2
2017
4
2018
2
2019
4
2020
3
2021
2
2022
3
2023
3
2024
2
2025
3
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20162
20174
20182
20194
20203
20212
20223
20233
20242
20253

2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 2; 2025: 3

Year-by-year records

Volvo S90 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199740Not available
19981500
201602Not available
201784+2
2018162-2
201934+2
202033-1
202102-1
202223+1
2023230
202412-1
202503+1