2006 Volvo XC90 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 53 complaints (28.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 11.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 11.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 9.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 7.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 7.5% |
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 | 15 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
Electrical System: 15; Engine: 6; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4; Suspension: 3; Tires: 3; Wheels: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 3; 2007: 9; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2018: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 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 10185567 · 2007-03-19 (March 19, 2007)
ON JANUARY 29, 2007 I TOOK MY 2006 VOLVO XC90 2WD TO THE VOLVO DEALER FOR THE 15,000 MILE SCHEDULED SERVICE TO INCLUDE THE SCHEDULED TIRE ROTATION AND BALANCE. THE CAR HAD 14,764 MILES. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED LATER IN THE DAY TO STATE THAT (1) I NEEDED FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND (2) NEEDED FOUR NEW TIRES BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT. WHEN I ASKED WHY THOSE ITEMS WERE NEEDED, HE TOLD ME (1) THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WEAR EARLY BECAUSE THEY AREN'T LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR, AND (2) THE ORIGINAL 17" …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,764 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10358506 · 2010-09-30 (September 30, 2010)
ANTI-SKID ERROR KEEPS COMING UP ON MY 2006 8 CYL VOLVO XC90. DEALER UNSURE HOW TO DIAGNOSE. I AM CONCERNED MY ANTI LOCK BRAKING AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL NOT WORK. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT IN VOLVO XC90'S OF THAT YEAR? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157037 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
I BOUGHT A 2006 VOLVO XC90 OCEAN RACE (LIMITED EDITION) SUV ON 3/21/06. THE MORNING OF 3/25/06, MY CAR WOULD NOT START. VOLVO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE, WHICH I THEN DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BATTERY TESTED FINE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME. ON 4/27/06, AGAIN THE CAR WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 4/29, NO-CHARGE INVOICE SAYS "REPLACE ENGINE MANAGEMENT AND STARTER RELAYS. RECHECKED NUMEROUS TIMES, O.K." CAR AGAIN FAILED TO START 5/3/06. IT IS NOW 5/9 AND 'SPECIAL' VOLVO FIELD TECH SEEM …
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360071 · 2010-10-12 (October 12, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WATER WAS GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE; THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR WAS WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER WAS GETTING IN THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND THE DRAINAGE FROM THE SUNROOF WAS CLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND BLOWER SHORT CIRCUITED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173919 · 2006-11-21 (November 21, 2006)
MY 2006 XC90 HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS VERY ALARMING AND DANGEROUS. THE FUEL PUMP AND MULTIPLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296427 · 2009-12-19 (December 19, 2009)
MY VOLVO XC90 (2006) ABRUPTLY STALLS AND DIES ON FREEWAY WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL (TYPICALLY AT 70-75 MPH). HAVE HAD TWO REPEATED INCIDENTS, SO FAR LUCKY HAVE NOT BEEN HIT. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM., CAR DIED AGAIN. FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT ABOUT 59,000 MILES, SECOND WAS NEXT TIME I USED CRUISE ON FREEWAY. I ALWAYS USE PREMIUM FUEL, REGULAR SERVICE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 59,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369598 · 2010-12-08 (December 8, 2010)
TRANSMISSION FAIL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10369598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10702283 · 2015-03-27 (March 27, 2015)
WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE MOTOR SUDDENLY DROPPED FROM 60-65 MPH TO 35-40 AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND THIS- I GOT A WARNING MESSAGE AFTER THIS HAPPENED "REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE". RESEARCH ON THIS LATER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS "LIMP MODE." I WAS ON AN EXPRESSWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME, INCLUDING MANY LARGE SEMI TRUCKS, WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST COME OUT OF A TOLL PLAZA AND WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE SO I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID A COLLISION. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED SINCE …
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192048 · 2007-05-30 (May 30, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIE RODS WERE UNDER RECALL AND REPLACED THEM. AFTER RETURNING HOME, THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE PAPERWORK WHICH STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BALD. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY PICKED UP HER VEHICLE. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPLACING ALL FOUR PIRELLI 17 INCH TIRES, HOWEVER, SHE MUST PAY 50% OF THE COST. THE ENGINE SIZE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10882781 · 2016-07-05 (July 5, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717027 · 2015-05-18 (May 18, 2015)
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN TRANSIT. YESTERDAY, IT OCCURRED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH. THE CAR DIED WITHOUT WARNING WITH RESULTANT LOSS OF POWER STEARING, BREAKING, DASH, ETC. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST INTO A BREAKDOWN LANE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. STATE POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN MINUTES OF DIALING 911. THIS HAPPENED 6 MONTHS AGO AS WELL AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A FUEL INJECTOR MODULE. THE INTERNET IS REPLEAT WITH VERY SIMILAR ISSUES INVOLVING THIS MODEL AND VINTAGE. THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717027 at NHTSA ↗