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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Volvo XC90 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

29 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

52,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 29 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting517.2%
Steering behavior413.8%
Braking behavior310.3%
Electrical and battery issues26.9%
Fuel system concerns13.4%

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.

Electrical System
8
Engine
6
Seat Belts
4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Power Train
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Air Bags
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System8
Engine6
Seat Belts4
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Power Train3
Unknown Or Other3
Air Bags1

Electrical System: 8; Engine: 6; Seat Belts: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 4 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.

2008
4
2009
1
2010
1
2011
2
2012
1
2013
4
2014
2
2015
4
2016
2
2018
2
2019
4
2022
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20084
20091
20101
20112
20121
20134
20142
20154
20162
20182
20194
20221
20261

2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 4; 2022: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10218004 · 2008-02-14 (February 14, 2008)

MY 2005 T6 HAS ALREADY HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 25K MILES (UNDER WARRANTY). THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION RECENTLY SLIPPED GEARS WITH 32K MILES AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS "OLDER" VERSION OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CODE WHICH CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,848 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218004 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10233287 · 2008-07-06 (July 6, 2008)

MY 4 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR BRAND NEW VOLVO XC90. I GOT OUT OF CAR TO TAKE A PICTURE (LEAVING THE ENGINE ON FOR AIR CONDITIONING) AND HE SHIFTED THE CAR OUT OF PARK, CRASHING THANK GOODNESS INTO A FENCE THAT SLOWLY STOPPED HIM. KNOWING HE CANNOT REACH THE BREAK I IMMEDIATELY TESTED THE GEAR SHIFT AND FOUND THAT IT EASILY SHIFTS OUT OF PARK WITHOUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WE HAVE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO HAS ADMITTED "THE CAR'S SHIFTER IS BROKEN". WE ASKED TO CHECK ANOTHER NEW XC90 IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THIS CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233287 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10237185 · 2008-08-06 (August 6, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10 - 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY MOTOR MOUNT BUSHING. THE DEALER HAS NOT MADE A DECISION CONCERNING PAYMENT FOR THE REPAIR. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V206000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE) WAS REFERENCED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,300 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10237185 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10713615 · 2015-04-29 (April 29, 2015)

WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR, THE IGNITION KEY WHEN INSERTED WILL NOT TURN TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN REMAINS LOCKED UNTIL IT FOR SOME REASON UNEXPLAINED RELEASES SO YOU CAN START THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT HAS A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713615 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10351452 · 2010-08-24 (August 24, 2010)

PARKING BRAKES NOT DISENGAGING. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE EVEN WHEN IN GEAR AND GAS IS APPLIED. IT FELT LIKE ONE OF THE WHEELS IS LOCKED. IF PARKED INSIDE A GARAGE, CONSTITUTES SEVERE HAZARD ESPECIALLY FOR INEXPERIENCE DRIVERS AS THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY MOVE IF THE BRAKE SUDDENLY DISENGAGES. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE BRAKE WILL DISENGAGE. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DISENGAGED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES OF ROCKING THE CAR BY ALTERNATELY ENGAGING THE GEARS BETWEEN REVERSE AND DRIVE. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351452 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10893158 · 2016-08-04 (August 4, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND JUMPSTARTED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SRS WARNING INDICAT…

Owner-reported narrative. 116,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10893158 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11242605 · 2019-08-08 (August 8, 2019)

2008 VOLVO XC90 V8 HAS BEEN TOWED 3X IN THE PAST MONTH. THE BATTERY HAS COMPLETELY AND INCONSISTENTLY DRAINED. THEY CHECKED RELAY SWITCHES, FUSES, ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY CONNECTIONS, ETC. 3X IN THE SHOP! SO FED UP. CAR IS NOW IN SHOP AND I'VE READ THAT VOLVO IS IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR BATTERY DRAIN FROM SIRIUS RADIO EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SUBSCRIPTION. THEY ARE CHARGING ME $135 TO DIAGNOSE AT VOLVO RIGHT NOW. IT HASN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED AS THAT IS THE PROBLEM YET, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER IS INCLINED TO THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS. CLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11242605 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11186347 · 2019-03-13 (March 13, 2019)

BOUGHT OUR 2008 VOLVO XC90 IN 2010. LAST SPRING WE NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUT SIDE THE VEHICLE THAT BECAME STRONGER THE MORE WE DROVE IT AND FOR SOME TIME AFTER IT WAS PARKED. LOOKED IT UP ON U-TUBE, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT (FUEL PUMP) UNDER THE BACK SEAT LEAKS OVER TIME ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER CLIMATES. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS ON LINE DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE, CONCLUDING A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT FORMS A CRACK ON TOP AND LEAKS FUEL WHEN VEHICLE IS IN USE.. CALLED VOLVO MAIN OFFICE, GAVE …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11186347 at NHTSA ↗