vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2017 Volvo XC90 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

76 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

20,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 76 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1215.8%
Electrical and battery issues79.2%
Transmission and shifting22.6%
Engine operation22.6%
Steering behavior22.6%

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.

Engine
24
Unknown Or Other
21
Electrical System
16
Service Brakes
7
Structure:Body
6
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Fuel/Propulsion System
4
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
4
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine24
Unknown Or Other21
Electrical System16
Service Brakes7
Structure:Body6
Vehicle Speed Control5
Fuel/Propulsion System4
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch4

Engine: 24; Unknown Or Other: 21; Electrical System: 16; Service Brakes: 7; Structure:Body: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
17
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00017
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 45 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.

2017
9
2018
6
2019
7
2020
1
2021
4
2022
6
2023
5
2024
13
2025
12
2026
13
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20179
20186
20197
20201
20214
20226
20235
202413
202512
202613

2017: 9; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 6; 2023: 5; 2024: 13; 2025: 12; 2026: 13

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 11010445 · 2017-07-25 (July 25, 2017)

THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE OBSERVED BEHAVIOR OF A UBER SELF-DRIVING VEHICLE IN PITTSBURGH, PA. ON MAY 8TH 2017 AROUND 7:30PM EDT, I WAS DRIVING ON CENTER AVE TOWARDS THE INTERSECTION OF CENTER AND SOUTH HIGHLAND AVE, AND AN UBER XC90 WAS PASSING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION HEADING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. A PEDESTRIAN WAS WAITING TO CROSS AT THE CURB NEAREST TO THE APPROACHING VOLVO, STANDING A LITTLE CLOSE TO THE EDGE BUT DEFINITELY NOT IN THE STREET. THE VOLVO WAS IN THE CENTER OF ITS LANE AND HAD AMPLE SPACE TO PASS THE PEDESTRIAN. JUST …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11010445 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11041365 · 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)

BRAKES SQUEAK BADLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. IT SOUNDS LIKE GREMLINS ARE IN THE CAR WHEN YOU BRAKE. IT IS A KNOW ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND TO VOLVO. THEY SPRAYED STOP SQUEAK ON THE BRAKE BAD WHICH IS NOW ALL OVER MY CAR AND THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041365 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11141828 · 2018-10-22 (October 22, 2018)

WHILE DRIVING WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR, VOLVO HOOD STARTED TO SMOKE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS WENT OFF. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED ENGINE OFF, REMOVED KIDS FROM THE CAR, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, EVEN THOUGH FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE - ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, ETC - BUT THE CAR ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT. VOLVO HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEARS - HIGHLY UNUSUAL - BUT OTHERWISE WE HAD NO…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141828 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11398899 · 2021-03-03 (March 3, 2021)

FOR 5 MONTHS NOW, THERE HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE REAR SIDE OF THE INTELLISAFE MODULE LOCATED BY THE MIDDLE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE. I HAVE PAID FOR MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE RUBBER TRIM AND CLEANING OF INTERIOR PARTS. THE WATER LEAKS DIRECTLY OVER THE HEAD UNIT, AND I FEAR THAT MIGHT CAUSE DAMAGE SUCH AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT MIGHT BECOME VERY COSTLY. IT HAPPENS WHILE STILL IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11398899 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11460563 · 2022-04-12 (April 12, 2022)

While driving in hybrid mode while both the gasoline and electric motor are running or shifting back and forth, occasionally the electric motor will come on with a sharp, sometimes loud, metallic “bang”. The sound and feel appears to be coming from the rear. The last two times it happened, the car lunged forward on its own without additional pressure on the accelerator, and once over the past week it lunged forward near an intersection when lifting off the accelerator pedal and engaging the brake. The lunge almost caused me to rear end the car …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460563 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11673211 · 2025-07-13 (July 13, 2025)

ERAD (Electronic Rear Axle Drive) clutch failure. Upon depressing accelerator pedal, when in drive modes that rely more on ERAD (Hybrid/Pure modes), the clutch occasionally does not engage correctly, resulting in no power for a full 1-2 seconds, then power kicking in, in full. Not being consistent means not having a good way to anticipate when the problem will arise in order to compensate for it. The hazard came when attempting to cross traffic (to take a left into a commercial driveway), the delay happened, then before the ability to fully …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11673211 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11279889 · 2019-11-13 (November 13, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLVO XC90. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HESITATED TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLVO OF MONTEREY (1711 DEL MONTE BLVD, SEASIDE, CA 93955, [phone removed]) WHERE THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO HAVE THE HYBRID SYSTEM REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT TRADE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11279889 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11658368 · 2025-05-02 (May 2, 2025)

I am reporting multiple critical component failures on my 2017 Volvo XC90, which I believe represent potential design or manufacturing defects related to vehicle safety and reliability. At approximately 93,000 miles, my Volvo XC90 experienced a battery failure, thermostat failure, which did not resolve the vehicle's engine issues. Subsequently, the dealership diagnosed a failed Engine Control Module (ECM), requiring complete replacement at a cost of over $5,000. The ECM is a critical motherboard component responsible for engine control and veh…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11658368 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11154562 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE AND THE ELECTRONIC GAUGES TO SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO A POND. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (WEAVER BROTHERS VOLVO, 4409 CAPITAL BLVD…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11341377 · 2020-07-24 (July 24, 2020)

FRONT END, WHEELS BEGIN TO BOUNCE AND VIBRATE UNEXPECTEDLY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 45 MPH. THE BOUNCE/VIBRATION/WOBBLE AFFECTS STEERING AND CAN BE FELT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL. STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES SIDE TO SIDE AFFECTING HANDLING. WHEN BRAKING DURING THIS EVENT THE STEERING BECOMES WORSE AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS LEFT/RIGHT WITH HARDER FORCE MAKING HANDLING AND STOPPING DIFFICULT. PROBLEMS TEMPORARILY RESOLVED WHEN VEHICLE STOPS BUT CAN RETURN WITHIN MINUTES. PROBLEM NOT PERSISTENT BUT FREQUENT ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11341377 at NHTSA ↗