2018 Volvo XC90 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
16,719 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 50 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 28.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
Electrical System: 15; Service Brakes: 11; Unknown Or Other: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Engine: 5; Power Train: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Structure:Body: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 34 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2017: 1; 2018: 5; 2019: 7; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 7; 2024: 5; 2025: 8; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 11056836 · 2017-12-27 (December 27, 2017)
BRAKES CONTINOUSLY SQUEAK. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE BREAK SYSTEM TWICE AND MADE ONE ATTEMPTED REPAIR. ONE WEEK LATER THE BRAKES ARE BACKING TO SQUEAKING. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 90 DAYS, I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES FOR MORE THAN HALF THAT TIME. THE CENTER DISPLAY COMPUTER SCREENS FREEZES CONSTANTLY, BUT RECENTLY FREEZES AND WILL NOT RESTART UNTIL AFTER THE CAR IS STOPPED AND RESTARTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11056836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11121658 · 2018-08-22 (August 22, 2018)
WE HAVE OWNED OUR XC90 SINCE NOVEMBER 11, 2017. THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING WHEN BRAKING IN NORMAL CONDITION(S), NO RAIN ON ROAD OR WATER ON BRAKES WHETHER WE WERE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS OR FREEWAYS. VOLVO SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS ON 30 MARCH 2018, JUST A LITTLE OVER 4 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. FOUR MONTHS LATER 8 AUGUST 2018, VOLVO SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 ROTORS AGAIN, BUT NOT THE BRAKE PADS. THERE IS NEARLY 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, WHICH NORMALLY ROTORS AREN'T TYPICALLY …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11256252 · 2019-09-17 (September 17, 2019)
WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED, I UNLOCK THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE TAILGATE OPENS ON IT'S OWN (POSSIBLY INTO TRAFFIC) THEN AFTERWARDS, EVERY TIME WHEN STARTING THE CAR, A "12V BATTERY CHARGING FAULT STOP SAFELY" ERROR OCCURS TWICE. IT SEEMS TO BE OK TO DRIVE, BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR AS TO WHETHER THE FAULT CAN CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE MESSAGE IMPLIES. SO MANY OF THE SYSTEMS IN THE CAR ARE ELECTRIC. THIS IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES NOW, AND VOLVO HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11382704 · 2020-12-07 (December 7, 2020)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON IN OUR SON'S 2018 VOLVO XC90 ON OCTOBER 14, 2020. WE SELECTED THE VOLVO BRAND SINCE IT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH "SAFETY". *BF I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO VOLVO SERVICE ON OCTOBER 15, 2020 AND LEARNED THAT THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL LEAK DETECTION PUMP WAS DAMAGED DUE TO RODENTS CHEWING THROUGH THE WIRING. SAFETY ISSUE #1: THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION UNLESS THE DAMAGE WAS FIXED. LEARNED THAT THE WIRING IS MADE OF A SOY BASED MATERIAL. I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND LEARNED THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS INSTANCES …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,037 miles reported. Look up ODI 11382704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150284 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
VOLVO XC90 2018 MODELS WILL NOT ALWAYS DISPLAY REAR VIEW CAMERA CONTENT WITHIN 2 SECONDS OF SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AS PER FMVSS 111. THIS IS DUE TO REALLY SLOW AND LAGGING INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. BEHAVIOR IS EVIDENT ON MULTIPLE MODELS AND VEHICLES WHICH SHARE SAME SENSUS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11676768 · 2025-07-28 (July 28, 2025)
3 weeks ago we had the transmission module fail on our vehicle while it was being driven. According to Volvo forums, this is a multi-model year, multi vehicle issue for those with sunroofs. Accrding to the dealer in our case, the seal failed, and water runs into the compartment where the transmission module is located, causing it to fail. We had it happen twice, and both times on the highway, with the engine running ragged causing it ot accelerate and then quickly decelerate. There were 3 warnings that popped up-"Gear lever locked," "transmi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11676768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11746058 · 2026-06-23 (June 23, 2026)
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] CT, the vehicle experienced a sudden multi-system safety and actual brake failure while in a parking-lot/low-speed setting near [XXX} in Austin, Texas. The vehicle displayed multiple urgent warning messages and indicators, including power steering failure / stop safely, brake/ABS warning, SRS airbag service urgent warning, stability/traction warning, battery/electrical warning, check-engine warning, and tire-pressure warning. The vehicl…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11746058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11587090 · 2024-05-05 (May 5, 2024)
On Monday [XXX] I started my car and immediately a warning signal on the dashboard read ENGINE LOW Performance , and the dashboard went black and the engine cut off. The car was then towed to the Glen Cove Volvo. After a diagnostic I was informed the following needed to be replaced - FUEL FILLER PIPE 2) FUEL PRESSURE LOW FUEL indicator 3) the aforementioned replacements will require calibrated software update. . I bought this car brand new and I am the only owner and it has only been serviced by Volvo. This car ONLY has 59, 300 miles. I r…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11587090 at NHTSA ↗