2010 Volvo XC90 Problems & Owner Complaints
Age-normalised, this year draws ~0.7 complaints per year on the road — ranking 3 of 3 Volvo XC90 years we track (1 = most complaints per year).
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What owners report
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most-reported problem area on the 2010 Volvo XC90, cited in 3 of 12 filed complaints (25%).
Steering is next (2 complaints, 17%), followed by Structure (2), Tires (2), Air Bags (1).
No complaint for this vehicle reports a crash, fire, injury or death.
Complaints by vehicle system
Owner complaints filed with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2010 Volvo XC90, grouped by the vehicle system each cites. A single complaint can name more than one system, so the group totals can add up to more than 12.
Fuel/Propulsion System 3
“ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. TWO CONSECUTIVE TANKFULS AT ABOUT 1/4 TANK OR 135 MILES TO EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RESTARTED ENGINE AND LIMPED TO NEAREST GAS STATION. AFTER FILLUP ENGINE LIGHT CLEARED AND IT DROVE FINE UNTIL DOWN TO APPROX A QUARTER TANK AGAIN WHEN IT REOCCURRED.”
NHTSA complaint #11299955, 2020
“THE VEHICLE GETS A STRONG GAS SMELL INSIDE THE DRIVING AREA WHEN GAS TANK FILLED. NO FUEL FOUND TO BE LEAKING. SMELL COMES FROM UNDER FLOOR BY BACKSEATS”
NHTSA complaint #11256965, 2019
“DROVE VOLVO ONE DAY AGO AND WHILE DRIVING ON RURAL HIGHWAY ROAD EARLY MORNING IN THE DARK, VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING TOTALLY SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND STALLED OUT. HAD TO VEER OFF ROAD AND COAST ON INCLINE WITH NOT MUCH MOMENTUM DUE TO CARS BEHIND ME. WAS DANGEROUS SITUATION, BUT LUCKILY GOT VEHICLE INTO SMALL DITCH OFF ROAD . HAD TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE AS WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS ADVISED BY VOLVO DEALER AFTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT FUEL PUMP WAS BAD AND PART BURNED OUT INSIDE IT AND NEEDS REPLACED. ABOUT A LITTLE LESS THEN A YEAR AGO VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UPON START AND WANTED TO STALL, WAS CHEC…”
NHTSA complaint #11144238, 2018
Steering 2
“I WAS DRIVING MY WHEEL LOCKED I CANNOT TURN MY WHEEL”
NHTSA complaint #11360982, 2020
“STEERING OFTEN SHAKES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING COLUMN STICKS AT TIMES AND THEN IS VERY WOBBLY.”
NHTSA complaint #11209692, 2018
Structure 2
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND BUCKLING IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE DEALER (VOLVO ESCONDIDO, 1938 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO, CA 92029) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXTREME HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11110733, 2018
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HER GARAGE, THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINCH THAT WAS HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10588537, 2014
Tires 2
“I PULLED DOWN THE SPARE TIRE IN OUR 2010 XC90 TODAY TO REPAIR A FLAT (I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE HAD TO DO SO). THERE ARE 4 LARGE BURNED AND MELTED AREAS (AS IF IT HAD BEEN ON A GIANT GRILL) ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE SPARE TIRE THAT FACES THE UNDERCARRIAGE WHERE IT IS SUSPENDED UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I ASSUME THIS IS FROM THE MUFFLER OR SOME OTHER HOT METAL. IN ADDITION TO WONDERING IF THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, I AM ALSO APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE INTEGRITY AND SAFETY OF THE SPARE TIRE ONCE IT IS PLACED ON THE CAR. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10641814, 2014
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HER GARAGE, THE SPARE TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINCH THAT WAS HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10588537, 2014
Air Bags 1
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE IT WAS STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND BUCKLING IN THE AREA OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG COMPONENT. THE DEALER (VOLVO ESCONDIDO, 1938 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO, CA 92029) WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY EXTREME HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11110733, 2018
Engine 1
“ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. TWO CONSECUTIVE TANKFULS AT ABOUT 1/4 TANK OR 135 MILES TO EMPTY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. RESTARTED ENGINE AND LIMPED TO NEAREST GAS STATION. AFTER FILLUP ENGINE LIGHT CLEARED AND IT DROVE FINE UNTIL DOWN TO APPROX A QUARTER TANK AGAIN WHEN IT REOCCURRED.”
NHTSA complaint #11299955, 2020
Fuel System 1
“The contact owns a 2010 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. Due to failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and discovered a leak in the fuel line. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V147000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11516504, 2023
Service Brakes 1
“STEERING OFTEN SHAKES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING COLUMN STICKS AT TIMES AND THEN IS VERY WOBBLY.”
NHTSA complaint #11209692, 2018
Unknown Or Other 1
“STARTLINGLY LOUD POP WHEN DRIVING AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE. PULLED OFF TO CHECK TIRES IN THICK MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND DID NOT NOTICE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED UNTIL SOME MILES LATER WHEN I CONTINUED TO HEAR GRAVEL ROLLING AROUND ON TOP OF MY CAR. A LARGE CHUNK OF WINDOW HAD FLOWN OFF THE BACK, APPARENTLY. FORTUNATELY, SCREEN WAS CLOSED. AND,THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE NOT EFFECTED. I DO NOT RECALL ANYTHING HITTING THE SUNROOF NOR WAS I BEHIND ANY TRUCKS THAT MAY HAVE HAD LOOSE ROCKS. COST TO REPAIR IS $935!!, ALL OUT OF POCKET SINCE MY DEDUCTIBLE IS $1000. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! V…”
NHTSA complaint #10845752, 2016
Visibility/Wiper 1
“THE DRIVERS SIDE VIEW MIRROR HAS LOOSENED WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF TRAUMA. IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN VISIBILITY WITHOUT OPENING THE WINDOW AND MANUALLY PUSHING THE MIRROR CASING OUTWARD. IT MOVES WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONERY.”
NHTSA complaint #11076176, 2018
Wheels 1
“THE SPARE TIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO DROP FROM UNDER VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. THE CABLE ASSEMBLY DISMOUNTED FROM THE CARRIER NUT. SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED MY OWNER. IF VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON ROAD AT TIME OF CABLE MALFUNCTION, WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLE DEATH. PLEASE ADVISE!”
NHTSA complaint #10923852, 2016
How we read this (methodology)
How to read this: raw complaint totals are not a clean reliability score — a model year with more cars sold, or simply more years on the road, accumulates more complaints regardless of how good it is. So this page leans on two signals that are not distorted by sales volume: the share of complaints falling on each vehicle system (the breakdown above) and NHTSA's own crash / fire / injury / death flags. When we compare model years of the same model, we normalise by years on the road (complaints ÷ vehicle age) rather than comparing raw totals. Age-normalised, the 2010 Volvo XC90 draws about 0.7 complaints per year on the road, ranking 3 of 3 among the Volvo XC90 model years we have ingested (1 = most complaints per year on road).
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Related
Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.