IllustrationThe tensioner pulley for the serpentine belt seized up while traveling at 70 mph, melting the serpentine belt and causing an engine fire.
2006 Volvo XC90
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Volvo XC90 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 34.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all XC90 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
120–25K
525–50K
350–75K
275–100K
14100–150K
5150K+
41 reports with mileage · 12 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
5 reportsFIRE STARTED IN REAR NEAR BATTERY COMPARTMENT. WITHIN SECONDS, IT EXPLODED.
I SMELL GAS IN MY CAR NOW ITS LEAKING GASOLINE. WHEN I PULL IN DRIVEWAY I SEE GAS LEAKING FROM BOTTOM.
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 PO…
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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 COMMON RESPONSE FROM VOLVO DEALERS SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS AN "ACT OF GOD". THIS IS A DEFECT, NOT AN ACT OF GOD, AND THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THERE WILL BE MAJOR INJURIES OR DEATHS AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECT.
A COLLEAGUE AND I OFTEN CARPOOL TO WORK. SHE PICKED ME UP IN HER NEW VOLVO VAN - PURCHASED FROM DEALER IN LATE 2006. THE COLLEAGUE, GOT OUT TO CHAT WITH MY SISTER WHILE I GATHERED THE THINGS I NEEDED TO TAKE TO WORK. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS HALF-WAY OPEN BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A MILD JANUARY DAY IN NJ. THE DOOR, THOUGH, W…
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A COLLEAGUE AND I OFTEN CARPOOL TO WORK. SHE PICKED ME UP IN HER NEW VOLVO VAN - PURCHASED FROM DEALER IN LATE 2006. THE COLLEAGUE, GOT OUT TO CHAT WITH MY SISTER WHILE I GATHERED THE THINGS I NEEDED TO TAKE TO WORK. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS HALF-WAY OPEN BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A MILD JANUARY DAY IN NJ. THE DOOR, THOUGH, WAS LOCKED, AND I WANTED TO GET INSIDE THE CAR READY TO BE ON OUR WAY. I LEANED MY HEAD INSIDE AND PUSHED THE BUTTON I THOUGHT WAS THE DOOR LOCK. INSTEAD, I ACTIVATED THE POWER WINDOW WHICH CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON MY NECK EVEN AFTER I RELEASED IT. I JUST BARELY FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND SLIPPED MY HEAD OUT IN TIME. I AM AFRAID PEOPLE WILL BE INJURED. ISN'T THERE A SAFETY FEATURE TO PREVENT WINDOWS FROM CLOSING AUTOMATICALLY? HAS THE FEATURE BEEN DISABLED ON SOME CARS? BAD IDEA! *JB
Official recalls
310V566000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)
Nov 8, 2010
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW BATTERY AND A SPACER WILL BE INSERTED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY NEXT TO THE PCB. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
06V155000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly
May 5, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES,THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
06V144000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2006
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS DRIVESHAFT, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE WIPERS FROM THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.