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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

53 reports
175,000 miles · May 14, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A WORN SUSPENSION MOUNT. ADDITIONALLY, THE MECHANIC ALSO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE BOOST PRESSURE SENSOR, A DEFECTIVE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, AND A DEFECTIVE VANOS SENSOR WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ODI #11324546

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemStructure

WATER LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN PLACE GATHERING IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR ! CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS! VEHICLE WAS IN IDOL AND CUT OFF WILL NOT RESTART LEAVING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I STRANDED! WHILE INVESTIGATING AND REMOVING CARPET CAME TO REALIZE THEY WERE 30 GALLONS OF WATER UNDER CARPET!! LOOKING INTO IT MORE ONLINE NO…

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WATER LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN PLACE GATHERING IN PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR ! CAUSING MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS! VEHICLE WAS IN IDOL AND CUT OFF WILL NOT RESTART LEAVING MY YOUNG DAUGHTER AND I STRANDED! WHILE INVESTIGATING AND REMOVING CARPET CAME TO REALIZE THEY WERE 30 GALLONS OF WATER UNDER CARPET!! LOOKING INTO IT MORE ONLINE NOTICED MANY MANY MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPRESSED THIS SAME PROBLEM! WHY IS NOT AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO VOLVO TO WANT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?? WHY WASN'T THIS PROBLEM ISSUED FOR RECALL???? DOES SON HAVE TO DIE OF PHYSICALLY HARMED FOR THEIR TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS ONGOING PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11320450

130,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRIPPEN VOLVO (8300 W. SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRIPPEN VOLVO (8300 W. SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING) ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT*JB

NHTSA ODI #11150156

70,000 miles · Jul 5, 2016
SteeringWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10882781

115,000 miles · Jun 3, 2016
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ODI #10872440

111,000 miles · May 16, 2016
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or OtherFire

FIRE STARTED IN REAR NEAR BATTERY COMPARTMENT. WITHIN SECONDS, IT EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI #10865118

132,330 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,330.

NHTSA ODI #10852473

140,094 miles · Mar 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I SMELL GAS IN MY CAR NOW ITS LEAKING GASOLINE. WHEN I PULL IN DRIVEWAY I SEE GAS LEAKING FROM BOTTOM.

NHTSA ODI #10851148

113,000 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Power Train

HAVE RESEARCHED THIS CAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH ALL TYPES OF VOLVO'S. I HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS, SHOP NOTICED THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAR MAIN SEAL. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WITHIN WARRANTY. SAVED UP FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT …

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HAVE RESEARCHED THIS CAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT USED FROM A SMALL DEALERSHIP AND SEEMS LIKE A LARGE PROBLEM WITH ALL TYPES OF VOLVO'S. I HAD MY CAR FOR A COUPLE DAYS, SHOP NOTICED THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAR MAIN SEAL. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT FIX IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WITHIN WARRANTY. SAVED UP FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT TO PAY $1100 CASH OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC. RIGHT BEFORE I TOOK IT IN TO GET THE WORK DONE, THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING HARD WHILE DRIVING IN CITY. HIGHWAY IT WAS FINE. HAD THE SEAL REPLACED, TRANSMISSION FLUSHED BEFORE PUTTING BACK TOGETHER THINKING IT WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM. NOPE! SO I SAVED UP ONCE AGAIN TO GO TO THE ACTUAL VOLVO DEALERSHIP AND PAY $200 OUT OF POCKET FOR A REFLASH ED AND SOFTWARE UPDATE ON THE TRANSMISSION. DIDN'T WORK! LOOKED UP OTHER POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT COULD BE CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT WEIRD...NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHER PETES VOLVO'S DOING THE SAME THING! SO WHY HASN'T VOLVO DONE A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION? IT'S A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE IS DRIVING AND THE THING SLAMS INTO PARK OR ANY OTHER GEAR AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY OWN CAR AND I'M TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T DUMP ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT AND HAVE TO TRADE IT IN FOR A DIFFERENT CAR. PLEASE HELP AND MAKE VOLVO RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND AND 2 KIDS DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR NEGLIGENCE!!

NHTSA ODI #10759001

133,000 miles · May 18, 2015
Unknown Or Other

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.

NHTSA ODI #10717027

Official recalls

3

10V566000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.