Total Complaints
4 filings
VOLVO VOLVO · model year
2003 VOLVO VOLVO
4 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003VOLVOVOLVO carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 VOLVO is visibility:rearview mirrors/devices:exterior with 1 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission:torque converter (1) and power train (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 23 investigation files overlapping the 2003 VOLVO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071221POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
ANGLE GEAR REPLACEMENT ON A 2003 VOLVO XC90 AWD. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
20071004POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
1. THERE IS A WHOOPING CRANE SOUND WHEN I STEP ON THE FOOT FEED AND THEN RELEASE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS REPAIRED AND THEN WHEN I DROVE IT HOME IT WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE. AFTER NO RESPONSE FROM MY COMPLAINT TO THEM I STOPPED THE PAYMENT VIA AE AND HAVE STILL HEARD NOTHING. I THINK I PUT THE WRONG YEAR OF MY VEHICLE IN THE BEGINNING AND IF I TRY TO GO BACK I LOOSE EVERYTHING. IT IS A 2003 XC90 PURCHASED IN 12/02. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. IF YOU CAN'T HELP, PLEASE AT LEAST SEND ME AN EMAIL AND TELL ME SO. THANKS. 2. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT STARTED IN JULY 2006 IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD A NEW BOX FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM AND IT WOULD COST $2800.00 TO REPAIR. BUT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. MY XC90 HAD A 4 YR OR 50,000 WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN JULY 2006 WITH 41800 MILES. I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR IN 12/02 SO MY MATH SAYS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 12/06 A
Mileage: 41,250
20071004POWER TRAIN
1. THERE IS A WHOOPING CRANE SOUND WHEN I STEP ON THE FOOT FEED AND THEN RELEASE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS REPAIRED AND THEN WHEN I DROVE IT HOME IT WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE. AFTER NO RESPONSE FROM MY COMPLAINT TO THEM I STOPPED THE PAYMENT VIA AE AND HAVE STILL HEARD NOTHING. I THINK I PUT THE WRONG YEAR OF MY VEHICLE IN THE BEGINNING AND IF I TRY TO GO BACK I LOOSE EVERYTHING. IT IS A 2003 XC90 PURCHASED IN 12/02. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE. IF YOU CAN'T HELP, PLEASE AT LEAST SEND ME AN EMAIL AND TELL ME SO. THANKS. 2. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT STARTED IN JULY 2006 IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. AFTER NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD A NEW BOX FOR THAT PARTICULAR ITEM AND IT WOULD COST $2800.00 TO REPAIR. BUT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. MY XC90 HAD A 4 YR OR 50,000 WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM STARTED IN JULY 2006 WITH 41800 MILES. I TOOK POSSESSION OF THE CAR IN 12/02 SO MY MATH SAYS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 12/06 A
Mileage: 41,250
20030402VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE SIDE MIRRORS FAILED TO STAY IN THE POSITION THEY WERE SET IN, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Compare 2003VOLVOVOLVO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 VOLVO VOLVO have?▼
The 2003 VOLVO VOLVO has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 VOLVO VOLVO?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 VOLVO VOLVO is VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2003 VOLVO VOLVO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.