VOLVO XC90 · model year

2010 VOLVO XC90

16 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2010VOLVOXC90 carries 16 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 2010 XC90 is fuel/propulsion system with 3 filings, followed by tires:temporary/emergency spare tire (2) and steering (2). 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. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 28 investigation files overlapping the 2010 XC90. 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.

16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

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

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM3
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE2
STEERING2
STRUCTURE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
WHEELS1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
AIR BAGS1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

Recalls (3)

11V28600018/05/2011

STEERING

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 XC90 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 29, 2010, THROUGH AUGUST 16, 2010. THE POWER STEERING FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE OIL PIPE CONNECTION AT THE STEERING GEAR VALVE HOUSING.

10V14700016/04/2010

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 XC90 VEHICLES. A LEAK MAY DEVELOP IN THE FUEL LINE BETWEEN THE LINE AND A CONNECTOR.

10V56600008/11/2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Recent Complaints

20230411FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

Mileage: 125,000

20200924STEERING

I WAS DRIVING MY WHEEL LOCKED I CANNOT TURN MY WHEEL

Mileage: 140,000

20200116ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 151,500

20200116FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 151,500

20190920FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20190524SERVICE BRAKES

STEERING OFTEN SHAKES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING COLUMN STICKS AT TIMES AND THEN IS VERY WOBBLY.

Mileage: 95,000

20190524STEERING

STEERING OFTEN SHAKES AND IS HARD TO CONTROL GOING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR. STEERING COLUMN STICKS AT TIMES AND THEN IS VERY WOBBLY.

Mileage: 95,000

20181030FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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 CHECKED OUT AND THOUGHT MAYBE BAD GAS AS NO FURTHER SYMPTOMS. NOTHING HAPPENED AFTER AND CAR RAN NORMALLY UNTIL INCIDENT 1 DAY AGO.

Mileage: 101,200

20180711AIR BAGS

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.

20180711STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

20180304VISIBILITY/WIPER

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.

Mileage: 100,000

20161102WHEELS

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!

Mileage: 71,700

20160309UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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! VOLVO SERVICE TELLS ME THIS HAPPENED TO ANOTHER CAR RECENTLY!!

Mileage: 61,000

20141006TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

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

Mileage: 45,000

20140515STRUCTURE

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.

Mileage: 60,000

20140515TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

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.

Mileage: 60,000

Compare 2010VOLVOXC90 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2010 VOLVO XC90 have?
The 2010 VOLVO XC90 has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2010 VOLVO XC90?
Yes, the 2010 VOLVO XC90 has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 VOLVO XC90?
The most-complained component for the 2010 VOLVO XC90 is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE and STEERING.
Is the 2010 VOLVO XC90 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.