MODELYEARINDEX

Volvo XC90

491 complaints across 8 scored model years and 24 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Volvo XC90 Full report
F
Grade 2011–2021
2016 vs model median 6.1×
Model median3× median
Electrical 34
Engine 26
Brakes 13
Avoid

2016 · 2017

Best

2011 · 2013

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2011
0.38× 12 A
2013
0.64× 10 B
2016
6.14× 126 F
2017
2.67× 43 F
2018
0.94× 23 C
2019
1.00× 13 C
2020
1.00× 17 C
2021
1.45× 30 D
2022 P
2.09× 49 F
2023 P
2.83× 69 F
2024 P
2.75× 56 F
2025 P
2.05× 37 D

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG23
City / Highway20 / 28
Engine2L, 4 cyl
DriveAll-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$3,300

Recalls

24 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
25V282000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2023–2025 413,151
25V908000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2023–2025 413,151
20V144000 FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING 2019, 2020 121,605
21V414000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS 2019, 2020 85,550
16V798000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY 2016, 2017 74,027
16V690000 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER 2016, 2017 43,766
19V308000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS 2016 34,006
16V268000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY 2016 30,214

+ 16 further campaigns

Others in Midsize SUVs

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura MDX
20162020
C
Audi Q7
20172021
C
Audi Q8
2019
C
BMW X5
20112021
D
BMW X6
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Traverse
20102011
C
Dodge Durango
20112012
C
Dodge Journey
20142015
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 XC90
Complaints in window
126
Severity-weighted
196.5
Model median (weighted)
32
vs model median
6.14×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
8
Open investigations
0
Score 10 F