MODELYEARINDEX

Which Volvo XC90 years to avoid

Across 8 scored model years, the 2016, 2017 and 2021 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

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 owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2016 F 126 reports · median 8,000 mi

  1. Electrical 34

    Car was having issues with speedometer screen and center console screens. Screen would blank out when navigation system was in use and vehicle was moving. This would happen twice and system would normalize. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 26

    The contact owns a 2016 volvo XC90. While driving at approximately 70 MPH, the check engine warning indicator illuminated and the engine stalled. The vehicle was not able to restart. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Brakes 13

    The contact owns a 2016 volvo XC90. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the brakes independently engaged without warning and slowed the vehicle down to approximately 5 MPH. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

10 crash · 3 fire

2017 F 43 reports · median 15,750 mi

  1. Engine 9

    The contact owns a 2017 volvo XC90. The contact stated that the vehicle came equipped with a remote start application for the cellular telephone. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Body & Interior 5

    Passenger doors (front and back) unlock on their own while driving and open /become ajar. Interior lights come on and alarm sounds off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 5

    While driving with two young children in car, volvo hood started to smoke. No warning lights or signals went off. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

5 crash · 6 fire · 2 injuries

The best year for the XC90

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2011 is the best-scoring XC90 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 88.1 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2011 0.38× 12 A
2013 0.64× 10 B
2018 0.94× 23 C

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
23V012000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2023 27,457
21V682000 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR 2021 19,149
18V800000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2017–2019 17,548
22V793000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM) 2022, 2023 15,674

+ 12 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 8,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Volvo XC90 years should you avoid?
2016, 2017, 2021 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Volvo XC90 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Volvo XC90?
2011 is the best-scoring Volvo XC90 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 88.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Volvo XC90 have?
24 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Volvo XC90 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

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