2005 Volvo XC90 problems
NHTSA has received 304 complaints about the 2005 Volvo XC90, and 21% of them involve engine. Next are electrical system (17%) and transmission (13%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 304 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 88,000 miles 264 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 32 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 57 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 42 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 40 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 34 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 11 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 12 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 4 |
| 200k+ miles | 4 |
What the data shows
Of the 264 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 88,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 86,000 miles (55 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 91% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 17 model years of the Volvo XC90 with enough data (116 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 6 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was driving my 2005 volvo xc90 AWD a from my home to work(about 20 miles) when I was parking the car on a parking lot, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The next moment I saw a little fire coming from under the hood. I stopped the car and got out. The fire was getting bigger and bigger. I immediately called 911. By the time the fire engine arrived the car was in flames, and the front windshield cracked and fell inside the car. The front seats and my personal property were burned.
Tl* - the contact owns a 2005 volvo x90. While driving 10 MPH smoke came from under the hood. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle was pulled over, and the fire was extinguished by the fire department. The cause of the fire was undetermined. The failure mileage was 23,000. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. A fire report filed, and the contact has pictures.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 volvo xc90. The contact stated that water leaked into the vehicle through the sun roof. The water caused damaged to the headliner and floorboard carpet. The failure also caused the seats to move independently and a growth of mold and mildew inside the vehicle. The contact also stated that there were several water bugs and other types of insects infesting the vehicle due to the water accumulation. The contact suffered from medical distress as a result of the failure.
I was driving with my daughter on a very long bridge at night in my 2005 volvo xc90. The check engine light came on and while the car stayed on, it appeared to have lost power. I have had other electrical problems with the car and have had it to the dealer 3 times but they say they can't find anything wrong with it. This was by far the most dangerous incident! After doing some internet research, I have read hundreds of reports similar to mine. There is a definite issue with this car and it should be recalled.
I own a 2005 v8 xc90. Like so many others I am a recent member to the cb failure club. Yep. It's a club. The counter balance shaft failure club. This is a design defect that volvo is aware of and does nothing to remedy the poor saps who own a 2005 with the first 6883 engines produced by yamaha for volvo. After 6883 volvo made changes to the design of the counter balance shaft, by drilling a weep hole to let moisture out. Unfortunately, my engine was in the 4000s. I live in southern california.