2011 Volvo XC90 problems
NHTSA has received 30 complaints about the 2011 Volvo XC90, and 23% of them involve engine. Next are electrical system (17%) and brakes (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 30 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 23% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 20 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 | 8 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 20 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 70,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 17th most-complained-about out of 17 model years of the Volvo XC90 with enough data (14 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
94,000 miles 2011 volvo xc90 purchased 4 months ago. Vehicle was parked stationary in driveway. In the middle of the night water intruded the front passenger cabin and dashboard of the vehicle through a sunroof drainagedefect in this year and model of volvo xc90. Six inches of water pooled in the front passenger floor and permeated the dash causing the cem to short and start an electrical fire. The cabin of the vehicle filled with thick smoke from the electrical fire and the car alarm began to go off.
Shortly after we purchased our 2011 volvo xc90 brand new we have experienced a lags in acceleration. When accelerating the car would roll very slowly unless the accelerator pedal was completely floored. We waited until our routine oil change was due to have it checked out, and we were told by the dealer that they could not recreate the circumstance. They told us they would update the car's computer which seemed to work briefly, but shortly after the lagging began again.
Whining noise in steering..... I checked and leaking power steering fluid in 2015... Also in 2016, and now again in 2017... I added fluid each time....
Driver seat belt does not fully retract after every release. It will be loose until you guide it up to the hole. It is kind of okay for now but I have no doubt this issue could get worse. I am also almost certain this is similar to recall #r10029 that affects our 2011 xc60. The part must be worn. It still retracts around people but if it gets worse, it could be fatal down the line if it does not retract properly with a smaller driver. Passenger belt is fine. Rigid and firm as pictures show unlike the driver side.