VOLVO Complaints

While driving the vehicle at a low rate of speed it presenter a Critical Error message which appeared across the drivers screen for approximately 5-10 seconds. The message then immediately disappeared and the vehicle shut down mid operation and came to an abrupt stop on its own. From there it was unable to be moved, switched into neutral/drive or park. Luckily this happened on a neighborhood street, but the warning didn’t allow any time to pull over to find a safe location. To reiterate, the vehicle then suddenly and abruptly came to a complete stop mid operation on its own. If this would have happened on the highway or a busy street, it could have been a life threatening event.

The vehicle first experienced a safety-critical malfunction while driving on the highway on August 11, 2026, producing in-vehicle warnings reading "Transmission Acceleration Performance Reduced" and "Gear Lever Locked," along with broader electrical system symptoms, requiring the 2018 Volvo XC90 to be towed to Volvo Cars Brooklyn on August 11, 2026. At that time, dampness was discovered under the driver’s floor mat, leading to the discovery of a sunroof leak and resulting water intrusion. The dealership represented the vehicle as fully repaired and safe to drive. The same safety-critical malfunction occurred later that night, while driving about 90 miles away from the dealership, with the same warnings appearing, confirming that the original repair failed to address the underlying issue. Loss of normal transmission and braking function while the vehicle was in motion directly affected the driver's ability to control the vehicle. The vehicle was towed for a second time on the morning of August 12, 2026, to Volvo Cars Brooklyn, where it was confirmed that module corrosion caused by the original sunroof leak had not been properly diagnosed or corrected during the first service visit, and that this corrosion had disrupted signals to the vehicle’s electrical, braking, and transmission systems. The dealership completed a corrective repair on August 12, 2026, replacing the OFM module and removing water, following the second incident. The vehicle has not been separately inspected by Volvo’s manufacturer-level engineering team. This failure is consistent with a broader, documented pattern affecting this vehicle platform. Volvo has previously issued a Technical Service Bulletin addressing a sunroof-related water leak on an earlier model year of this platform. While that bulletin does not specifically cover the 2018 model year, numerous 2018 model year owners have independently reported the same failure pattern, a failed sunroof seal, often linked to clogged sunroof drains.

I was pulling into a parking spot in a strip mall parking lot. When I braked after turning into the parking spot, the brakes failed. The car moved forward and hit the Chevy Suburban parked in front of it and started to push it. The automatic collision avoidance system did not stop the car, either. The owner of the Suburban was in that vehicle and was able to put it in gear and move it out of the way. My car continued to move forward at the speed it had been going at when the brakes failed so apparently it was still accelerating. The car then ran into a concrete bollard, and that stopped the car. The control panel was completely blank and the car could not be restarted. The car incurred front end damage and was towed to a collision shop, where it is now. When returned, it will go to the Volvo dealership to be checked out. I don't know whether the problem can be reproduced; by the time the two truck arrive an hour after the incident, the car could be started and appeared to be operating normally.

Software updates causing mechanical issues. Most recent software update blew the compressor and pump causing the AC to go out. According to volvo service department this is a widespread issue with their software updates for the EX90, who knows what other mechanical issues it may be causing. Safety issue as its 115 degrees outside and car only blows hot air.

In February 2026, my 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 (VIN: [XXX]) experienced a hybrid battery cell failure. The failure was diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized Volvo dealership (Volvo of Tacoma) and is covered under the vehicle's manufacturer warranty. However, I have been informed that a replacement part may not be available until December 2026 or later — a delay of ten months or more from the original failure date. Volvo has advised me that attempting to charge the vehicle in its current state carries a risk of fire. As a result, I am unable to charge the hybrid system and have had to operate the vehicle on gasoline alone, with fuel costs increasing approximately 3.5x per month. Separately, an independent mechanic has advised me that continued operation of the vehicle without a functioning hybrid battery cell is causing ongoing, worsening mechanical damage over time, separate from the original defect. I have made extensive good-faith efforts to resolve this directly with Volvo Cars USA customer care, including phone calls, an online request form, and direct correspondence, with prolonged periods of no response despite written acknowledgment of the issue on XXX. Given that Volvo itself has identified a fire risk associated with charging this vehicle, combined with an indefinite repair timeline of ten months or more and mechanic-confirmed risk of continued mechanical degradation, I am filing this report to document a potential safety defect in the hybrid battery system of this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On two separate occasions in the past two months June 6 and Aug. 15, this vehicle experienced a severe unintended engine surge / unintended acceleration event while at a complete stop with my foot firmly on the brake. On both occasions, the engine RPMs spiked above 1,000 RPM, forcing the vehicle to pull heavily against the brakes as if trying to race forward into the intersection. On the most recent event (Aug. 15) when stopping at a red light it appeared that the supercharger kicked in, pulling against the brakes. Six or eight pedestrians were crossing directly in front of the vehicle. If I had taken my foot of the brake I would have hit them. 1.June 12, 2026 Service Visit (RO #192480, attached): Following the June 6 incident, the vehicle was brought to Beyer Volvo Cars Falls Church, Va. The repair order explicitly notes:"Tech found the front sunroof drains to have clogged with dirt/debris and the floorboard to be full of water.""Interior was removed to dry out carpets and the sunroof drains were cleared." Clogged sunroof drains cause water ingress down the A pillar. 2.Diagnostic Code & Part Replacement: During this visit, fault code 161615 was retrieved. The technician noted "unable to duplicate the problem at this time" regarding the engine flare, and no physical inspection or remediation of the flooded wiring harnesses or module connectors beneath the carpet was performed. This same A6 electrical code 161615 was noted on a previous service on 25 Sep. 2025, (RO#184284, attached). There is clear precedent with NHTSA Recall 22V-288 (of a different Volvo model, the XC40), where water intrusion into Volvo wiring harnesses caused corrosion and unintended acceleration. Given that my passenger footwell flooded prior to the engine surge, the CAN bus harness and floor connectors beneath that carpet must undergo a full electrical continuity and corrosion inspection, not just a surface drying. I am requesting further service by the dealer.

Vehicle has 26k miles on it and is under mfr warranty. Dealer-covered warranty has included five (5) visits to address electrical issues with the most recently being 8/13/26. Dealer "system reflash" is not solving the problems. Electrical / safety issues persists, which include: Loss of ALL audio: blinker sounds, all audible safety alerts (seatbelt warning, park assist, blind spot, forward collision alert, and lane keeping). This has also occassionally coincided with a full dark-out of the driver dashboard while the vehicle is running (speedometer, entire instrument panel). This vehicle is for our teenage daughter and dealer efforts combined with my trouble-shooting (car on/off, hard system reset) is not solving the issue. The backup camera also regularly failed to work and on 12/10/24, the dealer addressed as part of earlier recall notice and the camera seems to be working fine. Other than above, the car has operated normally.

On July 28, 2026, while driving my 2020 Volvo XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered, the vehicle repeatedly displayed “Hybrid system failure – Service required,” together with the check-engine light and hybrid/battery warning indicators. The warning repeatedly reappeared while the vehicle was being driven. I brought the vehicle to an authorized Volvo dealer, North Point Volvo, on July 30, 2026. The dealer diagnosed a fault in high-voltage battery cell module “B” and documented that the module requires replacement. Repair Order #522934 states that the replacement parts are on order with “NO ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL.” The dealer advised me that the vehicle was mechanically safe to drive as long as I did not charge it. Because the hybrid-system failure warning repeatedly appeared while driving and the diagnosed fault involves the high-voltage traction battery, I did not consider continued operation appropriate. The vehicle remains unrepaired at the Volvo dealer. I am reporting this because the failure involves the high-voltage propulsion battery and occurred while driving. I am not aware of any crash, fire, injury, or loss of propulsion associated with my incident.

The contact owned a 2024 Volvo S90 MHEV. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH with a rear seat passenger, there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road, and the vehicle immediately caught on fire. The contact and the passenger exited the vehicle safely and notified the fire department. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed from the scene and deemed a total loss. The contact was unsure if a fire department report was filed. A police report was not filed. No injuries were reported. The dealer was notified of the failure and went to inspect the vehicle; however, it was unknown if the vehicle was diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a case. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

I was involved in a serious motor vehicle collision involving my Volvo. The collision was essentially a head-on impact that occurred following a medical emergency. The vehicle sustained significant damage in the collision and is essentially totaled. During the crash, all of the vehicle's airbags DID NOT deploy with the exception of the right curtain airbag. I am concerned that the airbags did not deploy during this severe collision and may have failed to function as designed. As a result of the collision, I sustained significant injuries, including a broken tibia (which required surgery) and four fractured vertebrae in my back. I am reporting this incident to Volvo because I am concerned about the performance and deployment of the vehicle's supplemental restraint system, specifically the failure of all of the airbags, including the steering wheel air bag, to deploy during what was essentially a head-on collision. I would like Volvo to investigate the vehicle, including the airbag system, sensors, control module, crash data, and the reason the airbags did not deploy. I would also like the findings of the investigation documented and provided to me.