Volvo XC90 Maintenance and Repair

withthetrees

I bought a 2005 xc90 AWD v-8 in September 2005. Every since I had the car it felt to have a slight hesitation at times upon accelration. About a month ago I was accelerating on a meduim grade hill and it almost stalled, but "caught" itself and kept going. Then about a week later I was turning onto a freeway on ramp and it did the same thing, but didn't quite stall. Last week I am driving up an icy hill and come to a stop. Then I accelerate and as my wheels are trying to grab and I am giving it gas it completely stalls. Since i am on an icy hill I start to slide backward, and without power steering I crank the car into a snowbank to be able to stop. Thankfully no one was behind me. Now I am sticking out in the street in icy conditions waiting for an accident to happen. So it starts back up, no problem, but when trying to get back up the hill it stalls again. I had it towed and after a week the dealer can not find anything wrong with it, and it won't hestite or stall for them.

So what kind of progress have you had since your post in June?

guyf

Just a guess, would your stalling problem be related to the traction control?

withthetrees

The service rep that I have been working with mentioned that when the wheels lose traction the power will lessen, but not stall. He said that is a feature that the BMW X5 has also. I have driven Jeeps for the past 12 years, and never had this issue. I find it hard to believe that a quality made car would "peter out" going uphill, upon prompt acceleration, or in icy conditions. I specifically bought the car because the dealer said that the car basically "thinks for itself" in slippery situtations, and will automatically adjust it's traction. Right now the senior service rep has borrowed it for the weekend and is taking up to the mountains to try and duplicate the situation. I hope it does stall for him so he can see for himself, but it can be very dangerous stalling on icy hills. He will be calling tomorrow with his findings.

In your opinion can this be resolved or is it built into the car?

guyf

I think it certainly can be resolved. Keep us informed.

lev_berkovich

Actually, I believe, the symptoms that you have described are consistent with the way the Traction Control portion of DSTC works. When there is no effective friction between the tires and the road surface - the traction control gradually cuts the torque as much as it is required to keep a balance between the driving force and the friction and prevent wheels from spinning. So if friction is close to 0, like in your case, the torque is cut off completely, and you feel that the car "stalls".

The solution is extremely simple - when you start up icy hill just disable the Traction control by depressing DSTC button on a center console. Then XC90 will behave in more "familiar" manner, grabbing with all 4 wheels as much as it can, regardless the wheel spinning.

Please remember, that Stability control portion will keep working, as well as the AWD, so the power will be appropriately shifted from side to side and back and forth to the wheel with the best friction.

So, my recommendation is - take it back from the dealer and try disabling the Traction control. I can not guarantee, but 99.9% sure, that the Traction control is the problem.

Same technique needs to be used to pull the XC90 out of a deep snow, using the "rocking".

I have learned it from my personal experience back in 2001 with my S80, trying to pull out from a parking, after the huge overnight snow storm, and finding to my surprise, that when I "rock", the more I press on a gas - the less motion I get. A quick research through the owner manual has resolved the problem, and I went out of a snow pile, just like in my old days, "rocking" back and forth.

BTW.
Th DSTC button is there for those specific reasons.

hoosbest

Sorry for the delay. No - I went to a different dealer than where I bought car. Since they make all their money on repair/warranty work, they will be happy to keep you coming back for service.

withthetrees

The service rep just supplied me (at no charge)with brand new pirelli scorpion snow tires. When I was sold the car I was told that it was snow ready. The service rep said that the factory tires don't do well with the power that the car provides and icy hills. Yes, he said to take it out of the DSTC while on an icy hill. So far, a week later no problem, but I haven't quite been able to duplicate the specific circumstance that made it stall out. I defintely still feel a hesitation whle exceling in normal conditions though. Time will tell.....

Thank you for your feedback.

jayziv

I have a 2005 XC 90 awd with 8k miles. One of my tires needs to be replaced and the other tires are ok . Do I need to replace 2 tires or just one.

Thanks

lev_berkovich

You can replace just one, but put it to the rear, otherwise, car will pull to one side. And have 4 wheel alignment done.

skimbear

Is it just me or do V8 and T6 have more problems than 2.5T? Based on the postings here, it seems so. I have a 2005 2.5T AWD. At the time I was shopping for XC90, V8 hadn't come out yet and I knew T6 was going away. So, I settled for 2.5T although with all the options I got with it, it cost about the same as a T6. I've had mine for about 10 months, and after 14K miles, I haven't had any mechanical problems (knock on wood). I've had minor irritating problems with the seat and rearview mirror memory settings. At any rate, my XC90 lacks power when the 3rd row is occupied. I think the AWD also adds more weight. So, I was considering upgrading to a V8 since V8 price has come down quite a bit. I would like to hear from V8 owners if they think it has more problems than the tried and tested Volvo 5 cylinder and transmission.

gambiaman

I have a V8 with 5500 miles and have had no problems. From my reading Volvo posts most have no problems with V8 or T5. I've been getting about 19.5 MPG in mixed hwy/city driving. You might want to consider that the V8 has a 6 speed transimission and both were made in Japan. It also has a timing chain and no turbo charger. Volvo is coming out with new 6 cylinder in the next year or so.
Em

wadedad

My XC90 ABS HAS AN INTERNAL DAMAGE THAT REQUIRE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM TO BE REPLACE AT MY EXPENSE. I THOUGHT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANT? HOW CAN I APPEAL THIS ISSUE WITH VOLVO?

elias

wadedad it sounds like your recourse here is with your auto insurance company not volvo. i think there's no way that any warranty will cover road/driving damage to your car, unless you are talking about tires & 'road hazard protection'.

ml_captain

As far as I have read, there are mixed feedbacks from V8 owners. Some experiences are wonderful, and some are just plain scary.

There are several dedicated Volvo chat sites. You will find some info there. I don't think edmunds.com allows users to post other chat sites, so I won't list the web addresses.

burosky

Keep in mind. IMHO there will always be way more people in chat rooms who will post problems than those who are satisfied with their car. In addition, I think all manufacturers including the high end car makers have their fair share of problems. I suppose it's just the law of averages. With the number of cars their plants spit out, there's bound to be a few duds. I've just been lucky so far to not buy one of those duds. Knock on wood. I might have just jinxed myself. :-(

port1

:confuse: I did my first service at 7,500 miles. The dealer fixed the next service at 10,500 or about 3 months whichever comes first. I took it to the dealer to check a "Check Engine" light that would not go off for 2 days. The dealer says my oil is low and says I have to pay for it. Now, I thought the service covers an oil change till the next service.

Q1: Why did the oil go low before 7,500 miles. My coolant ran low at 7,000 miles the last time around.

Q2: Is an oil change covered in every 7,500 mile service for 3 years as the free maintainance says? Why does a dealer ask you to service every 3,500 miles when Volvo says every 7,500 miles. Our driving conditions in the NorthWest are not harsh. Another friend on mine faces the same dealer issue.

Q3: My wife and I use our own keys with its seat settings. She drives it on a daily basis for short trips to office. I noticed that the we loose the settings very often sometimes when i don't drive for a long time (like 3-4 weeks) I loose my settings or when she drives, i drive and she goes back and its gone for her in the lat 24 hours. I make sure we lock when we leave to hold the settings.

Thanks

elias

q1 - coolant on our xc90 was reported low just once - dealer said it is common for this to occur once, somehow relating to the change of season & using A/C. i didn't understand the explanation but sure enough the 'low coolant' condition did not recur. also imho burning a quart of oil in 7500 miles is not an unreasonable rate.
q2 - dealer just wants more $ out of you. ignore their service intervals and use what volvo recommends.
q3 - heh heh. the power seat memories on the xc90 are very weird. they correspond to the key-fob usage as you mention. apparently i do not have enough advanced degrees to figure out the proper operation. from my perspective, seat memory #3 doesn't work properly. so i use #2.

skimbear

port1, regarding your Q3. My 2005 XC90 also has problems with key controlled seat and mirror memory settings. When I first bought the car, the memory didn't work at all. The dealer where I bought the car couldn't fix it. I had to wait for a Volvo factory engineer to come and download software. I had to wait about 3 months for the engineer because there was only one for the entire Southern California area where I live, and he was on vacation in Sweden at the time. At any rate, the memory worked fine for a few months, and now the passenger-side rearview mirror just goes haywire in all directions when I use the key to switch the memory. I usually have to kill the engine in order to stop the rearview mirror once it goes haywire. I don't know if this is a software problem or something else, but I would like to find out how you get it resolved. Thanks.

csk365

My Pirelli's on 2005 2.5 XC90 were worn out at 10K. Had to fight for new tires with the dealer. We were told that there have been issues with the XC90 alignments from the factory, although within tolerance. Even with this admission, had to argue for new tires. Only have 4,500 on the new set. Since they are Pirelli's and reading other posts, I am thinking I will have to replace them in another 6,000.

Since getting this car less than a year ago, had the battery dies 3 times, told bad battery cell and battery replaced. Then last week car would not start, bad relay module to fuel pump, just the relay was replaced. I am doubting this car's reliability. I give it one more chance and then I am getting rid of it if it strands me again. New policy at our dealer, I had to pay for a loaner vehicle, although a nominal fee. Am I alone?

lev_berkovich

Driving style and minor " close encounters" with curbs can seriously reduce tire's life expectancy.
We still have an original set of 18" Michelins on our XC90 at 32K. And I predict that they will survive through summer up to probably 40-42K. However, one tire (right rear) - had to be replaced as it worn out down to the steel belt. The reason was - my wife hit a curb and off-set the alignment (there was visible deep scratch on the rim).
My opinion (just an opinion) is that a lot of XC90 drivers moved up from smaller cars and do hit curbs due to the turning habits that are not quite suitable for the large vehicle, therefore, off-setting the alignment and reducing thread life.

I an speaking from my own experience. In 1996 I have moved from driving Altima to driving 20 ft. long bed/extended cab F150. I was hitting curbs with my rear wheels left and right for a quite some time. Luckily for me it was a truck with a solid rear axle that was not effected much.

So,
I suggest inspect tires frequently and check the alignment at the first indication of uneven wear. It not necessarily a poor factory alignment, but the off-set due to the overlooked impact.

woeob

I am looking to trade a perfectly good XC70 to get the higher seating and room of the XC90. Can anyone give me the highway MPG after 10-20,000 miles of experience. I read about problems like brakes, bearings and tires after less than what I consider normal milage. Can I get some feedback on such problems.

My XC70 has 36,000 miles, gets 26mpg highway and has been trouble free except for rear seat sensor. A great car except for front cabin size.

thanks all, WOEOB

lev_berkovich

XC90 2.5T AWD @33,500 miles, 18" Michelin tyres.

17.5 - 18 MPG - city drive (Los Angeles - heavy traffic+surface streets)
22-25MPG - highway (depends heavily on a speed, best @65 MPH)

No problem at all.

1 tire was replaced @ 27,000 due to the damaged
1 tire need to be replaced soon, most likely the same cause as the first one - my wife keeps hitting curbs at sharp turns, getting into driveways, alleys, etc.

2 tires have maybe 20-25 % of usable life yet.

Original brake pads.

comp

I have an 03 2.5T with 32K miles. I've noticed that since Oct 05 that the car vibrates quite a bit at a stop, but once you begin to move it goes away. I've also become aware of a shimmy/howl when the car goes into 4th and 5th. This is especially obvious when going up hills at which point the vehicle doesn't seem to have as much power as normal. Anyone who has experienced transmission issues recognize these problems? Dealer has seen it twice and says it is normal for optimal fuel economy. Sounds logical except it just started doing it.

jccai1

05 XC90 2.5T AWD with 3 rows of seats and 18" wheels. 14k miles. City gas mileage varies between 15.5mpg and 17.5mpg. Highway mileage is between 22mpg and 23.5mpg. Not the most economical, but acceptable for the size and weight of the vehicle. It has the same engine as your XC70 does, but it's a lot heavier. So expect much slower acceleration. Overall I like this vehicle.

However, I don't know if the XC90 really offers that much more room than your XC70. The 2nd row isn't any bigger than that in an average mid-size sedan. The 3rd row is only good for kids on short trips. The cargo area is probably bigger, but you'll also have to deal with a much higher loading height.

skimbear

woeob,
I have a 2005 XC90 2.5T AWD with 3rd row. Thus far at 15K miles, been averaging 15~16 mpg overall. But I live in LA, so a lot of stop and go even on the highways, and the A/C is on most of time except in the winter. On rare normal highway drives without the stop and go, been averaging about 20 mpg. By the way, I hardly ever use the 3rd row. Unlike XC70, there is no weight limit for the 3rd row and the seats are forward facing. When the 3rd row is used, the 2nd row seats have to move forward, which means giving up leg room in the 2nd row. I believe XC70's 3rd row is limited to 140 lbs and rear facing.

The only problem I've had so far is with the seat and mirror memory settings (knock on wood). Oh, and the cupholder lid seems to be a common problem many people complain about.

Also, keep in mind that XC90 with 3rd row has a different rear suspension to compensate for the extra weight when occupied. This suspension is stiffer, so the ride isn't as good as the model without the 3rd row. But still, the ride is very good for an SUV. Good luck.

delta767

Bought XC90 T6AWD used with 30,000 miles... Noticed alot of road and wind noise.. Replaced Tires, still hearing alot of road noise.. Had dealer check bearings, struts and found no defects.... Is road noise normal, is thier more noise due to AWD? :confuse:

tmang17

Hello!

My husband and I are considering buying a new 2005 or 2006 Volvo XC90 and have heard lots of negatives regarding the reliabilty and problems with it, can anyone give their insight or experiences (positive or negative appreciate). We really must have a dependable vehicle it is the whole reason we are shopping for a new vehicle. Please help, we're making a decision within teh next 2 weeks.

We're between an XC90 and the Lexus GX. But really like the third row in the XC90.

Thanks!!

nascarqueen24

Like Tmang17, my husband and I were considering this vehicle. Overall it has the parameters we wish.

Since reliability is THE key priority, then safety, I was shocked to learn of the poor quality of the CX90. From dozens of sources, I have learned the same thing - big problems. Both Consumers Report and JD Powers state the CX90 has below average reliability. It does not get worse than this.

I feel very upset for you fine folks having these problems. It is unethical and immoral for a company to charge the big price and deliver a poor product.

Are you folks making this stuff up? Are you kidding me about the tires/brakes wearing out after 15,000, the poor gas milage, the slow response from the engine and the wide variety of other basic ailments?

I simply will not consider the Volvo CX90 any further - guess I am off to the Toyotas, Hondas. Also considering the fine Cadillac SRX.

I appreciate having access to the intenet and Edmonds and to the fine folks who post on these sites.

Take Care and God Bless
NascarQueen24

s60rfan

We have a 2005 XC90 AWD and about two weeks after brigning it home we began to hear what is best described as a barking noise coming inside the cabin. The dealer told us it was the servo motors on the AC unit and that all 05's did this and kind of intimated to us that there was nothing that could be done. Has anyone else had this come up? Any solutions or suggestions. This has been our only quible with an otherwise very comfortable and capable vehicle.

If I can get the "dog" to stop barking I'd be thrilled.

enuts

Good call!
I've only had my XC90 for 4 weeks and it has already broken down (dead) twice. :lemon:

The XC90 simply is NOT a reliable car.

My advise, stick with Japanese made cars.

cv2006

We noticed a similar noise in our '06 a couple of weeks after we bought it. We took it in to the dealership, they confirmed that it was the vents that circulate the air, they supposedly self-calibrate whenever you start the vehicle and then randomly. Anyway, this is computer controlled and it's considered normal operation. The techs said that tried to reduce the noise, but there was really nothing they could do to eliminate the noise. Anyway, after a second trip to the dealership, DH insisted that it sounded like a software problem. The Volvo engineer was contacted and the techs/mechanics were given permission to upgrade the software. I'm happy to say that the noise is gone, you do hear it upon starting the vehicle, but that's it.

Hope that helps!

jcdennington

You should reconsider your options. I have a 2005 XC90 AWD 2.5L with 17" All season tires, purchased in Dec 04 and has 37,000 miles. 95% of my driving is highway. Previously owned a Volvo S70 and was extremely satisfied, but after 5 years and 140,000 miles, needed something bigger.

Problems concerning rear suspension and tire wear. At 7500 dealership replaced rear tires due to cupping; at 15000 miles rear tire wear was again very poor; at 18000 had to replace 2 rear tires (had to fight to have dearlership replace on their dime); and at 30000 and 37000 each time had both rear tires replaced.

I have the third row seat -- never used. Only children who aren't required to be in a car sear and who are less than 4' tall would be comfortable in it.

Currently looking to trade in this vehicle and not sure if it will be a Volvo. You may want to choose the Lexus.

templeton3

We have a 2004 XC 90, T6, AWD, with 52,700 miles. Everything was going great until it started to make a strange noise from the engine compartment. Took it to the dealer and the shop foreman diagnosed the problem right away. It needs a new transmission. Because it was out of warranty, we are stuck with the problem.

rblitz

We purchased the xc90 in 2003. We got one of the first in production, and I thought that was why we experienced so many problems. After reading other complaints, I now realize that the car is just unreliable. I don't know where to begin: air conditioning (more than once), brakes (every time), new tires, and a problem with the radio that it took them 2 and a half years to finally figure out. Throughout the 3 years we've had the vehicle, I can't believe how many times I took it for servicing! Before this we had a jeep, and I never had a single problem. The last straw for me was being stuck in a parking lot with my 4 month old. I got in the car but could not start it because the transmission lock jammed. That was it for me. I am getting rid of it ASAP. I actually came to this sight hoping to get the same info you are. I was actually thinking of trading it in for a new xc90 hoping my problems were only because I got the car before it was tweaked. I too am disappointed. I actually loved the drive, and found the built in booster seat very convenient. I have three kids, and didn't want a minivan. The cargo space of the xc90 was better than most in its class. We are also looking into the lexus.

varughese

I brought from new a 2006 model XC90 D5 AWD model. :lemon:
Mine has a noise coming from the dash board “ a windy electric motor / pump type of noise “ on a off every 5 sec . If the fan dial is turned down to minimum the noise intermittently go off. It is a very irritating and annoying noise for the driver and the passengers respectively . Is this the same noise you experienced . :mad: Is this the Volvo for life experience and driving experience they mean! :confuse:

cv2006

Yes, that's it! Funny how we all have different names and descriptions for it, my husband called it a goose sound. :P Like I said, it did take two trips to the dealership, but the software upgrade took care of the problem.

About a week after buying our XC90, one of the door handles broke. Apparently, it was something that wasn't installed correctly at the factory, which made me question Volvo's quality control. It was very disappointing since I would expect a lot better from a $40K+ vehicle, but it happens. My brother has always driven BMWs and he has dealt with annoying problems, too.

Despite these two minor problems, I love driving my XC90. :shades: The engine is broken in now and it's a nice ride.

pbparfait

I'm just wondering if you've ever heard the saying "don't buy the first year of ANY new vehicle". I just purchased a new '06 V-8 XC-90 and have had a positive experience with it to date. You also have to consider the fact that you're on a forum were people complain about their cars too. I'm just throwing that out there for you to chew on.

pbparfait

burosky

I won't be surprised if forums for every make and model from the most expensive to the cheapest would have a forum where majority of the post you read will be problems and complaints making it sound like they got a piece of worthless junk. I think all these are as a result of mass production. Just my .02 cents.

stever

I think all these are as a result of mass production.

I think I'd be more leery of a handbuilt car! That sounds like high maintenance to me.

JD Power said in 2003 the risk of buying a newly launched vehicle is much less than in previous years, and some new models held up better than the ones they replaced.

Avoiding bugs in new models and redesigns (Bankrate)

I think the consensus is that it's better to wait a while for any bugs to show up if you can. Sometimes it's more fun to be first on the block though.

Steve, Host

burosky

I agree about those hand-built cars possibly being high maintenance. I don't know but does limited production high end cars such as the lambos, Ferraris, etc...fall into that category? Don't know if they are hand built or not nor have I even gotten close to getting into one but I would imagine that for their price one can expect a car with practically zero defects. If it does, I bet the dealer does whatever they can to keep their client. Too bad average Joes like some of us don't have the same luxuries.

Mr_Shiftright

no cars are hand built anymore, but some are partially assembled or given finishes by hand rather than robot-constructed and painted.

You really wouldn't want a hand-built car unless you just wanted a piece of art that you didn't drive everyday.

lev_berkovich

And those exotic cars have the worst reliability of all.

The reliability of a modern car is statistically driven, so with the some occasional exceptions, the larger your sampling, the sooner the defect will be manifested, and the sooner it will be corrected. That is one of the reasons, why Japanese luxury cars that share a whole bunch of components with their mass-production counterparts, are more reliable than German or Sweden cars.

Most vital electrical parts of any Lexus are the same as many other Toyotas, and produced in millions. S80, for instance , on other hand, has quite a few electrical components designed specifically for this car (and S60/V70/XC90 maybe) and produced in thousands. So, with the equal reliability of an individual component, Toyota will recognize the design defect and correct it sometime hundreds times faster than Volvo, where there would not be enough statistically significant failure data for years.

But of course, the QA plays its role too, and Japanese workers are considered as the most quality oriented in the world.

anthonygr1

I bought my 2004 XC90/T6 in July 2003 in Europe. The factory tour was very humbling and made me appreciate my new SUV. :shades: With that said, I have had a few problems. The spring that hold the gas door closed until it locks, broke in the first 5k. Between then and now (15000) I have had; tailgate jam (will not open), new front rotor, rear brake pads material failure (replaced), and a humm from the poorly made Pirelli zero tires from the factory. With all of this, I have had great costumer service from my new stateside dealer. After reading several review…I will buy the extended warranty at $3000? It might be worth it in the long run. :confuse:

anthonygr1

The radio volume is turned down when your XC90 is put in reverse because of the back-up assist. The radio lowers so you can hear the beeps of the back-up assist.

templeton3

We've complained about the AC. It took a long time to cool down the car on a hot day. Even when the back vents are on, it took a long time to cool down the car. The dealer claimed that because its an SUV and its so large, it take time to cool down the car. In my opinion it was full of crap. With my tranmission going out at 52,700 miles, I would not recommend this car to anyone. The service writer told me that his transmission on his XC90 went out at 32,000 miles. What a piece of crap!!!

rblitz

Well, I'm glad you've had a good experience. I clearly haven't! Of course, there will be many complaints on this site, but most complaints, are similar to mine: Which is, that when you buy or lease a new car, the only thing you should have to do is basic service. I have been back and forth for with my car for problems that should never have arisen. I researched other cars that we are looking into. I did not find the same complaints, but thank you anyway. Enjoy your volvo ... I'm through with mine. I never had a new car with so many problems. Hope you are luckier with yours.

norsk1

The XC90 certainly has one poor reliability record, exotic or not.

I'm on my second XC90 T-6, a 2004 model, and the car mysteriously keeps draining the battery. Six times I have had to call Volvo On Call to come and recharge the completely drained battery. Half the time it has been towed to the dealer to try to pinpoint the problem to no avail.

Anyone out there having experienced the same problem? I'm at a loss, so is the dealer, they tell me. About 18 months ago the front electrical distributor panel had to be replaced. Any connection maybe?

lev_berkovich

You need to be on a second dealer though. I would simply run from the guy who can not locate an electrical problem after six attempts.

From what I hear in a lot of complains, there is some disconnect between the complexity of the modern Volvo and the skill set of the Volvo dealers in some parts of the country. Luckily, I leave in LA, where even my Indy mechanic can spot a problem over the phone.
I might sound fastidious, but I am dead serious - 95% of the problems that I have read on this board should be resolved at the first attempt, and should not cause such a grieve.

FIND A KNOWLEDGEABLE PERSON to take cars of your investment. Modern Volvos are very complex.

aka1

Volvo and most of the German/ European manufacturers use "burst proof" locks for the doors. Essentially in the event of a crash, the doors will remain closed, even if it is locked or not.

In the typical car locking mechanism, by manually locking the door, you prevented the door from flying open in a violent crash, throwing you out of the vehicle or allowing external factors into the vehicles.

Anyhow, Volvo cars do not need to be locked for safety- actually in a crash, you'd want the doors to be unlocked so that someone can pull you out. Most Volvo's had the "pull" style door handles, and those were for the time you needed to actually pull/wrestle the door open after a crash- surprised why the S80 reverted to the standard style?

I've heard the argument that people want the doors to lock automatically so that others can not have unauthorized entry- ie car jacking- and thats valid for .01% of the population that drive Volvos- for others thinking about that, you neighborhood isn't that dangerous!

kd2md

I have noticed a few folks comment on the CD/Radio acting up and most, including myself, notice the elevated temperature at the unit. I also notice the temp level at the floor as abnormally high. Has the proximity of the exhaust to the center console or other engine heat related components been tied to this temperature level? If so, would any benefit be gained by putting heat insulating pads around the exhaust components in the area?