There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2004 Volvo XC90in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Instrument panel shuts down while driving on street. I believe it is the central electronic module that fails. It has happened numerous times and it is unsafe to drive without a speedometer, tachometer, odometer fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. It has now stopped altogether. Gauges just sit there and bounce
Unsure of what the issue is with the vehicle but smells like gas in my garage and I found a recall I was never notified about I moved from Washington to Las Vegas and never received any info regarding the fuel pump recall as well as a noise that’s been going on for a year now when I drive at 60 miles an hour I’ve had it looked at and no one seems to know what that issue is
Unknown..but water accumulated under the passenger seat under the amp and electrical components after a storm or rainy day.and its a lot of water when I brake i can hear a water fall..and water rushing and moving along the bottom. Of the car as I am steering im worried that the wiring and electrical will be damaged by water exposure the battery always dies wires soaked and sitting in water underneath passenger and never can completely get the moisture smell out of front seat area..mildew..why is this water leaking or not draining correctly ??
On May 26, 2022, I was stuck in traffic for four hours, and the car's CEM (central electronic module) overheated causing the dashboard to shut down three times, meaning I lost all instrument readings. After each time the dashboard shut down, I had to pull over and reset fuse #27 to have the dashboard come back online temporarily. Because the CEM was already overheated due to its design flaw with improper ventilation, the dashboard would shut down again and again. A Google search would show this is a very common issue for 2004 Volvo models and before. Driving without any instrument readings is totally unsafe. I strongly urge you to force Volvo to issue a recall for 2004 and before models and fix the CEM overheating problem.
While driving on the highway "SRS urgent" text came on, also hear clicking sounds under dash on driver side, then dashboard indicator lights completely disappear (speed, fuel, temperature, etc) . Extremely hot under driver side dash. Fortunately, still able to steer and brake. This has happened twice now. Mechanic believes most likely CEM failure or DIM failure. My vehicle also has a wet A-pillar fabric (Volvo forums indicate possible cause of failure). I removed drivers A-pillar and found a clogged drain tube from the sunroof. However, did not notice any obvious signs of water inside the vehicle, though it hasnt rained for over a month when this happened.
is been stolen
HI, WHEN DRIVING MY CAR UP ANY SLIGHT LITTLE HILL, I HAVE NO POWER AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DRIVE. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING!! I HAVE READ THERE ARE RECALLS IN THE FUEL PUMPS AND ALSO OTHER RECALLS WITH THE MODEL VOLVO XC90. I HOPE THEY CAN REPAIR IT AND PAY FOR IT!!
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90 ---- CONTACT CALLED VOLVO DEALER IN WHITE PLAINS NY... CONTACT STATED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AND WAS ON FOR A MONTH.... VEHICLE STALLED GOING 50MPH ... POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MAIN HIGHWAY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF.... VEHICLE RESTARTS AND THEN SHUTS OFF AGAIN AFTER GOING A COUPLE MILES...SPOKE WITH MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP WHO STATED THAT AIRBAGS ARE RECALLED....MECHANIC BY THE NAME OF ANTHONY.... TOLD CONTACT THAT AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON WAS NOT A BIG DEAL....THAT AIRBAG WAS FAULTY SO IT WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT........ 0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.. CB
MY VOLVO XC 90 CANNOT SHIFT TO PARK OR REVERSE, IT REMAINED IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL POSITION. WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM IGNITION DUE TO PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WHEN I SEARCHED U-TUBE FOUND THERE WERE NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT JUST HAD A SERVICE 1 MONTH AGO
WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED (ON THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. THE DASHBOARD AND ALL ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF, THE HAZARDS DO NOT SEEM TO WORK OR THE TURN INDICATORS, ABS DOES NOT WORK SO IT IS A VERY SLOW HEAVY STOP. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN THIS CAR ONE OTHER TIME IN 2010, AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE COMPUTER MODULE UPGRADE ISSUED.
THE CAR IS LEAKING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WATER MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOODS WITH WATER. NOW WHEN I BRAKE I CAN HEAR SO MUCH WATER MOVING BACK AND FORTH. I HAVE WATER DAMAGE ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR FLOOR IS DAMAGED SO BADLY. JUST WAITING ON ELECTRIC PROBLEMS TO ARISE. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER 5 TIMES... SUNROOF DOES NOT OPEN SO SECURITY ALERT AS WELL. THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR TOWNHOUSE 0
I HAD THIS PROBLEM A FEW TIMES A YEAR AGO AND NOW IT HAS RETURNED. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN ON A TWO LANE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST THE HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER, RADIO, POWER WINDOWS, ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION, AND MUCH MORE FUNCTION OF THE CAR. THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT IT SEEMS TO ALMOST RESET OR SOMETHING THEN START SHUTTING STUFF DOWN. I SEE ON YOUR WEBSITE SOMEONE PUT THIS IN AS A COMPLAINT ALSO THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS YOU CANT SEE AT NIGHT THE CAR IS HARD TO DRIVE ITS OBVIOUSLY THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH WATER GETTING INTO THE ECM. I READ THROUGH YOUR INFORMATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE VOLVO KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP WITH ONES PRODUCED BEFORE OR AFTER MARCH. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL WANT TO CHARGE YOU $2000 TO FIX IT! PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO FIX A PROBLEM VOLVO HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF AND HAS HAD A CHEAP AND EASY SOLUTION FOR YEARS. I CALLED MY LOCAL VOLVO DEALERS AND NOT ONE OF THEM HAD ANY INFORMATION OR KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN VOLVO HAS A SERVICE NOTICE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OBVIOUSLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING INTO IT. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE REALLY BAD WHEN IT RAINS OR I USE THE WIPERS FURTHER LEADING ME TO SEE THAT IT IS THE SAME THING IN INVESTIGATION PE-10-025. THESE ARE ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING TO YOU THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT VOLVO IS SWEEPING UNDER THE RUG TO MAKE A BUCK. IT'S DISGUSTING.
THIS REPORT IS ABOUT A HAZARDOUS SITUATION WITH OUR 2004 XC90. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING ON THE I5 FREEWAY! THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WE HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE IN THE DARK. WE WERE LUCKY TO NOT GET HIT! THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE FOLLOWING ERROR CODE: ECM-981A. WE ARE AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT NEW TO NHTSA AND THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL REPORTS ON IT ALREADY. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL, AND EVER SINCE THE INCIDENT WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT ENGAGING IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR IS 138,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON AN UPHILL SLOPE. WE SPECULATE THAT IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE SAME INSTANT AS THE CAR SHIFTS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. I TALKED TO A VOLVO SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHO AID THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN 2004 XC90 BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT HAD CAUSED IT.
AFTER DRIVING FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN FOR A SPLIT SECOND. ALL GAUGES GO OUT, LOSS OF POWER BRIEFLY, WIPERS SOMETIMES KICK ON AND FOG LIGHTS RESET AND SHUT OFF AND THERE IS A THUMP FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENS MAINLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS BUT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES AT 30 MPH AND SLOWER. CAN HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES ON A 2.5 HOUR TRIP. ONCE IT HAPPENS IT CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. DOESN'T DO IT ON TRIPS AROUND TOWN. CALLED VOLVO OF NORTH AMERICA AND THEY DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CEM AND SAID SINCE IT'S AN '04 WITH 85,000 MILES THAT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY CAN OFFER NO HELP.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITH OUT WARNING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS OFF. THE ENGINE STAYS RUNNING WITH VERY MINIMAL POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS RAINING AND ALL THE LIGHTS, WIPERS, EVERY ELECTRICAL PART JUST SHUT OFF, I AM LUCKY I DID NOT CRASH. AFTER RESEARCHING I THAT A LOT OF OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT VOLVO IS AWARE OF THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM BUT DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. DJR
EXITING DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE, UPON SWITCHING TO DRIVE THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND A JERK WAS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOON THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND THE INDICATORS WENT DEAD. SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES QUICKLY "SCROLLED" (BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG FAILURE, ABS FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE) THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. NO POWER TO DASHBOARD CONTROLS (GAUGES DEAD, NO LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS, NO RADIO). FRONT WINDOWS WORK, BUT NOT REAR. VEHICLE DRIVES AS IF IN LOW GEAR. UNSAFE TO DRIVE SO HAD TOWED TO DEALER. THEY ARE RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS SO TBD ON SPECIFIC ISSUE AND COST TO REPAIR. CONCERNED AS NO RECALL AND SITUATION IS SO DANGEROUS (WHAT IF I'D BEEN ON FREEWAY!) VOLVO SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 2004 XC90 AS OTHERS REPORT SAME DEFECT
I WAS HEADING TOWARDS A SUPERMARKET ON A EXPRESSWAY ON A AN AFTERNOON WHERE THERE WAS A CLICKING SOUND NEAR THE DASHBOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE. AND THEN SUDDENLY THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND A JERK WAS FELT IN THE TRANSMISSION. SOON THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND THE INDICATORS WENT DEAD WHILE DRIVING AND THAT TOO WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES THAT WERE POPPING UP LIKE BRAKE FAILURE, AIRBAG FAILURE, ABS FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE POWER WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF AND THE STEERING WAS VERY HARD. IT APPEARED AS IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A LOW GEAR. IBHAD TO TAKE THE NEXT EXIT TO COME TO A SAFE STOP AS NO INDICATORS WERE WORKING. I TRIED TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WERE DOWN. HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL HARD SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BEHAVING AS IF IT WAS IN LOW GEAR. POWER WINDOWS, POWER STEERING, INDICATORS, LIGHTS, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, AUDIO WAS TOTALLY CUT OFF. I CALLED A LOCAL TECHNICIAN AND TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, BUT HE COULD NOT FIND THE FAULT. HOWEVER HE CLEARED THE ERRORS AND CHECK ENGINE MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTORED AFTER ALMOST 1 HOUR. THEN I TRIED TO RETURN BACK TO HOME. THE NEXT DAY, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND IT KEPT OCCURRING SEVERAL TIMES. I HEARD SEVERAL REVIEWS FROM SEVERAL CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH 2004 XC90. AND EVERY ISSUE IS RELATED TO CEM. THE MODULE COSTS $1200+ WHICH IS A VERY HIGH COST. THIS SITUATION IS SO DANGEROUS WHILE YOU ARE ON FREEWAYS AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. VOLVO SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 2004 XC90S AND REPLACE THESE MODULES AND ALSO COMPENSATE ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAVE REPLACED THEIR CEMS.
I SWITCHED FROM HEADLIGHTS ON TO DAYLIGHT DRIVING LIGHTS ON. I RECEIVED A "BULB FAILURE" FOR THE DAYLIGHT DRIVING LIGHTS. I SWITCHED BACK TO HEADLIGHTS. I RECEIVED A "BULB FAILURE" FOR THE HIDS. I HAVE VERIFIED THAT THE FUSES ARE GOOD, AND THAT THERE ARE NOW NO WORKING HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD, VERY BAD. THANK GOD IT HAPPENED DURING A SUNNY DAY AND THAT THE TEEN DRIVER WASN'T BEHIND THE WHEEL.
MY 2004 VOLVO XC90 WITH A 2.5T ENGINE, 7 PASS, INTERMITTENTLY AND INADVERTENTLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING IT. IT IS SCARY BECAUSE ALL ELECTRICAL GOES OFF, INSTRUMENT PANEL, RADIO, LIGHTS, ETC, SEVERAL WARNING MESSAGES APPEARS, SUCH ABS, AIR BAGS FAILURE, BRAKE FAILURE, ENGINE FAILURE, ETC. IT WON'T RESPOND TO ACCELERATION AND BRAKES ARE VERY HARD TO PUSH, THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP. I HAVE TO STOP, TURN IT OFF, WAIT FEW MINUTES, THEN START IT, EVERYTHING COMES TO NORMAL AGAIN BUT WITH THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE AIR BAGS MESSAGE, THEN AFTER SOME MINUTES OF DRIVING THE SAME STALLING AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS SERIOUS BECAUSE YOU ARE ON FREEWAY AND YOU LOOSE BRAKES AND ENGINE CONTROL, NO INFORMATION IN INSTRUMENT PANEL, ETC. I FOUND THAT THE RELAYS IN THE CEM (CONTROL ELECTRONICS MODULE) ARE SUPER HOT POSSIBLY DUE TO LOOSE CONNECTIONS, IN THE VIDEO BELOW YOU WILL SEE THE PROBLEMS AND INFRARED PICTURES OF THE CEM. PLEASE HELP!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!! PLEASE SEE MY YOUTUBE VIDEO AND OTHER VIDEOS WITH THE SAME ISSUE SEARCH FOR XC90 ISSUES, XC90 STALLING, XC90 ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ETC. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=FWULB1SKSIE&FEATURE=YOUTU.BE THANK YOU *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026