Volvo · XC90 · 2018
2018 Volvo XC90
3
Recalls
42
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2018 Volvo XC90 has 3 recalls and 42 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: electrical system (7 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2018 Volvo XC90 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is electrical system with 7 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2018 Volvo XC90 currently shows 3 NHTSA recalls listed on this page and 42 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are electrical system (7), service brakes (7), unknown or other (4).
- Vehicle
- 2018 Volvo XC90
- Recalls
- 3
- Complaints
- 42
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
17.9% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 23V827000December 07, 2023
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Remedy Status
Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
NHTSA ID: 21V273000April 21, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Remedy Status
Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.
NHTSA ID: 18V800000November 13, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.
Remedy Status
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.
Owner Complaints
42 totalSERVICE BRAKES
Apr 17, 2026
My Volvo's XC90 brakes have failed twice. At around 95,000 miles, my brakes stopped working, and then I had them repair it. They charged me close to $3,500, which they said they were able to cover under warranty, and I only had to pay the deductible, which I don't remember. In l...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 3, 2026
2018 Volvo XC90, VIN [XXX] , 54,618 miles. Original owner. All service performed exclusively at Volvo Cars West Houston (same dealer, all three failures). Volvo Technical Journal TJ 34648.1.2, titled "Prior Approval - Lack of airflow causing poor cabin cooling," is classified as...
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SEAT BELTS
Feb 26, 2026
2ND row, center seat, seatbelt lock will not work, will not latch/lock, cannot use seatbelt. Since owning car, the seatbelt locked intermittently, as of today, it does not work at all.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Feb 1, 2026
Rear Drivers door (left) fails to latch. Volvo has an updated part for better water ingress prevention, then the part that was used to build the car. The problem is that water enters the moveable window, runs down the metal channel separation gthe fixed and moveable window, and e...
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LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Jan 15, 2026
At random times the back doors will not open, from the inside or outside…hit all the unlock buttons and will NOT open. If this is not a massive safety issue, I don’t know what is…. If we get in a wreck and our car is on fire and we cannot instantly get ourselves or our children o...
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POWER TRAIN
Sep 25, 2025
My car completely locked up on the road and came to a screeching stop. This car is known for having the ERAD completely fail and it could have caused it to have a serious accident. It has also caused my car to plummet in value losing over 30k in just 3 years. Now my repairs cos...
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POWER TRAIN
Aug 20, 2025
On 8/20/2025, my 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 suffered catastrophic failure of the Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD). The vehicle suddenly developed a loud whining noise from the rear and became undriveable. This ERAD had previously been replaced under warranty at Boston Volvo Cars. On 10...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jul 9, 2025
3 weeks ago we had the transmission module fail on our vehicle while it was being driven. According to Volvo forums, this is a multi-model year, multi vehicle issue for those with sunroofs. Accrding to the dealer in our case, the seal failed, and water runs into the compartment ...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Apr 26, 2025
While actively driving into an intersection, driving on the street and or stopped at a light or at a stop the vehicle will shut off, the lights on the dashboard will sometimes be on, other times go completely black, a notification pops up on the dashboard saying "engine not in P"...
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VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
Apr 21, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the A/C unit failed to operate as needed, causing the HVAC system to become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, which showed that the evaporator core inside the HVAC syste...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 42 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2018 Volvo models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have?
The 2018 Volvo XC90 has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2018 Volvo XC90?
NHTSA has received 42 owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Volvo XC90.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2018 Volvo XC90?
The 2018 Volvo XC90 received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Volvo XC90?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2018 Volvo XC90 are electrical system (7 reports), service brakes (7 reports), unknown or other (4 reports).
Does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2018 Volvo XC90. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.