repaired · 2025 Q4
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk. An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
2018 Volvo XC90Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 51 owner complaints about the 2018 Volvo XC90, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-827 the manufacturer reports only 78% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 25, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Volvo XC90 has problems
51 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
14Electrical system
11Service brakes1 crash/fire/injury
6Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
5Engine
5Power train
4Structure
4Visibility/wiper1 crash/fire/injury
3Forward collision avoidance
2Seat belts
97 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 14 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 1 |
| Engine | 5 | 0 |
| Power train | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 1 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 |
| 7 other systems | 9 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2018 Volvo XC90 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Electrical system: software
Risk. The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Electrical system: software
Risk. If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volvo.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other XC90 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the XC90 median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Volvo XC90, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What XC90 owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
This submission supplements NHTSA Complaint #11759206, filed on August 24, 2026, regarding a 2018 Volvo XC90, in order to provide additional relevant information that came to light after the original filing. At the time of the first safety-critical malfunction (in-vehicle warnings including…
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…
At first I was having issues with stop and start, replaced the battery then was told I wasted coffee in my center Console and it cause electrical issues and was told the repairs would be 3,400 in which collision issuance paid for. After the repairs my driver side seat belt would latch then the…
Own a 2018 XC90?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.