2006 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
73 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2006 Volvo XC90, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 52,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2006 Volvo XC90 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2006 sits among all XC90 years
What owners report
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 54 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 85,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 40,000 and 130,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.
Fix: VOLVO ADVISES OWNERS TO PLEASE STOP USING THE GARMIN PORTABLE GPS DEVICE IMMEDIATELY, AND VISIT THE GARMIN WEBSITE TO DETERMINE IF THEIR UNIT IS AFFECTED. THE UNIT'S BATTERY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES,THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT CAN DEFORM AT HIGH LOADS CAUSING A LOSS OF THE CLAMPING FORCE AND THE NUT MAY LOOSEN, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE OUTER TIE ROD BALL JOINT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS WITH IMPROVED OUTER BALL JOINT TIE RODS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, IF THE WIPER ARM IS ACTIVATED IN EXTREME WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS AND WITHOUT LIFTING THE WIPER ARMS AND CLEANING THE WINDSHIELD PRIOR TO MOVING, THE WIPER ARM MIGHT SLIP ON ITS DRIVESHAFT, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO MOVE THE WIPERS…
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER ARMS AND RETAINING NUTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO CARS AT 1-800-458-1552.
Technical service bulletins
215 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2006 Volvo XC90. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2006 Volvo XC90 reliable?
The 2006 Volvo XC90 drew 73 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2006 Volvo XC90 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2006 Volvo XC90 are electrical (20 complaints), wheels & tires (11), and other (10).
At what mileage do 2006 Volvo XC90 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2006 Volvo XC90 problems around 85,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 40,000 and 130,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Volvo XC90 have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2006 Volvo XC90. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.