2018 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

66 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Volvo XC90, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 13/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2018 Volvo XC90 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

66Complaints
13/100Trouble index
3Recalls

Better year

Where 2018 sits among all XC90 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Electrical 13 complaints (20%)
Brakes & stability 9 complaints (14%)
Other 9 complaints (14%)
Engine 6 complaints (9%)
Fuel system 6 complaints (9%)
Visibility & wipers 5 complaints (8%)

Recalls (3)

SEAT BELTS 23V827000 2023

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.

Fix: 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21V273000 2021

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.

Fix: 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…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18V800000 2018

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…

Fix: 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…

Federal defect investigations

Pedestrian alert sounds DP22005 opened 2023, closed 2023

Led to recall campaign 22V063000.

Technical service bulletins

550 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Volvo XC90. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2018 XC90 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2017peak 14 in 20262026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2018 Volvo XC90 reliable?

The 2018 Volvo XC90 drew 66 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 13/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).

What are the most common 2018 Volvo XC90 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2018 Volvo XC90 are electrical (13 complaints), brakes & stability (9), and other (9).

Does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have recalls?

3 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Volvo XC90. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2017 XC90 All XC90 years 2019 XC90 →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.