Problems · by component

2004 Volvo XC90 power train problems

145 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Volvo XC90 cite power train, 31% of all 462 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
145
31% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I AM CONCERNED THESE 2 ISSUES MAY POSE A SAFETY RISK. I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A FRIEND AND HAVE HAD IT ABOUT A MONTH. I NOTICE THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. I WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS BUT HAVING NO LUCK. ALSO, WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR "DRIVE", WHEN STOPPED ON AN INCLINE (EVEN THE SLIGHTEST HILL) I NOTICE THAT WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR ROLLS BACKWARDS! IT SHOULDN'T DO THAT. THE TRANSMISSION NOTICE ON THE DASH IS SAYING IT NEEDS SERVICE BUT MY FRIEND I BOUGHT IT FROM SAID SHE HAD IT CHECKED TWICE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IS THERE A RECALL ON POWER-TRAIN/TRANS PARTS? THE CAR SHOULD NOT ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN IN GEAR "DRIVE", EVEN IF I AM STOPPED ON A HILL. EVEN A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE CAR ROLLS BACK. NOT NORMAL. THANK YOU FOR ANY AND ALL HELP YOU CAN OFFER. THIS ISN'T AN "INCIDENT" BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHO ELSE TO CONTACT FOR HELP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2020Steering, Power trainODI 11321055
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ALERTED TO A MESSAGE DISPLAY WHICH INDICATED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY SHIFT TO NEUTRAL. NIELLO VOLVO CARS SACRAMENTO LOCATED AT 4609 MADISON AVE, SACRAMENTO, CA 95841, (916) 488-2400), WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V434000 (WHEELS). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2020Power trainODI 11298455
“WHILE I'M MOTION THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON TRANSMISSION URGENT LIGHT CAME ON AND ABS LIGHT THE BATTERY KEEPS BUBBLING LIKE ITS GONE BLOW UP IN MY TRUNK I HAVE TO JUMP IT OFF EVERY MORNING I PAID ALOT FOR THIS SUV CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME KEEP MY ONLY CAR IN WORKING ORDER I HAVE HAD ALL MAINTAINS DONE IN PAST NOW THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS LEAKING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS VOLVO XC90 T6 AWD [XXX] ' *PM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2019Power train, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11287254
“THE VOLVO HAS CONSTANT ISSUES WHEN SHIFTING AND GETTING STUCK IN A SPECIFIC GEAR. ALSO IT WILL DECIDE TO DOWN SHIFT OUT OF KNOW WHERE. I CAN BE DOING 55 ON THE HIGHWAY THEN IT SLAMS INTO 3RD AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ALMOST MAKING ME CRASH. MECHANICS DO NOT SEE ANYTHING WEONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION IE ITS GOING BAD BUT SOMETHING IS MAKING THE VEHICLE DO THIS. SOFTWARE POSSIBLY TCM NOT WORKING PROPERLY BUT MY MECHANIC ALSO INSEPECTED THAT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY WELL KNOWN AND UNSAFE CONDITION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2019Power trainODI 11204640
“BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH 112,000 MILES ON IT, IT HAS A GAS LEAK TRICKLING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK, PROBABLY A BAD SENDING UNIT, FUMES ARE BAD SOME DAYS BUT WORSE ON WARMER DAYS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ONE DAY WITH NO WARNING OR LIGHT, IT JUST LOST MOMENTUM AND FAILED TO ENGAGE IN DRIVE. I THINK THIS IS DUE TO THE POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN VOLVO USED. THIS MODEL IS THE T6 WITH THE GM 4T65E TRANSMISSION WHICH IS WIDELY KNOWN TO FAIL EVEN AT LOW MILES. I THINK A FULL SAFETY RECALL SHOULD E SANCTIONED FOR ALL MODEL YEARS WITH THESE HORRIBLE PROBLEMS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2019Power train, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11193422
“SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2004 VOLVO XC90, WE HEAR A CLICK, THEN THE CLIMATE, RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS (IF ON) SHUT OFF AND THEIR DISPLAY LIGHTS BLACK OUT, THEN ANOTHER CLICK IN A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND THEY COME BACK ON. THIS WAS HAPPENING RANDOMLY, AND NOTHING ELSE WAS AFFECTED, UNTIL THIS WEEKEND, WHILE ON A TRIP. WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, OUTSIDE TEMP IN THE 80'S, NO RAIN, AVERAGE SPEED ABOUT 70MPH. IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES OVER ABOUT 45 MINUTES, THEN BEGAN HAPPENING EVERY 5 MILES OR SO. WHEN I TURNED UP THE AC FAN, WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE IT CLICKED AND WE LOST THE USUAL THINGS, BUT THEY DID NOT COME BACK ON. THEN WE HEARD ANOTHER CLICK AND LOST ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTING AND CONTROLS; WE COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AND COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF OR TURNED DOWN, AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT SPEED WE WERE GOING AS IT WAS NIGHTTIME. EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. WE MADE IT TO THE FIRST EXIT THAT HAD A GAS STATION AND STOPPED. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO ACCELERATE WHEN WE GOT OFF AT THE EXIT AS WELL. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS BUT WHEN I OPENED THE MOON ROOF, IT STOPPED HALF WAY AND THEN WOULD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2018Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11105167

Showing 6 of 145 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.