Problems · by component

2005 Volvo XC90 power train problems

62 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Volvo XC90 cite power train, 28% of all 223 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
62
28% of all complaints
Crashes
0
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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE HEADLIGHTS, POWER DOOR LOCKS, AND POWER REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED TO OPERATE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN VOLVO DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,042.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 1, 2019Power train, Electrical systemODI 11173516
“IN DECEMBER OF 2016, AT APPROXIMATELY 95000 MILEAGE, THE "SERVICE TRANSMISSION URGENT" MESSAGE AND LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND MAKING LOUD CLANGING AND RATTLING NOISES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK TO "INFINITY OF MEMPHIS" DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP ASKED US TO CONTACT "VOLVO CARS OF NORTH AMERICA" FOR DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WE DID, BUT VOLVO REFUSED TO HONOR OUR CLAIM STATING THE CAR WAS TOO OLD, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS UNDER THE 100000 MILE WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO "VOLVO OF MEMPHIS" DEALERSHIP, WHICH CONTACTED VOLVO MANUFACTURER AND INFINITY OF MEMPHIS DEALERSHIP, AND INFORMED US THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD PAY $5000 MAXIMUM TOWARDS A NEW TRANSMISSION, COST OF WHICH WAS 8000$, AND WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE REST OUT-OF-POCKET, ABOUT 3000$. THE OTHER OPTION WAS TO PUT A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION AT AAMCO FOR 3000$, COST OF WHICH WOULD BE COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. WE ELECTED THE LATTER, SINCE THERE WAS NO OUT-OF-POCKET COST. AT THIS TIME, WE WERE TOLD THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND OTHER MESSAGES WOULD BE GONE, ONCE THE CAR WAS FIXED. HOWEVER, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CONTINUES TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2018Power trainODI 11073389
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2016Power train, EngineODI 10925906
“WE WAS COMMING FROM TEXAS VISITNG OUR FAMILY BACK TO MISSISSIPPI OUR TRANMISSION STARTING SLIPPING WE WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER TRANMISSION THIS WILL MAKE TWO TRANSMISSON WE HAD TO REPLACE. IN MOTION”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 18, 2016Power trainODI 10874970
“4X4 AWD SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING, CAR SPINNING WITH THE FRONT WHEELS,VERY DANGEROUS IN WINTER TIME.ANGLE GEAR SLEEVE WHICH IS STRIPPED OUT. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH XC90 2.5T. PARTS AND LABOR CLOSE TO 1000.00.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2016Power trainODI 10850109
“THIS IS A 2005 VOLVO THAT HAS A HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN ALL CARS OF THIS MODEL AND YEAR. IF ONE GOOGLES THE MODEL AND MAKE OF THIS CAR ONE WILL FIND FORUM AFTER FORUM OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE OR SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY IS UP. THE DEALERS AND SERVICES HAVE LARGELY PUT THIS ITEM WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUE ON TO THE CUSTOMER. MY TRANSMISSION FAILED WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE ON TO A FREEWAY. I WAS NEARLY IN A LIKELY FATAL COLLISION DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILING TO GO OUT OF 2ND GEAR. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT SURROUNDING THIS ISSUE IN THIS MODEL , BUT FEW VOLVO OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED OF IT. PLEASE HELP US AND DEMAND THAT VOLVO RECALL THESE CARS, REPAY FOR FAILED TRANSMISSIONS AND LOST VALUE OF THE CARS......ONE CANNOT EVEN GIVE THEM AWAY NO AND THESE WERE 45K$ CARS!!!!!!!!!!FURIOUS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2014Power train, EngineODI 10649735

Showing 6 of 62 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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