Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Volvo XC90 problems

Owners filed 53 complaints about the 2006 Volvo XC90 with NHTSA between May 2006 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (16).

Complaints
53
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system16
  2. Tires9
  3. Engine6
  4. Exterior lighting4
  5. Suspension3
  6. Fuel system, gasoline3
  7. Structure3
  8. Wheels3
  9. Power train3
  10. Fuel/propulsion system2
  11. Steering2
  12. Seat belts2
  13. Vehicle speed control1
  14. Firerelated1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20063
20079
20082
20092
20106
20113
20123
20131
20142
20154
20165
20170
20181
20190
20202
20213
20223
20231
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

16 reports1 fire
“Vehicle is slightly off-balance no matter if I do an alignment ball joints seem to always get affected. I’m not sure if the hydraulics are working correctly. Yesterday I just started leaking antifreeze fluid.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2025Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11648529

Tires

9 reports
“WE OWN A 2006 VOLVO XC90. IT CAME WITH PIRELLI TIRES WHICH LASTED LESS THAN 17,000 MILES. TIRES WERE REPLACED, PARTLY BY VOLVO, BUT LASTED ONLY 20,000 MILES. SO, TWO COMPLETE SETS OF TIRES AND THE CAR HAS ONLY 37,000 MILES. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2010TiresODI 10327639

Engine

6 reports1 fire
“This has happened multiple times on the highway going 60 mph. And at slow speeds, last time on an entrance ramp onto the highway. The vehicle will shut off, as if the key has been turned off. But it hasn't been touched. Steering becomes difficult and I have to try and get off the road. Once I get pulled over and put it in park, it will start and run normally for a time. It most often happens when i turn to the right fairly tight. But not exclusively. Today after driving it approximately 120 miles with one shut off, my check engine light came on and it was difficult to get started again. This is absolutely a Hazzard to others and myself”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2022EngineODI 11454879

Exterior lighting

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE COMFORT ELECTRONIC MODULE (CEM) WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE CEM ALSO WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2011Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10407115

Suspension

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRIPPEN VOLVO (8300 W. SAGINAW HWY, LANSING, MI), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE DRIVER NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD BALL JOINT FAILED AND THE WHEELS WERE NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE TIE ROD WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V155000 (STEERING) ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. ALSO, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY STARTED. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2018Steering, Suspension, Electrical systemODI 11150156

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLVO XC90. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 244,777.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2021Fuel system, gasolineODI 11413965
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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