YearToAvoid

2006 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#11 most-complained of 21 XC90 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Volvo XC90 has 53 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 50, and 3 recalls, earning a Caution verdict and ranking 11th worst among 21 model years. Electrical System issues lead at 30% of complaints.

Complaints
53
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 4
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 20 hwy

Top 2006 Volvo XC90 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System16 (30%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (26%)
  3. Engine7 (13%)
  4. Other7 (13%)
  5. Fuel System5 (9%)
  6. Structure & Body5 (9%)
  7. Brakes4 (8%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
  9. Seat Belts2 (4%)
  10. Steering2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle would not start intermittently, with the battery testing fine and no clear cause found.
  • Front tires wore down to little or no tread as early as 15,000 miles, with dealers offering only partial replacement.
  • The engine reportedly revved up unexpectedly while the driver depressed the brake to park, leading to a crash into a wall.
  • Owners describe a fuel odor detected inside the vehicle without a diagnosis from the dealer.
  • The vehicle reportedly stalled while driving on the freeway, with the fuel pump and electronic components replaced multiple times.
  • The rear back-up sensor sometimes failed to detect nearby objects or activated when nothing was present.
2006 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2006May 2007Dec 2009Jun 2011Mar 2014May 2016Apr 2021Jun 2023
67 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2006 to Mar 2026; peak Mar 2007 (4).

2006 Volvo XC90 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V566000Nov 8, 2010Other416 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:navigational system(global positioning system)

    Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.

    Risk: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.

    Remedy: 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 new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.

  2. NHTSA 06V155000May 5, 2006Steering126,743 vehicles

    Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly

    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.

    Risk: The driver may notice that the vehicle is difficult to maneuver increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 06V144000Apr 28, 2006Visibility & Wipers122,431 vehicles

    Visibility:windshield wiper/washer

    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 from the park position.

    Risk: Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.

    Remedy: 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.

2006 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,700
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other XC90 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid80223616.5
2006Caution5053317
2007Good4038217
2008Good3029316

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA lists 53 complaints and a complaint index of 50 for the 2006 XC90, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 11th worst out of 21 XC90 model years covered.
What is the top problem area for the 2006 Volvo XC90?
Electrical System complaints make up 30% of all reports, followed by Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 26%.
Does the 2006 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2006 XC90: a steering tie-rod fracture risk, a wiper arm slippage issue in winter conditions, and a Garmin GPS battery overheating recall. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2006 XC90 compare to other years?
Its complaint index of 50 is better than the 2005 XC90's 80 and the 2016 XC90's 100, both rated Avoid, but worse than 2010 and 2013, which are rated Best.
At what mileage do 2006 XC90 problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 85,000, though Suspension issues showed up earlier at a median of 21,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.