YearToAvoid

2008 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

30/100

#15 most-complained of 21 XC90 years

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

The 2008 Volvo XC90 has 29 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 30 out of 100 — #15 highest of 21 XC90 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (9 complaints, 31% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash and 1 fire.

Complaints
29
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
1 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2008 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Electrical System9 (31%)
  2. Engine8 (28%)
  3. Brakes5 (17%)
  4. Other4 (14%)
  5. Seat Belts4 (14%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain4 (14%)
  7. Fuel System3 (10%)
  8. Structure & Body2 (7%)
  9. Airbags1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)
2008 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month4Feb 2008Apr 2009Jul 2012May 2014Sep 2015Aug 2018Aug 2019
43 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Feb 2026; peak Aug 2016 (4).

2008 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 08V206000May 6, 2008Engine102 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling:engine

    Volvo is recalling 102 my 2008 xc90 and s80 vehicles equipped with v8 engines. These vehicles may have been built with incorrect bolts to the engine mount.

    Risk: The aluminum bracket for the engine mount could break due to lack of adequate clamping force. This could cause the engine to come in contact with the sub-frame, ultimately resulting in a reduced engine torque or stalling of the engine without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine mount bolts for specific markings. If any of the bolts contain the incorrect markings, the bracket and bolts will be replaced. All owners have been contacted and arrangements have been made to repair these vehicles.

  3. NHTSA 07V563000Dec 12, 2007HVAC37,000 vehicles

    Visibility:defroster/defogger/HVAC system

    On certain sport utility vehicles, under certain conditions, the climate control module (ccm) may receive a 'shut-down signal' from the engine control module (ECM) after ignition key insertion. If this condition occurs, the climate control functions will not be available (including the defroster) during that driving cycle.

    Risk: Inoperative defrosters under inclement weather conditions could cause impaired visibility which has the potential to result in personal injury and/or vehicle and property damage.

    Remedy: The ECM software will be upgraded. The recall began on january 28, 2008. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

2008 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,000
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.

2008 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
2006Caution5053317
2007Good4038217
2008Good3029316
2009Good257116
2010Best2012317

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Volvo XC90 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Volvo XC90 ranks #15 of 21 among XC90 model years (Complaint Index 30/100, verdict: Good). It has 29 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Volvo XC90?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (9 complaints), engine (8 complaints), and brakes (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 52,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Volvo XC90, most recently reported 2010, covering other, engine, and hvac.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Volvo XC90?
EPA rates the 2008 Volvo XC90 at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,000. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.