2009 Volvo XC90 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2009 Volvo XC90 has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 16th out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 7 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 injury, with electrical system issues the top concern.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #16 of 21 XC90 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 7
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16
- 14 city / 20 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2009 Volvo XC90 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System3 (43%)
- Brakes2 (29%)
- Engine2 (29%)
- Fuel System1 (14%)
- Other1 (14%)
- Structure & Body1 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (14%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Vehicle would not restart after sitting idle for several days, with an electrical drain the dealer could not trace.
- Multiple warning lights (SRS, ABS, passenger airbag) appeared on the instrument cluster together after an ignition cycle with no prior issues.
- Vehicle stalled while driving around 55 mph and would not restart, eventually requiring an ECM module replacement.
- Trunk hatch hydraulic arms failed and let the door drop under full weight while being lifted open.
- Rear spare tire cable failed and the tire dropped off the vehicle while driving on the freeway.
- A plastic fuel pressure sensor bracket cracked, causing a fuel leak in the engine compartment.
2009 Volvo XC90 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- 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.
2009 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 20 MPG
- Combined
- 16 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2009 compared with other XC90 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Volvo XC90 reliable?
- Compared to other XC90 model years, 2009 rates Good, with a complaint index of 25 and only 7 NHTSA complaints, ranking 16th out of 21 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volvo XC90?
- Electrical system issues make up 43% of complaints, followed by brakes and engine problems at 29% each, based on NHTSA data.
- Does the 2009 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2009 XC90, covering Garmin 760 portable GPS units whose batteries could overheat; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- At what mileage do 2009 XC90 problems tend to appear?
- Median mileage at failure across reported issues is 76,000 miles, with electrical and brake complaints clustering around 58,640 miles.
- How does the 2009 XC90 compare to other years?
- The 2010 XC90 scores better with a complaint index of 20 and a Best verdict, while years like 2005 and 2016 rank far worse with Avoid verdicts.