YearToAvoid

2009 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#16 most-complained of 21 XC90 years

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

The 2009 Volvo XC90 has 7 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 25 out of 100 — #16 highest of 21 XC90 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints, 43% of the total). Complaints report 1 injury.

Complaints
7
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2009 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Electrical System3 (43%)
  2. Brakes2 (29%)
  3. Engine2 (29%)
  4. Fuel System1 (14%)
  5. Other1 (14%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (14%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (14%)
2009 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2012Apr 2014Feb 2015Dec 2015Aug 2017Oct 2021Jan 2023
11 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2012 to Jan 2023; peak Apr 2014 (3).

2009 Volvo XC90 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign 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.

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

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
2007Good4038217
2008Good3029316
2009Good257116
2010Best2012317
2011Good3519118

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Volvo XC90 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Volvo XC90 ranks #16 of 21 among XC90 model years (Complaint Index 25/100, verdict: Good). It has 7 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Volvo XC90?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (3 complaints), brakes (2 complaints), and engine (2 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 76,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Volvo XC90, most recently reported 2010, covering other.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Volvo XC90?
EPA rates the 2009 Volvo XC90 at 16 MPG combined (14 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,050. 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.