YearToAvoid

2013 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

27/100

#12 most-complained of 16 XC90 years

The 2013 Volvo XC90 has 11 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th worst out of 16 model years with data. No recalls are on file, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other XC90 years.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
16 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2013 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Airbags3 (27%)
  2. Electrical System2 (18%)
  3. Engine2 (18%)
  4. Structure & Body2 (18%)
  5. Brakes1 (9%)
  6. Fuel System1 (9%)
  7. Other1 (9%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (9%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine stalling and cutting off suddenly while driving on the highway, in one case followed by smoke and a fire that destroyed the vehicle.
  • Some owners describe the anti-skid warning light cycling on and off, sometimes accompanied by loss of dash lights, blinkers, and an unlocked fuel door, especially in bad weather.
  • Airbag warning lights have come on indicating the airbag system needs replacement, even on vehicles where the airbags were never deployed.
  • One owner reported the passenger occupancy weight sensor failing, triggering a "passenger airbag off service urgent" message.
  • A driver's door reportedly opened while the vehicle was moving at 45 mph despite being closed and locked, triggering a door-open warning.
  • Owners also report premature and uneven tire wear on factory-equipped tires at low mileage.
2013 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2013Apr 2016Nov 2016Jul 2017Nov 2018
13 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2013 to Mar 2019; peak Jul 2017 (3).

2013 Volvo XC90 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2013 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
22.5 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
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.

2013 compared with other XC90 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Good3319118
2012No verdict73018.5
2013Good2711018.5
2014No verdict134018.5
2015No verdict001—

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volvo XC90 reliable?
Compared with other XC90 model years, the 2013 model ranks well. It has 11 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 27, and no recalls, placing it 12th worst out of 16 years tracked, which corresponds to a "Good" verdict.
What is the top problem area for the 2013 Volvo XC90?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 3 of 11 complaints (27% share), with a median failure mileage of 130,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC90.
How does the 2013 XC90 compare to later years like 2016 and 2017?
The 2013 model has far fewer complaints and a much lower complaint index (27) than the 2016 (197 complaints, index 100) and 2017 (79 complaints, index 80) model years, both of which carry an "Avoid" verdict.

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.