YearToAvoid

2018 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

53/100

#8 most-complained of 16 XC90 years

The 2018 Volvo XC90 has a Complaint Index of 53 and ranks 8th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Caution" verdict. Electrical System issues lead complaints (16, 32% share), followed by Brakes (11, 22%). It has 3 recalls, none do-not-drive.

Complaints
50
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
24.5
22 city / 28.5 hwy

Top 2018 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Electrical System16 (32%)
  2. Brakes11 (22%)
  3. Other9 (18%)
  4. Engine7 (14%)
  5. Fuel System6 (12%)
  6. Structure & Body6 (12%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain5 (10%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers4 (8%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (6%)
  10. Seat Belts2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Backup camera image fails to appear within the required time after shifting into reverse, linked to a slow infotainment system.
  • Brakes squeak repeatedly despite dealer inspections and at least one repair attempt.
  • Windshield develops a large crack from a small chip while driving at highway speed.
  • Start-stop system reportedly causes the vehicle to roll forward at a stop without the accelerator being pressed.
  • Instrument panel shows a headlamp system malfunction message while the backup camera and city safety system also go offline.
  • Automatic emergency braking activates and seat belts tighten with no obstacle present in the vehicle's path.
2018 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month8Dec 2017Mar 2019Jan 2020Mar 2023Oct 2024Sep 2025Jun 2026
74 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2017 to Aug 2026; peak Aug 2026 (8).

2018 Volvo XC90 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V827000Dec 7, 2023Seat Belts2,911 vehicles

    Seat belts:critical fasteners

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.

    Risk: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.

  2. NHTSA 21V273000Apr 21, 2021Electrical System162 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.

    Risk: The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.

  3. NHTSA 18V800000Nov 13, 2018Electrical System17,548 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Volvo XC90, S90, V60, V60 Cross Country, V90, XC40, XC60, and V90 Cross Country vehicles. The software installed in the Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) may have an error causing the Telematics and Driver Support Systems to function improperly. As a result, the GPS will not provide location information to emergency personnel in the event of an emergency.

    Risk: If the GPS location is not provided to emergency personnel it can inhibit emergency response in the event of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software, free of charge. The recall began December 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R39917.

2018 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22 MPG
Highway
28.5 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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.

2018 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
2016Avoid100197823.5
2017Avoid8079723.5
2018Caution5350324.5
2019Caution6741623.5
2020Good4032724

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2018 XC90 a Complaint Index of 53, ranking it 8th worst among 16 XC90 model years, with a "Caution" verdict relative to other years of the same model.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 XC90?
Electrical System complaints lead with 16 reports (32% share), followed by Brakes with 11 (22%) and Engine with 7 (14%), according to NHTSA complaint data.
Does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 XC90, covering seat belts and electrical system issues including a Vehicle Connectivity Module software recall; none are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2018 XC90 compare to other Volvo XC90 years?
The 2018 XC90's Complaint Index of 53 is better than 2016 (100, Avoid) and 2017 (80, Avoid), but worse than 2020 (40, Good) and 2022 (47, Good).

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.