YearToAvoid

2019 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#6 most-complained of 16 XC90 years

The 2019 Volvo XC90 shows 41 NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls, with a Complaint Index of 67, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years. Its verdict is Caution, with Electrical System issues (27% of complaints) the top concern.

Complaints
41
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
2 / 3
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23.5
20.5 city / 27 hwy

Top 2019 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Electrical System11 (27%)
  2. Engine10 (24%)
  3. Other9 (22%)
  4. Brakes6 (15%)
  5. Structure & Body4 (10%)
  6. Airbags3 (7%)
  7. HVAC3 (7%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers3 (7%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Vehicle reportedly shifted into park but then accelerated on its own and crashed into a garage door, deploying the airbags.
  • Owners describe valve rings failing to seal, letting oil into a piston chamber and causing excessive oil consumption, noticed around the median engine failure mileage of 61,511 miles.
  • Some vehicles displayed a reduced powertrain warning followed by smoke from the air conditioning system and under the hood.
  • Smoke was seen coming from a front wheel well while driving around 50-52 mph, prompting the driver to pull over.
  • A key recognition malfunction left occupants unable to start the vehicle, showing a 'vehicle key not found' error.
  • Front brake rotors and pads wore out and needed replacement multiple times by a low mileage, with steering shake reported when braking.
2019 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2019May 2022Aug 2023Jul 2024Mar 2025Dec 2025May 2026
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2019 to Aug 2026; peak May 2025 (4).

2019 Volvo XC90 recalls

6 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 23V001000Jan 5, 2023Steering74 vehicles

    Steering

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.

    Risk: A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.

  3. NHTSA 21V414000Jun 2, 2021Fuel System85,550 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.

    Risk: Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.

See all 6 recalls for the 2019 Volvo XC90 →

2019 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20.5 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
23.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,375
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.

2019 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
2017Avoid8079723.5
2018Caution5350324.5
2019Caution6741623.5
2020Good4032724
2021Caution6035624

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data shows 41 complaints and 6 recalls for the 2019 XC90, producing a Complaint Index of 67 and a Caution verdict relative to other XC90 model years.
What is the top problem area for the 2019 XC90?
The Electrical System accounts for 27% of complaints (11 of 41), followed by Engine issues at 24% (10 complaints).
Does the 2019 Volvo XC90 have recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls covering seat belts, steering, fuel system, electrical software, collision avoidance software, and the Vehicle Connectivity Module.
How does the 2019 XC90 compare to other years?
It ranks 6th worst among 16 model years with data, with a Complaint Index of 67, better than 2016 (100) and 2017 (80) but worse than 2020 (40) and 2022 (47).
What mileage do problems typically appear at on the 2019 XC90?
The median mileage at failure across complaints is 50,000, though engine issues showed a median of 61,511 miles and electrical issues 23,000 miles.

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.