YearToAvoid

2022 Volvo XC90 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 XC90 years

The 2022 Volvo XC90 ranks 9th of 16 model years with a Complaint Index of 47 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 29 complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 fire report, with Electrical System issues making up 45% of complaints.

Complaints
29
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
21 city / 28 hwy

Top 2022 Volvo XC90 problems

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

  1. Electrical System13 (45%)
  2. Fuel System9 (31%)
  3. Engine8 (28%)
  4. Other6 (21%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
  6. Lane Departure2 (7%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (7%)
  8. Airbags1 (3%)
  9. Brakes1 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Loss of propulsion or "turtle mode" occurs while driving, sometimes on highways at speed, cutting power and speed sharply.
  • Owners report the engine compartment emitting smoke followed by a fire while driving in stop-and-go traffic, at a median mileage of 11,000 miles.
  • Propulsion or engine error messages appear repeatedly, sometimes soon after purchase, requiring dealer computer resets.
  • Electric charging connector has frozen and become inoperable in cold weather, leaving the vehicle unable to disconnect from the charger.
  • Vehicle locking system has locked itself unexpectedly with keys and occupants left inside.
  • An unknown app reportedly started the vehicle remotely without owner action, triggering a dashboard warning.
2022 Volvo XC90 complaints: complaints filed per month5Jul 2022Nov 2022Jun 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Jun 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2022 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2022 (5).

2022 Volvo XC90 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V179000Mar 24, 2025Electrical System7,483 vehicles

    Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery

    Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.

    Risk: A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2022 Volvo XC90 →

2022 Volvo XC90 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,200
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.

2022 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
2020Good4032724
2021Caution6035624
2022Good4729425
2023Caution7339625
2024Avoid8736324

All Volvo XC90 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Volvo XC90 reliable based on NHTSA data?
The 2022 XC90 has a Complaint Index of 47 and ranks 9th out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other XC90 years. It has 29 complaints and 4 recalls on file with NHTSA.
What problems does the 2022 Volvo XC90 have?
NHTSA complaints point to the Electrical System (45% of complaints, median 11,400 miles), Fuel System (31%), and Engine (28%, median 11,000 miles), including a reported fire in the engine sample.
Does the 2022 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2022 XC90, covering the Electrical System (high-voltage battery), Seat Belts, Steering, and Engine (ECM software).
How does the 2022 XC90 compare to other XC90 years?
The 2022 XC90's Complaint Index of 47 is lower than the worst years, 2016 (100) and 2017 (80), both rated "Avoid," making 2022 a comparatively better choice among XC90 model years.

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.