How many recalls does the 2008 Volvo XC90 have?

NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2008 Volvo XC90 model year. Whether one car had the recall work done depends on that car, so check its VIN with NHTSA.

2003: 96 owner complaints, Pass

Our take: worth a look. Owners filed about as many complaints as in a typical year of this model.

Year verdict

Worthy

1.0× a typical year

About as many owner complaints as a typical year. Still get it inspected.

Confidence: Medium

A typical year has only about 15 complaints, so a few can swing the comparison.

NHTSA did not answer for 18 years, so this may change.

Past 100,000 miles

Not judged

Only 1 complaint in its first 12 years gives a mileage past 100,000 miles. Too few to judge.

How the dial was counted

Year verdict: Typical year: 15 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 2007; this one had 15.

Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Odometer check

See plans, from $15

Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

WhipWorthy sticker

2008 Volvo XC90

Complaints29From owners
Loading owner complaints
Recalls3On file
Loading recalls
NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.
Loading crash ratings
MPG15 to 16Combined, EPA
Loading fuel economy

Complaints are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for how many were sold.

Compare this car Every XC90 year

Car report

Park this car in My Garage and see its recalls at a glance.Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Value signals

We do not price cars.

These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.

Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
Fuel: $5,000 to $5,300 a year.The EPA’s estimate for 15,000 miles a year, 55% in town, at its fuel prices. Each version
Loading the EPA's yearly fuel cost
Have the VIN? Check it is this car, and see its open recalls at NHTSA.
VIN
On the dash at the base of the windshield, or on the driver’s door sticker.

What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.

Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.

The full record

Tap to open

What owners complain about

29 complaints; the part named most is the electrical

Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Feb 14, 2008 to Feb 4, 2026. 45% name a part that is usually costly to fix.

Owners reported 1 crash and 1 fire in these complaints.

Electrical8 · 28%
Engine8 · 28%Usually costly to fix
Brakes5 · 17%

What one owner wrote about the electrical

All seatbelts in vehicle sticks and/or catches have to use seriously more pressure on release button,or seatbelt/latch it’s self or both. My wife and children have had me have to come get it because it wouldn’t release. Engine motor mount bolt had to be replaced, I noticed when alternator went out, vehicle wouldn’t respond from throttle acted like it was…

Filed Feb 4, 2026NHTSA complaint 117154351 of 18 owner quotes

Car Hunt Pass or Pro

13 more parts, and 18 owner quotes

Every part owners name for the 2008 Volvo XC90, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.

See plans, from $15

Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

SourceOwner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Volvo XC90. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Seller kit

Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points

Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Walk up to the seller ready

Questions to ask the seller of a 2008 Volvo XC90, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.

See plans, from $15

Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

Write your offer

A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email

Car Hunt Pass or Pro

Send the seller a fair offer

Type the asking price and your own offer for the 2008 Volvo XC90, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.

See plans, from $15

Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

When problems show up

Too few complaints give a mileage

Too few complaints mention a mileage to show a pattern. 11 complaints of 29 gave one, and a part needs at least 15.

SourceMileage from owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Volvo XC90. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Will it outlast the loan?

The month of your loan each problem zone lands in

Not enough owner complaints for the 2008 Volvo XC90 mention a mileage to lay against a loan. Have a mechanic look it over all the same.

Recalls

3 recalls on file

Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.

Equipment and accessories
Nov 8, 2010 · Recall 10V566000
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (gps) units because the batteries on those units may overheat.
What can happen
An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
The fix
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.
Engine
May 6, 2008 · Recall 08V206000
Volvo is recalling 102 my 2008 xc90 and s80 vehicles equipped with v8 engines. These vehicles may have been built with incorrect bolts to the engine mount.
What can happen
The aluminum bracket for the engine mount could break due to lack of adequate clamping force. This could cause the engine to come in contact with the sub-frame, ultimately resulting in a reduced engine torque or stalling of the engine without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the engine mount bolts for specific markings. If any of the bolts contain the incorrect markings, the bracket and bolts will be replaced. All owners have been contacted and arrangements have been made to repair these vehicles.
Windows, wipers and visibility
Dec 12, 2007 · Recall 07V563000
On certain sport utility vehicles, under certain conditions, the climate control module (ccm) may receive a 'shut-down signal' from the engine control module (ecm) after ignition key insertion. If this condition occurs, the climate control functions will not be available (including the defroster) during that driving cycle.
What can happen
Inoperative defrosters under inclement weather conditions could cause impaired visibility which has the potential to result in personal injury and/or vehicle and property damage.
The fix
The ecm software will be upgraded. The recall began on january 28, 2008. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552.

SourceRecalls listed by NHTSA for the 2008 Volvo XC90. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Crash ratings

NHTSA did not answer

NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.

NHTSA did not answer just now, so we cannot show crash ratings for this car. Try again in a minute. You can also check it on their site.

Fuel economy

15 to 16 mpg combined, across 3 versions

The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in.

Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L
XC90 AWD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Premium gas
City
14 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
16 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$5,000
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 4.4 L
XC90 AWD · 4 wheel or all wheel drive · Premium gas
City
13 mpg
Highway
19 mpg
Combined
15 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$5,300
This one on fueleconomy.gov
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L
XC90 FWD · Front wheel drive · Premium gas
City
14 mpg
Highway
20 mpg
Combined
16 mpg
Miles per gallon. Yearly fuel, EPA$5,000
This one on fueleconomy.gov

SourceEPA fuel economy data, fueleconomy.gov. EPA, checked Nov 3, 2026.

True cost to own

The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years

Car Hunt Pass or Pro

What it really costs to own

What the 2008 Volvo XC90 costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.

See plans, from $15

Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.

Every year of the XC90

4 Worthy, 1 Maybe, 3 Pass, of 24 years on file, 10 with no answer

Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.

Best and worst years of the XC90

NHTSA did not answer for 23 years, so the chart may be missing some.

SourceNHTSA owner complaints and recalls for the XC90. NHTSA, checked Nov 2, 2026.

Before you buy this one

5 checks, with a close look at the electrical

Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.

Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 3 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the electrical. It is one of the parts owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the electrical first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the electrical.
Try every switch, screen, light and lock, and make sure it starts every time.

Going to see it? Take the checklist52 checks with the bad signs to look for, saved on your phone.

Check this exact car

The verdict is about the model year. These checks are about the one in front of you. Most are free or a few dollars.

VIN for these checks

Copy it, then paste it into each check. Nothing is sent until you open one.

Official checks on this VIN

Open recallsFree
NHTSA
Safety recalls on this VIN that are not fixed yet, from the last 15 years.
A recall already fixed does not show.
Check recalls at NHTSAnhtsa.gov (opens in a new tab)
Theft and total lossFree
NICB VINCheck
Whether an insurer reported it stolen and not found, or wrote it off as a total loss.
Only insurer records. Five checks a day.
Open NICB VINChecknicb.org (opens in a new tab)
Title brandsA few dollars
NMVTIS, the federal title system
Salvage, flood, junk and rebuilt brands from any state, and the last miles on the title.
No repairs, service or recalls. Sold by approved sellers listed on the site.
See the approved sellersvehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov (opens in a new tab)
Title statusVaries by state
The state motor vehicle office
Whether the title is branded in that state and, where the state offers it, whether a lender still has a lien.
It will not name the owner. Each state asks its own way, and some only by mail. Ask to see the seller’s title too.
Find your state’s officeusa.gov (opens in a new tab)

What a paid report adds

A history report such as Carfax or AutoCheck pulls in more of the car’s past than these checks can:

Crashes and damage reported by police, insurers or shops, even when it was fixed.
Service visits that shops reported, with the miles each time.
How many owners, for how long, and the states it was registered in.
Whether it was a rental, fleet or lease car, when that was reported.

It only knows what was reported to it. A clean report is not proof of a clean car. Ask the seller first: many dealers hand one over for free.

Red flags in a history

Salvage title
Usually an insurer called it a total loss. In most states it cannot be driven on the road until it is rebuilt and inspected.
Rebuilt title
A salvage car that was fixed and passed a state check. It can be fine, but it is worth less, can be harder to insure, and needs a careful inspection.
Flood damage
Water can ruin wiring and sensors months later. Be wary of a flood brand that vanished after a move to another state.
Lemon or maker buyback
The maker bought it back over a defect it could not fix. Ask what the defect was and how it was fixed.
Odometer rollback
A mileage reading lower than an earlier one, or a title marked not actual miles.
Many owners, fast
Three owners in two years can mean a problem each one passed along.
Gaps in the records
Years with no service or registration. Ask why: it may have sat, been off the road, or been rebuilt.

Title words and rules differ by state. Not legal advice.

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection
Have a mechanic you choose, not the seller, put it on a lift and look it over before you pay.
Insurance quote
Get a quote on this exact car before you sign. Ask your own insurer and one or two others.

Model year	Owner complaints	Verdict
2003	96	Pass
2004	462	Pass
2005	223	Pass
2006	53	Maybe
2007	38	Worthy
2008	29	Worthy
2009	7	Not judged
2010	12	Not judged
2011	19	Worthy
2012	3	Not judged
2013	11	Worthy
2014	4	Not judged
2015	0	Not judged
2016	No answer	Not judged
2017	No answer	Not judged
2018	No answer	Not judged
2019	No answer	Not judged
2020	No answer	Not judged
2021	No answer	Not judged
2022	No answer	Not judged
2023	No answer	Not judged
2024	No answer	Not judged
2025	No answer	Not judged
2026	8	Not judged

The verdict on the 2008 Volvo XC90

Value signals

What owners complain about

Seller kit

Write your offer

When problems show up

Will it outlast the loan?

Recalls

Equipment and accessories

What can happen

The fix

Engine

What can happen

The fix

Windows, wipers and visibility

What can happen

The fix

Crash ratings

Fuel economy

Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L

Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 4.4 L

Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L

True cost to own

Every year of the XC90

Before you buy this one

Check this exact car

Official checks on this VIN

What a paid report adds

Before you pay

Pre purchase inspection

Insurance quote

Equipment and accessories

What can happen

The fix

Engine

What can happen

The fix

Windows, wipers and visibility

What can happen

The fix

Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L

Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 4.4 L

Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.2 L