Volvo XC90: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
The Volvo XC90 has 10 model year(s) in the federal index and no scored complaint record yet, so this page carries the catalogue entry and the years we hold rather than a verdict.
Volvo XC90: which years to avoid
Across 9 scored model years the Volvo XC90 ranges from 74/100 in 2017 to 94/100 in 2012 — a 20-point spread, so which year you buy matters.
Safest years: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 — scored 70 or better.
Scored from NHTSA complaints per year of exposure and recall campaigns. How the score works · every car’s years to avoid.
Read the guide
Used Volvo S60, XC60 and XC90: the years to avoid — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
How the XC90 changed, run by run
The federal record falls into 2 stretches of years that behave alike. A redesign shows up here as a step in the complaint rate that then holds.
2011–2014
Mean score 89/100, about 1 complaints per year on the road. Owners of these years complain about Engine more than anything else (8 complaints). 1 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
2016–2020
Mean score 77/100. 25 recall campaign(s) in this run touch fire, crash or stall risk.
Year-by-year data table
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | DATA PENDING | $4,540 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 74 | BUY | $4,530 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 77 | BUY | $4,670 | 0 | 6 |
| 2018 | 84 | BUY | $4,810 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 74 | BUY | $5,100 | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 | 75 | BUY | $5,240 | 0 | 8 |
| 2014 | 94 | BUY | $5,476 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 89 | BUY | $5,626 | 11 | 0 |
| 2012 | 94 | BUY | $5,754 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 78 | BUY | $6,364 | 19 | 1 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the XC90, through the years →
XC90 sub-models & family
Variants & trims on record
Body, powertrain and trim variants of the XC90 on the federal record. Variants folded into this nameplate are counted in this page's data; the rest have too thin a record for a page of their own yet.
What goes wrong on the Volvo XC90
Across every XC90 model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Engine8 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System8 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Power Train5 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Steering4 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement$1,020–$2,500
- Service Brakes3 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Air Bags3 complaints across all XC90 years · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement$600–$1,700
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What are the best Volvo XC90 years to buy?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019… all score 70 or better. The strongest is the 2012 at 94/100, on 3 complaints and 0 recall campaigns.
What is the most common Volvo XC90 problem?
8 of the complaints filed against the XC90 across all its model years sit in the Engine group — more than any other component.
Compare with
Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04