2013 Volvo XC90

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2013 Volvo XC90 has 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: having bought a 2013 volvo xc90 with 36k miles on it, i was driving on a highway 2 weeks later when i saw smoke coming out of the engine. the engine stalled and shut down. i quickly pulled over the car and was able to get out as the smoke was increasing. within 4-5 minutes, the car was on fire. it w. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

23%

• HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W
• I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR THE OTHER OWNER WAS IN THE FAMILY AND THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BEING THAT THIS IS
• MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MY DASH MESSAGE IS: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT. I TOOK IT TO KOONS VOLVO OF OWINGS MILLS, INC TO BE SERVICED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY WEIGHT SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT TELL ME WH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints

15%

• I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT STA
• HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT STA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

2 complaints

15%

• THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAI
• THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY IT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BAD. EVERYTHING JUST GOES OUT. ITS STA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

15%

• HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W
• I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN OLD HIGHWAY AT 45MPH. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED WHILE IN MOTION WHILE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE DOOR DID NOT FLY OPEN, I THINK LOCKING MECHANISM HELPED KEEP THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OUT. THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE RUSH OF AIR COMING THROUGH MY DOOR AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

1 complaints

• THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 13 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT STA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)