Short answer
Among Volvo XC90 model years through 2024, 2012, 2013 and 2014 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2016 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volvo XC90: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 24 (2003–2026)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 35
- Fewest recalls
- 2012, 2013 and 2014 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2016 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (16)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2016, 2017, 2018 and 8 more years
Volvo XC90 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Recent: still collecting recalls | 0 | 5 stars | None on record |
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 3 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Seat belts |
| 2023 | 6 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts |
| 2021 | 6 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Air bags, Electrical system |
| 2020 | 7 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts |
| 2019 | 6 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Seat belts |
| 2018 | 3 | 5 stars | Electrical system, Seat belts |
| 2017 | 7 | 5 stars | Seat belts, Electrical system, Air bags |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 stars | Air bags, Seat belts, Electrical system |
| 2015 | 1 | Not rated | Seat belts |
| 2014 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2013 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2012 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2011 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2009 | 1 | Not rated | Equipment |
| 2008 | 3 | Not rated | Engine and engine cooling, Equipment, Visibility |
| 2007 | 2 | Not rated | Equipment, Visibility |
| 2006 | 3 | Not rated | Equipment, Steering, Visibility |
| 2005 | 6 | Not rated | Electrical system, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 6 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2003 | 5 | Not rated | Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20260 recalls
- 20252 recalls
- 20243 recalls
- 20236 recalls
- 20224 recalls
- 20216 recalls
- 20207 recalls
- 20196 recalls
- 20183 recalls
- 20177 recalls
- 20168 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20140 recalls
- 20130 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20111 recall
- 20103 recalls
- 20091 recall
- 20083 recalls
- 20072 recalls
- 20063 recalls
- 20056 recalls
- 20046 recalls
- 20035 recalls
Volvo XC90: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volvo XC90 recalls are electrical system (16), seat belts (16), equipment (10), steering (10) and visibility (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 11 of these 24 model years, and 2016, 2017, 2018 and 8 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Volvo XC90 Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volvo XC90?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Volvo XC90 model years have the most recalls?
2016 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "XC90", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy