NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2005 Volvo XC90 (Page 3 of 3)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
89,508 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Volvo XC90 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2005 Volvo XC90 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

Apr 102009

XC90

  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2005 Volvo XC90 T6. Bought this car brand new. Had so many problems including transmission out; the blinkers do not work. The quality and safety of this vehicle is misleading and this is a horrible safety issue since blinker don't work. Looking into it, seems like this is an ongoing issue with many owner of Volvo XC90 2005. They really need to recall this before it's too late and cause fatalities.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #8

Aug 142010

XC90 5-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
Vehicle has driver's side headlight failure. Replaced bulb with certified Volvo replacement and still did not work. Certified Volvo mechanic traced fuses and all electrical components (5 hours paid service) and found that a plastic part designed to keep water out of the interior (via windshield) was defective, therefore, causing water leakage to damage the central electrical module.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #7

Sep 282010

XC90

  • 42,000 miles
2005 Volvo xc 90 T6 transmission failure and turn signal not operating.

- San Carlos, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 202010

XC90

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is a second report I submit. The other day I just reported malfunction of turn signal switch of my Volvo XC90, 2.5T, 2005. I tested and observed the performance of the turn signal switch carefully and I think the potential severe design defect in the turn signal switch, or, maybe the electronic control module, will cause fatal incidents. Its performance is totally unpredictable. It refused to respond at any time, either stopped or running. Moreover, I found that sometimes a right movement of the lever gives a left signal, which is extremely dangerous. Here I would like to strongly request that the investigation of Volvo XC90 electronic system be conducted thoroughly. I would not be surprised at all to hear any fatal incident caused by the unpredictable malfunction. And I hope this could be part of a recall. Interestingly, I observed that all the functions related to the switch lever either disappear altogether or works well altogether. This partially support that there is defect in the control module. I would like to help the investigation. I also have two witnesses who helped me to test drive my XC90.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Aug 172010

XC90

  • 62,900 miles
I bought a used Volvo XC90, 2.5T model, manufactured in 2005. And yesterday I drove it for about 30 miles. Volvo is famous for various safety features. However, I found that for many times the turn signal lever did not work well, which really scared me and almost caused crashes on highway 610 of houston. The symptom of malfunction is that sometimes when I move the turn signal lever, it either did not respond or showed a "lag". and sometimes the signal kept flashing left, even I gave left turn to the right. I reported this potential malfunction to you because I just read the news on wot.motortrend.com/6669043/recalls/NHTSA-investigates-2004-2005-Volvo-XC90-for-faulty-lights-signals/index.html, which makes me believe that it is not only an individual case. Hope you can have a thorough investigation, for the safety of all. Thank you.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #4

Dec 132009

XC90

  • 32,357 miles
I am writing this letter to notify the NHTSA of a total system failure of my 2005 Volvo XC90 that I believe was due to a manufacturer defect which should be part of a recall. After driving on the interstate (in extreme rainy conditions) for approx 2 hrs, the car displayed a warning message that read "anti-skid disabled? and then ?brake system failure" at which point we experienced total brake failure. W/in a minute of this happening, the entire control panel illuminated then went blank and all the electronic components in the car turned off, including the windshield wipers. Fortunately we were able to maneuver the car safely to side of the road (after the brakes reengaged)T. The car was towed to freedom Volvo in va beach, va for inspection and repair. Upon explaining the incident to the service mgr, we were informed that they were well aware of the problem we were describing as they had seen "a rash" of this exact issue a few years back. I suspect that my car, with relatively low mileage for a 2005 (32,000), was just catching up with the other 2005 XC90"S that had already experienced the problem. The car was repaired without delay and ready for pick-up within two days. We were told the problem stemmed from water leaking in ?over time" through the engine bay harness which in effect caused the central electronic module (cem) to short out. After asking the service technician why this problem was not identified during the recommended maintenance check-ups (which was completed on our car just a few months prior to this incident), we were informed that this is not something that is inspected. He did go on to state that he has not seen any repeat problems for the vehicles that he had completed this exact repair. He also noted that the engine bay harness for the XC90 was redesigned after '06. I request that this problem with the engine bay harness on older model Volvo XC90 be investigated.

- Norfolk, VA, USA

problem #3

Jan 112008

XC90 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the freeway, the instrument panel went dak, signals stopped working, stereo and other electrical devices quit working. The car still ran. The dealer has been unable to detect and fix the problems after one week and does not know when and states that the problem is in the central computer. On three other occasion this car has been to volve dealer for computer system upgrade; once for idling erratically, once for passenger side window not stopping when it reached maximum closure height and once for stereo system not ejecting cds.

- Apex, NC, USA

problem #2

Feb 282007

XC90 4WD 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 23,000 miles
- the contact owns a 2005 Volvo X90. While driving 10 mph smoke came from under the hood. There were no warning indicators. The vehicle was pulled over, and the fire was extinguished by the fire department. The cause of the fire was undetermined. The failure mileage was 23,000. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. A fire report filed, and the contact has pictures.

- Old Greenwich, CT, USA

problem #1

Feb 282007

XC90 5-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,950 miles
I was driving my 2005 Volvo XC90 AWD a from my home to work(about 20 miles) when I was parking the car on a parking lot, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The next moment I saw a little fire coming from under the hood. I stopped the car and got out. The fire was getting bigger and bigger. I immediately called 911. By the time the fire engine arrived the car was in flames, and the front windshield cracked and fell inside the car. The front seats and my personal property were burned.

- Old Greenwich, CT, USA

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