Feb 5, 2026Engine2 injuries
The catillatic converter exploded as we started the vehicle .was a very loud explosion..no fire but lots of smoke.
NHTSA ODI 11716016
Home · 2011 Volvo XC90 Mhev · Complaints
What 19 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Volvo XC90 Mhev
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
All (19)Crash / fire / injury (2)Electrical system (5)Engine (5)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Brakes (2)Engine & cooling (2)Seat belts (2)Steering (2)Airbags (1)Body & structure (1)Fuel system (1)
2 of 19 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters
Apr 20, 2021Electrical systemFire
94,000 MILES 2011 VOLVO XC90 PURCHASED 4 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WATER INTRUDED THE FRONT PASSENGER CABIN AND DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH A SUNROOF DRAINAGEDEFECT IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VOLVO XC90. SIX INCHES OF WATER POOLED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR AND PERMEATED THE DASH CAUSING THE CEM TO SHORT AND START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH THICK SMOKE FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THE CAR ALARM BEGAN TO GO OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FIRE BEGAN IN THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT HOUSING THE CEM. THE CEM WIRES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS EFFECTED AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT PLUS SMOKE/FIRE/WATER REMEDIATION. PER MECHANIC REPAIRS EXCEED VALUE OF VEHICLE. TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA ODI 11413129
Working with the data? Download all 19 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026
How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Volvo XC90 Mhev verdict →