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)

5 of 19 complaints match · Engine · clear filters

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

Feb 24, 2022Engine

The contact owns a 2011 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the check engine warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and suggested that the vehicle be taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

NHTSA ODI 11453927

Mar 6, 2017SteeringElectrical systemEngine

RECENTLY WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT WITHOUT KNOWING IT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR COMPUTER MESSAGE CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE RUNNING ON BATTERY. THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WE DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A VOLVO REPAIR FACILITY AND LEARNED WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT, THUS THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP,POWER STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE INOPERATIVE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLS EVERYTHING AND WOULD NOT ISSUE A WARNING UNTIL THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND/OR THE BATTERY WAS CLOSE TO FAILING. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER FOR A DRIVER OR FAMILY WHO MIGHT DRIVE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR AT THE VERY LEAST HARM THE ENGINE THROUGH OVERHEATING. THE LOSS OF THE ALTERNATOR SHOULD SEND A WARNING TO THE DRIVER THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND TO STOP AT THE EARLIEST SAFE PLACE AND SEEK ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 10958736

Mar 9, 2016Engine

THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V579000 MY CAR STALLED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS TRANSMISSION WENT INTO PROTECTION MODE. IT STARTED FINE AGAIN WITH NO ISSUES AND SINCE THEN RUNNING FINE AND I PUT CLOSE TO 800 MILES. HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE XC90 IN THE LIST OF CARS AFFECTED FOR MODEL YEAR 2011. DEALER SIMPLY SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($ 6681) AND VOLVO DENIED ANY HELP. I CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING UPGRADING SOFTWARE ON THE MODULES AND THEY SUGGESTED IT WOULD COST FEW HUNDRES TO DO IT.

NHTSA ODI 10845870

Jun 5, 2013Engine

EVERY TIME I DO NOT TURN MY CAR ON FOR 2 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS MY CAR BATTERY DIES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 7 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF MY 2 YEAR LEASE. EACH TIME IT IS TOWED AND SENT TO VOLVO FOR SERVICE THEY REPORT THAT THEY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. ONE TIME THEY CLAIMED IT WAS MY BLUE TOOTH DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE NEXT TIME IT WAS SIRIUS RADIO DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE LOST GOES ON AND ON. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION AS MY VAR BATTERY DIES EVERY TIME IT IS LEFT UNATTENDED. WITHOUT FAIL! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10515377

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 →