What 47 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Volvo XC90 T5

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving a 2018 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV. On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] CT, the vehicle experienced a sudden multi-system safety and actual brake failure while in a parking-lot/low-speed setting near [XXX} in Austin, Texas. The vehicle displayed multiple urgent warning messages and indicators, including power steering failure / stop safely, brake/ABS warning, SRS airbag service urgent warning, stability/traction warning, battery/electrical warning, check-engine warning, and tire-pressure warning. The vehicle ended in an irregular/distressed parking position after trying to locate a concrete block to force stop the car due to ABSOLUTE BRAKE FAILURE, E BRAKE SEEMED TO NOT WORK EITHER. The concern is not simply that a warning light appeared. The event involved steering, braking, airbag/SRS, stability, and electrical warnings at the same time, making the vehicle unsafe to operate AND SOMEHOW THE BRAKES WEREN’T OPERATING DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNCITONING. Photos were taken of the warning messages and vehicle position. Prior related history:
This vehicle has prior safety-system history involving SRS Airbag Service Urgent warnings and braking/vehicle malfunction and movement concerns. Earlier review and discussion involved Volvo engineering, VDDM replacement, CAN/network concerns, calibration requirements, voltage/12V battery considerations, software/module updates, and post-repair validation. The VDDM is understood to participate in vehicle dynamics, stability control, brake coordination, and PHEV regenerative/hydraulic brake interaction. Prior documentation also raised concern that intermittent brake, SRS, VDDM, CAN, and calibration issues may not reproduce during a short dealer test drive. Safety risk:
The safety risk is that the vehicle may experience sudden or intermittent loss, degradation, or warning of systems involved in steering, braking, stability control, and airbag readiness. A simultaneous power steeri INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11746058

At approximately 6:30 PM, after normal driving and parking at a local park, our family was unloading children from the vehicle. One child was standing next to the vehicle while we removed a younger child from the rear seat. The child suddenly screamed and stated that he had burned himself. We later determined that he had accidentally come into contact with the exterior exhaust outlet. As we continued walking, we noticed the injury was more severe than initially believed. We took photographs of the burn and later sought medical evaluation. The physician determined that the injury was a second-degree burn due to blistering and provided treatment recommendations. The vehicle was operating normally, and there were no warning lights, messages, or signs of a malfunction before the incident. The concern is that the exposed exhaust outlet becomes hot enough during normal vehicle operation to cause a serious burn from brief accidental contact. We believe the location and accessibility of the exhaust outlet may present a burn hazard, especially to children during routine loading and unloading activities around the vehicle. The vehicle and photographs are available for inspection. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or a dealer regarding this incident.

NHTSA ODI 11744366

My 2018 Volvo XC 90 engine light came on with a green turtle light indicating engine impaired performance while I was driving on the NJ Turnpike. I got off the exit, pulled over and the car started to smoke from the right front hood. The smoke worsened and the car went on fire. At that point myself and my 8 year old daughter exited the car. I called the police. The car wsa completely burned. We were lucky to get out of the car safely. I was hospitalized for smoke inhalation, my daughter was ok. The car was inspected by the insurance company and is on hold pending further investigation. He indicated that the fire started in the engine compartment near the dashboard but he could not pinpoint why. The care is available for further inspection, for now. Please contact me if you would like to discuss further. I will provide all the documentation that I have available. Thank you

NHTSA ODI 11514328

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT A SPEED OF 15-40 MPH, THE SUV IS ACTIVATING THE CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING "CITY CRASH AVOIDANCE" WITHOUT ANYTHING IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION IS LOCKING UP THE VEHICLE AND SEAT BELTS LOCK UP SQUEEZE MY WIFE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALOR CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE MODULES THAT CONTROL THIS FEATURE WITHOUT THEM SHOWING BAD. THIS HAS HAPPENDED ON THE SAME ROAD ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11241056

VOLVO XC90 2018 MODELS WILL NOT ALWAYS DISPLAY REAR VIEW CAMERA CONTENT WITHIN 2 SECONDS OF SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AS PER FMVSS 111. THIS IS DUE TO REALLY SLOW AND LAGGING INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. BEHAVIOR IS EVIDENT ON MULTIPLE MODELS AND VEHICLES WHICH SHARE SAME SENSUS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11150284