Last updated: 2026-10-10

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90: Reliability Compared

Tesla Model S reliability comparison

Tesla Model S

41
MixedReliability score: 41 out of 100, rated Mixed
VS
More ReliableVolvo S90 reliability comparison

Volvo S90

68
GoodReliability score: 68 out of 100, rated Good

The Volvo S90 comes out well ahead of the Tesla Model S on reliability. Owners filed 18 complaints on the Volvo against 4,606 on the Tesla, whose reports include unintended acceleration, steering lockups, and phantom braking. Federal recall records also show far more Tesla recalls.

How Do the Tesla Model S and Volvo S90 Generations Compare?

Neither car has been fully redesigned across the years a used shopper will see. The Model S is a single first generation sold in the US from 2013 through 2026. It had a major facelift in 2017 and another in 2021, so 2018 to 2020 cars share the earlier look and 2021 onward the later one. The S90 is also one generation, on the SPA platform, sold from 2017 through 2025. Its first facelift came in 2020 and a second in 2023. Shoppers will find 2018 to 2019 cars before the facelift, 2020 to 2022 cars after the first, and 2023 or later cars with the current design.

Verdict

The Volvo S90 is more reliable than the Tesla Model S, scoring 68/100 vs 41/100.

Reliability favors the Volvo S90 by a large margin. Owners filed only 18 complaints on it, against 4,606 on the Tesla Model S. The Tesla's reports include unintended acceleration, steering lockups, and phantom braking, with many linked to crashes. The Volvo's few reports describe a stuck door and brake shake, with no crashes. Federal recall records show 22 recalls for the Volvo and 227 for the Tesla. The size of that gap on complaints and recalls decides it.

Key Differences

  1. 1Volvo S90 has 205 fewer total recalls
  2. 2Volvo S90 has 155.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  3. 3Volvo S90 scores 27 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

0Tesla Model S
—
3Volvo S90
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90: Which Is More Reliable?

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90 at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricTesla Model SVolvo S90
Reliability Score41/10068/100
Years Tracked89
Total Recalls22722
Complaints per 10k Sold1604.5
Year Wins08

What Are the Common Problems With the Tesla Model S and Volvo S90?

Tesla owners report safety-critical failures. Phantom braking at highway speed is the most common, and it shows up under forward collision avoidance, service brakes, and speed control. Others describe sudden surges at parking speed, steering that locks or stiffens, screens going dark, total power loss, and heat pump failures. Every one of these areas has crash-linked reports. Volvo owners describe two small clusters. A rear door may not open from inside or outside, and the brake pedal can make the steering wheel shake. Neither Volvo brake complaint reports a crash, though dealer repairs did not fix either problem.

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90 common problem areas comparison
ComponentTesla Model SVolvo S90
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE34High—None
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19.8High—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL18.1High—None
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17.1High0.8Very Low
STEERING17.8High—None
SERVICE BRAKES11.1Above Avg0.5Very Low
SUSPENSION9.1Above Avg—None
AIR BAGS3.4Average—None
POWER TRAIN2.6Low—None
STRUCTURE2.5Low—None
LANE DEPARTURE1.9Low—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION1.1Low—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER0.3Very Low—None
SEATS0.3Very Low—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90 Reliability Compare by Year?

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90 year-by-year reliability scores
YearTesla Model SVolvo S90Edge
202550/1007R / 94C69/1004R / 0CVolvo S90
202442/10019R / 316C66/1002R / 1CVolvo S90
202332/10043R / 1307C65/1003R / 2CVolvo S90
202244/10018R / 796C65/1003R / 1CVolvo S90
202126/10067R / 1211C71/1002R / 0CVolvo S90
202037/10043R / 465C66/1002R / 2CVolvo S90
201948/10014R / 120C69/1004R / 0CVolvo S90
201846/10016R / 297C67/1002R / 12CVolvo S90

Best years to cross-shop: The 2019 Tesla Model S scored 48/100 and the 2021 Volvo S90 scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Tesla Model S vs the Volvo S90?

If you want a full-size sedan that rarely gives trouble, buy the Volvo S90. Owner complaints are few, estimated repair cost is $976 a year, and neither brake complaint involves a crash. Target 2021, one of the strongest years, and skip 2022 and 2023, the weakest. The 2026 model also rates well, but it is new and has had little time to collect complaints. Before you buy, test every door from inside and outside, and press the brakes firmly to check for steering wheel shake. Buy the Tesla Model S only if you accept a much higher chance of serious problems. Check for phantom braking, steering warnings, and heat pump function on a long test drive, and ask what repairs would cost out of warranty. Owners quote $2,500 for a steering rack and $3,000 for a heat pump repair. The 2019 model year is among the stronger ones. Avoid 2021 and 2023, the weakest. Treat 2025 with care, since it has had less time to collect complaints.

Tesla Model S vs Volvo S90: Common Questions

Is the Tesla Model S more reliable than the Volvo S90?
No. The Volvo S90 is clearly more reliable, with a large gap. Owners filed 18 complaints on the Volvo and 4,606 on the Tesla. The Tesla's reports cover phantom braking, sudden acceleration, and steering lockups, while the Volvo's cover a stuck door and brake shake.
Which has more recalls, the Model S or the S90?
The Tesla Model S has far more. Federal recall records show 227 recalls across its 8 model years, against 22 for the Volvo S90 across 9 model years. Check any specific car's VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which model years of the Volvo S90 should I avoid?
Avoid 2022 and 2023, the weakest years in the data. The strongest are 2021 and 2026. The 2026 car is new, so it has had less time to collect complaints and should not be treated as proven.
What are the most common Tesla Model S problems?
Phantom braking is the most common, where the car brakes hard on the highway with nothing ahead. Owners also report sudden surges at parking speed, steering that locks or stiffens, screens going dark, and heat pump failures that leave no cabin heat.
What goes wrong on the Volvo S90?
Owner complaints are few. A rear door may stop opening from inside and outside with no warning. Some owners report steering wheel shake under braking that returned after new rotors. One reports a connectivity module error that lit a service warning at about 75,000 miles.

Related Reliability Comparisons

Decided between Tesla Model S and Volvo S90? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Tesla Model S and Volvo S90

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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