Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 73/100 (GOOD)

2026 Volvo XC90 Reliability Report

The 2026 Volvo XC90 has a good reliability standing, but owners report backup cameras going dark, and it has two recalls.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

4.8per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$851

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,550–$3,000

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs70/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity72/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Good standing with few complaints so far, all about dead backup cameras, plus two recalls covering seat belts and service brakes.

Top Issues to Watch

BACK OVER PREVENTION (2)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Post-Refresh

2026 is 1 year after the 2024 facelift refresh.

Year 11 in the Second generation (2015) (2016–present).
Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
2nd generation XC90 (US).

What this means for buyers

Post-refresh years tend to be among the most refined — updates have been applied and early kinks worked out.

2016: Second generation (2015) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2020: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2023: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2025: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2026: This Model Year

2026 is 1 year after the 2024 facelift refresh.

Should You Buy the 2026 Volvo XC90?

Reliability is good, but this year trails other 2026 SUVs, where it lands below average. Within the XC90's own model years it ranks among the stronger ones. Owners have filed only 2 complaints so far, but a new year has had little time to collect them, so that low count proves little. The 2025 model rates about the same, with 23 complaints and 3 recalls. The federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars.

Both complaints describe the backup camera. It shows no picture when the car goes into reverse, and sometimes every camera goes dark at once. The screen may say the camera view is temporarily unavailable. This shows up in the first weeks of ownership. Shutting the car off for a few minutes brings the image back in some cases. In others, repeated hard resets do nothing. Federal recall records list two recalls, covering seat belts and service brakes.

Before buying, put the car in reverse and confirm the camera works. Ask for proof that both recalls were done. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly costs at $851, a bit above the $807 class figure. The 2025 model is a fair comparison since it has a longer complaint record.

See also the 2025 Volvo XC90 for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low major repair risk (11%)
+Low recall count
+Below-average complaint rate for SUV

Cons

−BACK OVER PREVENTION: Backup camera shows no picture when the car is shifted into reverse, and in... (2 complaints)

Compare 2026 Volvo XC90 With

2026 BMW X5

Reliability: 56/100

Mixed

2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE

Reliability: 65/100

Good

2026 Lexus RX

Reliability: 95/100

Excellent

2026 Audi Q7

Reliability: 70/100

Good

2026 Acura MDX

Reliability: 79/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

LOW RISK

BACK OVER PREVENTION (2)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

The 2026 Volvo XC90 carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

4.8

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 4.6

LowAvgHigh

Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Volvo XC90 Recall Details

2 recalls have been issued for the 2026 Volvo XC90. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

25V5890002025-09-10

SEAT BELTS

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2026 Volvo XC90MHEV, XC60MHEV, V90CCMHEV, and V60CCMHEV vehicles. The torsion bar in the front seat belt retractors may have been damaged during production.

Consequence

A damaged retractor may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace both front seat belt retractors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 17, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10340. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning September 17, 2025.

25V3920002025-06-24

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES

Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.

Consequence

A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10329.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Volvo XC90? Check its history first

Back over prevention problems lead owner complaints about the 2026 Volvo XC90, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Volvo XC90 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

HEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 17.9%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

PHEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 15.9%

Safety Technologies

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Volvo XC90Repair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$851

vs $807 avg for luxury midsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.6

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

11%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

XC90

$851

Category Avg

$807

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Plug-in Hybrid

23–27 MPG

Running cost: $3,400–$3,850/yr

Fuel + repair

20–26 city / 26–27 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Plug-in Hybrid trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
XC90 T8 AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S8)	26	27	27	$2,550

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2026 Volvo XC90.

Shift into reverse several times from a cold start and confirm the backup camera image appears every time.
Cycle through every camera view on the center screen and confirm none shows a temporarily unavailable message.
Ask the seller whether the cameras have ever gone blank and whether a dealer has repaired it.
Have a dealer check the VIN for open recalls and completed camera or software repairs before you buy.

2026 Volvo XC90 Common Problems by Component

2 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

2 complaints

The backup camera shows no picture when the car is shifted into reverse, and in some cases every camera goes dark at once. The screen can display a message saying the camera view is temporarily unavailable. These failures appear in the first weeks of ownership on new cars. Turning the car off for a few minutes and restarting it brings the image back in some cases. In others, repeated hard resets do not help. Without a camera image, the driver loses a key aid for seeing people or objects behind the car, which raises the risk of a backing crash.

2 complaints total

Best & Worst Volvo XC90 Years

Best Volvo XC90 Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Volvo XC90 Years to Avoid

No Volvo XC90 years are statistical outliers in our data.

Scores stay between 70 and 74 across 9 scored model years.

See full Volvo XC90 years-to-avoid analysis

Volvo XC90 Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Volvo XC90 reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	71/100	Good
2019	71/100	Good
2020	71/100	Good
2021	72/100	Good
2022	72/100	Good
2023	70/100	Good
2024	73/100	Good
2025	74/100	Good
2026	73/100	Good

Volvo XC90 Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	73/100	-1	Good	2	2
2025	74/100	+1	Good	3	23
2024	73/100	+3	Good	3	26
2023	70/100	-2	Good	6	39
2022	72/100	0	Good	4	27
2021	72/100	+1	Good	5	17
2020	71/100	0	Good	7	24
2019	71/100	0	Good	6	31
2018	71/100	—	Good	3	40

2026 Volvo XC90 Reliability by Powertrain

The 2026 Volvo XC90 is available with 2powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Complaints	Recalls	Crash Rating
HEV	2	2	5 out of 5
PHEV	0	0	5 out of 5
Total	2	2

NHTSA tracks complaints by vehicle configuration when that detail is available. Model-level reports that do not identify a specific powertrain are included in Total but not assigned to a row. A plus sign indicates a confirmed minimum; — means no complaints could be attributed to that specific powertrain. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Volvo XC90 reliable?

Yes, its reliability standing is good. It ranks among the stronger of the nine XC90 model years scored, though it falls below average against other 2026 SUVs. Owners have filed just 2 complaints, but the year is new and has had little time to collect more.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Volvo XC90?

The backup camera is the only complaint pattern on file. Owners report no image in reverse, sometimes with every camera going dark and a message that the view is temporarily unavailable. It appears in the first weeks of ownership on new cars.

Does the 2026 Volvo XC90 have backup camera problems?

Yes, both owner complaints involve the camera. The screen stays blank in reverse. Restarting after a few minutes off restored the image in some cases, while repeated hard resets failed in others. Without the view, the risk of a backing crash goes up.

Has the 2026 Volvo XC90 been recalled?

Yes, federal recall records show 2 recalls for this model year. They cover seat belts and service brakes, including the hydraulic system. Ask the seller for proof that both repairs were completed before you buy.

Is the 2026 Volvo XC90 better than the 2025?

The two rate about the same, and both have a good standing. The 2025 has 23 complaints and 3 recalls, against 2 complaints and 2 recalls for the 2026. The 2026 count is lower partly because it has had less time on the road.

Don’t buy a 2026 Volvo XC90 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2026 Volvo XC90

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2026 Volvo XC90 does best on recall impact (80/100) and worst on repair costs (70/100). 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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