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2013 Volvo XC90 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Volvo XC90 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 11owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 1fire report
- 29%fail the UK MOT
11 complaints, against an average of 44 for the other 13 Volvo XC90 model years.
Every Volvo XC90 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Volvo XC90?
The components named most often in the 11 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2013 Volvo XC90 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC90 as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2013 Volvo XC90 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAThe engine's plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Risk: The engines plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Fix: Update vehicles with improved soot reducing software cleaning of TMAP and EMAP. Fit additional hoses where necessary.
How often does the 2013 Volvo XC90 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2013, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2013 Volvo XC90 owners report?
10 of the 11 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. MY DASH MESSAGE IS: PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF SERVICE URGENT. I TOOK IT TO KOONS VOLVO OF OWINGS MILLS, INC TO BE SERVICED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY WEIGHT SENSOR HAS STOPPED WORKING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT TELL ME WHY IT WOULD HAVE STOPPED WORKING. HE JUST SAID IT COULD JUST HAPPEN. I ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHAT DOES IT DO AND HE SAID THAT IT WEIGHS PASSENGERS FOR THE CORRECT PRESSURE OF THE AIRBAG IN CASE IT IS DEPLOYED. HE ALSO SAID THAT MY COMPLETE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT IT WHICH MEANS THAT THE…
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR THE OTHER OWNER WAS IN THE FAMILY AND THE AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THE SRS AIRBAG SERVICE URGENT LIGHT CAME ON AND WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BEING THAT THIS IS SUCH A CRUCIAL COMPONENT THAT SHOULD BE WORKING IF IT HAS NEVER BEEN USED I WANTED TO ALERT NHTSA AND SEE IF IT WERE A MORE WIDESPREAD CONCERN. I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT AND THAT IS THE REASON FOR MY CONCERN.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN AN OLD HIGHWAY AT 45MPH. THE DRIVER'S DOOR OPENED WHILE IN MOTION WHILE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED AND LOCKED. THE DOOR DID NOT FLY OPEN, I THINK LOCKING MECHANISM HELPED KEEP THE DOOR FROM SWINGING OUT. THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE RUSH OF AIR COMING THROUGH MY DOOR AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SAYING DRIVER'S DOOR WAS OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK AND PULL MY DOOR BACK INTO THE CLOSED POSITION WHILE IN MOTION.
HAVING BOUGHT A 2013 VOLVO XC90 WITH 36K MILES ON IT, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY 2 WEEKS LATER WHEN I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT DOWN. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO GET OUT AS THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING. WITHIN 4-5 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMPLETELY GUTTED AND DESTROYED. VOLVO DECLINED TO ACCEPT BLAME AND SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF FIRE CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAFEST CAR AND I WAS SURPRISED AT THEIR CALLOUS ATTITUDE. THE DEALER FROM SUMMIT NJ WAS FAR MORE PROFESSIONAL. THE HIGHWAY IT HAPPENED ON WAS RT. 295…
THE XC90 I JUST BOUGHT FROM A DEALER AS IS TWO DAYS AGO HAS SOME LEAKING OF FUEL. I SUSPECT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE FUEL PUMP. THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT BRING THE CAR TO VOLVO DEALER TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. NOW I HAVE TO PAY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT.
THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY IT HAPPENS WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BAD. EVERYTHING JUST GOES OUT. ITS STATIONARY AT THE BECAUSE I HAVE NO LIGHTS OR ONE LIGHT WONT GO OFF.
THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I SOMETIMES LOSE THE DASH LIGHTS, BLINKERS AND THE FUEL DOOR UNLOCKS. THE ISSUE IS NOT HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WON'T HAPPEN FOR MONTHS AND THEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO VOLVO TWICE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS ISSUE IS HAPPENING.
CONTINENTAL FACTORY EQUIPPED TIRES ARE WORN TO THE POINT OF NEED FOR REPLACEMENT AT 25,000 MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN BY A 65 YEAR OLD LADY AND IN MOST PART IN TOWN AT 45 MPH OR LESS. IT IS MAINTAINED BY THE SELLING VOLVO DEALER. TIRES ARE TMPS MONITORED AND PROPER INFLATION IS MAINTAINED. WITH NO SIDE TO SIDE DIFFERENCE IN TREAD WEAR IN BOTH FRONT AND REAR TIRE PLACEMENTS THERE IS NO REASON FOR PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ONE OF THE FOUR TIRES HAVE A BUMP WHEN COLD THAT DISAPPEARS WHEN THE TIRES WARM UP. WHY ONLY ONE. I FEEL THAT CONTINENTAL TIRE COMPANY SHOULD ADJUST THE TIRES FOR PREMATURE…
THE ANTI SKID SERVICE IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PERIODICIALLY.
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED TO STALL AND THEN THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS LEAVING ME AND MY WIFE VULNERABLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND IT WOULD NOT START, IT STARTED TO SMOKE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD TO BE CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE VOLVO SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHICH TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY STARTER. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE WITH NO DAMAGE. *TR
2013 Volvo XC90: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volvo XC90; the most common categories were air bags (3, 27.3%), electrical system (2, 18.2%), engine (2, 18.2%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Volvo XC90?
Across 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (27.3% of complaints), electrical system (18.2% of complaints), engine (18.2% of complaints), structure (18.2% of complaints), electronic stability control (esc) (9.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC90. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own XC90
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2013 only. How these reports are made.