Volvo S90 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Volvo S90 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1999 drew the fewest (1) and the 1998 the most (25).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
1 | 2 | Unknown or other | — | 25 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 | Seat belts | — | 26–30 |
| 2023 | 2 | 3 | Back over prevention | — | 26–30 |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 4 | Electrical system | — | 25–29 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 3 | Forward collision avoidance | — | 25–30 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
8 | 4 | Unknown or other | — | 25–27 |
| 2018 Among the most complaints |
16 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 25–29 |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
25 | 0 | Service brakes | — | 18 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Volvo S90 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
1998 Volvo S90: 25 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 8 (32%); Visibility 5 (20%); Equipment 4 (16%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Volvo S90: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 4 (25%); Latches/locks/linkages 2 (13%); Service brakes 2 (13%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Volvo S90: 8 complaints
Most-reported: Fuel/propulsion system 1 (13%); Power train 1 (13%); Structure 1 (13%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 4 recall campaigns listed.
The Volvo S90 years with the fewest complaints
2019 Volvo S90: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 2 (67%); Vehicle speed control 1 (33%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Volvo S90: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Forward collision avoidance 2 (67%); Service brakes 1 (33%); Suspension 1 (33%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Volvo S90 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Volvo S90 recalls
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2022–2025 model years; 413,151 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2025; 25V908000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2022–2025 model years; 413,151 vehicles across all models; filed May 2025; 25V282000)
- Automatic Emergency Braking May Not Engage (2019–2020 model years; 121,605 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2020; 20V144000)
- Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Fuse Can Fail (2019–2020 model years; 85,550 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2021; 21V414000)
- Seat Belt Buckle may Separate/FMVSS 210, 209 (2016–2017 model years; 74,027 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2016; 16V798000)
All 13 Volvo S90 recall campaigns · Volvo S90 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Volvo S90 years FAQ
Which Volvo S90 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1999 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Volvo S90 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 1998, 2018 and 2017 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Volvo S90 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (11 of 68 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Volvo S90 have?
NHTSA lists 13 recall campaigns covering the Volvo S90. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Volvo S90 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.