Home / VOLVO / S90

Volvo S90 Problems

The Volvo S90 is a full-size luxury sedan with two distinct generations: the original 1997-1998 models and the modern reboot starting in 2017. With 170 total complaints, issues span both eras with hydraulic service brakes and vehicle speed control being primary concerns. The 1998 model year has the most complaints by far, while the modern generation shows moderate reliability. This flagship sedan embodies Volvo safety heritage but has documented reliability considerations.

170
Total Complaints
28
Total Recalls
13
Model Years
0
Reported Deaths
!

Years to Avoid

These years have significantly more complaints than average.

2018 1998
✓

Best Years

These years have the fewest reported problems.

1999 2019 2022

Common Problem Categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic 26
Unknown Or Other 24
Vehicle Speed Control 16
Visibility 14
Suspension 10

Complaints by Model Year

All Model Years

Year ↓ Complaints Recalls Crashes Fires Rating
2025 0 3 0 0 Good
2024 4 2 0 0 Good
2023 4 3 0 0 Good
2022 2 3 0 0 Good
2021 0 2 0 0 Good
2020 8 3 0 0 Average
2019 2 4 2 0 Good
2018 40 2 0 0 Avoid
2017 16 4 2 0 Average
2016 0 2 0 0 Good
1999 2 0 0 0 Good
1998 76 0 4 0 Avoid
1997 16 0 4 0 Average

Volvo S90 Years to Avoid

1998, 2018, 2017

Best Volvo S90 Years

2022, 2019, 1999

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common problems with the Volvo S90?

The most frequently reported issues involve hydraulic service brakes (26 complaints), vehicle speed control problems (16 complaints), and visibility concerns (14 complaints). Suspension issues have also been documented with 10 complaints.

Which Volvo S90 model years should I avoid?

Avoid the 1998 model year with 76 complaints. For the modern generation, the 2018 model year has 40 complaints and should also be avoided. The 2017 model year has 16 complaints.

What are the best years for the Volvo S90?

The 2022 and 2019 model years each have only 2 complaints, making them the most reliable choices in the modern generation. The 1999 model also shows improved reliability over 1998.

Has the modern Volvo S90 improved reliability over the original?

The modern S90 (2017+) shows variable reliability. While the 2018 has elevated complaints, later years like 2019 and 2022 show improvement with only 2 complaints each, suggesting quality has stabilized.