2017 VOLVO XC90 Electrical System Problems

I am reporting multiple critical component failures on my 2017 Volvo XC90, which I believe represent potential design or manufacturing defects related to vehicle safety and reliability. At approximately 93,000 miles, my Volvo XC90 experienced a battery failure, thermostat failure, which did not resolve the vehicle's engine issues. Subsequently, the dealership diagnosed a failed Engine Control Module (ECM), requiring complete replacement at a cost of over $5,000. The ECM is a critical motherboard component responsible for engine control and vehicle safety operations. Its failure risks sudden engine malfunction, stalling, or loss of power while driving, which could cause unsafe conditions. I am concerned that multiple major component failures, especially in a premium brand vehicle under 100,000 miles and less than 10 years old, represent a systemic reliability issue. These failures occurred despite regular maintenance and responsible usage. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether similar cases exist for 2016–2018 Volvo XC90 models involving premature ECM or engine cooling, electrical, short circuit system failures. I am available to provide service records and additional documentation as needed.

The contact owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that after a rainstorm, there was water leaking from the rearview mirror, which leaked into the vehicle, causing the electrical system to fail. There was an abnormal sound of water swishing around inside the vehicle. The on-call warning and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a cracked sunroof cassette leak. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

Mileage: 147,000

The Park Neutral Position (PNP) switch malfunctions. Yes Not a huge safety issue if you are parked in your driveway and cannot start the car. But if you are driving and the if you have the engine auto start/stop engaged the car will unexpectedly not restart and you have to play with the gear shifter to get it started to move out of an intersection or out of the way of traffic! This has happened several times with my wife and myself. I have not had it confirmed by a dealer or service center No No

Passenger and driver side rear door lock are inoperable from outside and inside. The issue has been widely reported by other vehicle owners. The root cause has been reported as water damaging the locking mechanisms. Volvo redesigned the mechanisms but has not issued a recall.

The contact owns a 2017 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the 12-volt Battery Charging Fault message and battery warning light illuminated. Additionally, the windshield wipers and turn signals were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with battery failure. The dealer informed the contact that the battery software needed to be updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000. The consumer stated the problem was software updates which resolved all the problems, but wants to understand why the software update caused so many issues.

Mileage: 31,000

While driving in hybrid mode while both the gasoline and electric motor are running or shifting back and forth, occasionally the electric motor will come on with a sharp, sometimes loud, metallic “bang”. The sound and feel appears to be coming from the rear. The last two times it happened, the car lunged forward on its own without additional pressure on the accelerator, and once over the past week it lunged forward near an intersection when lifting off the accelerator pedal and engaging the brake. The lunge almost caused me to rear end the car in front of me which I was not very close to. This occurs about once every 50 miles travelled or once per day and at various speeds. To date it has not generated a CEL or any other type of warning.

"Volvo On Call Service Required" message shows up on the dash suddenly every 3-5 minutes, and the black message box itself is close to, and bigger than, the speedometer reading. It makes it difficult to monitor and maintain speed without distraction. At the same time, every 3-5 minutes, top of the center screen completely flashes with "message stored to Car Status app" to draw driver attention and causes a major distraction while driving.

CENTRAL CONSOLE WILL "REBOOT" FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE SCREEN GOES BLANK AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT DISPLAYS A ANIMATED ROTATING CIRCLE LIKE IT IS STARTING TO BOOT UP. IT CAN TAKE 5+ MINUTES FOR THE REBOOT PROCESS. WHILE IT IS DOING IT THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS IT PROVIDES ACCESS TO. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF STARTING THE VEHICLE, BUT IT HAS OCCURED 20+ MINUTES INTO A DRIVE.

FOR 5 MONTHS NOW, THERE HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE REAR SIDE OF THE INTELLISAFE MODULE LOCATED BY THE MIDDLE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CARE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, THEY HAVE NOT FOUND THE ROOT CAUSE. I HAVE PAID FOR MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF THE RUBBER TRIM AND CLEANING OF INTERIOR PARTS. THE WATER LEAKS DIRECTLY OVER THE HEAD UNIT, AND I FEAR THAT MIGHT CAUSE DAMAGE SUCH AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE OR REPLACEMENT OF PARTS THAT MIGHT BECOME VERY COSTLY. IT HAPPENS WHILE STILL IN PARK AND WHILE DRIVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEIZE AND THE ELECTRONIC GAUGES TO SHUT OFF. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO A POND. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (WEAVER BROTHERS VOLVO, 4409 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Mileage: 10,000

WHILE DRIVING WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR, VOLVO HOOD STARTED TO SMOKE. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR SIGNALS WENT OFF. WE PULLED OVER, TURNED ENGINE OFF, REMOVED KIDS FROM THE CAR, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, EVEN THOUGH FIREFIGHTERS EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. WE HAVE NO INFORMATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE - ENGINE, ELECTRICAL, ETC - BUT THE CAR ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES ON IT. VOLVO HAD ALREADY REPLACED THE ROTORS TWICE IN TWO YEARS - HIGHLY UNUSUAL - BUT OTHERWISE WE HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT A PROBLEM. WE WERE VERY LUCKY WE WERE ON CITY STREETS AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OVER.

Mileage: 19,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE PILOT ASSIST AND LANE ASSIST SYSTEMS ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ERRONEOUSLY CHANGE LANES AND/OR CHANGE DIRECTIONS. ON OCCASION, THE FEATURES WOULD ERRONEOUSLY SHUT OFF FOR NO REASON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. UPDATED 06/02/17*LJ *AS

Mileage: 1,500