What are the most common Volvo S90 problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 2,050+ owner reports, the 2017 Volvo S90 has 17 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Inflatable Curtain Airbag Mounting Bolts Can Fracture (Hydrogen Embrittlement) — Recall 17V104 / Volvo R39917, Front Passenger Seat Belt Buckle Stud Can Loosen and Separate — Recall 16V798 / Volvo R89708, Sensus Infotainment System Lag, Crashes, and Black Screen. Of these, 2 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Volvo S90 reliable?
The 2017 Volvo S90 has 17 known issues documented across 2,050+ owner reports. 2 issues are rated critical: Inflatable Curtain Airbag Mounting Bolts Can Fracture (Hydrogen Embrittlement) — Recall 17V104 / Volvo R39917 and Front Passenger Seat Belt Buckle Stud Can Loosen and Separate — Recall 16V798 / Volvo R89708. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Volvo S90 problems?
Repair costs for known Volvo S90 issues range from $0 to $3,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Inflatable Curtain Airbag Mounting Bolts Can Fracture (Hydrogen Embrittlement) — Recall 17V104 / Volvo R39917, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2017 Volvo S90 Inflatable Curtain Airbag Mounting Bolts Can Fracture (Hydrogen Embrittlement) — Recall 17V104 / Volvo R39917?
Early-build 2017 S90 sedans (alongside 2017 XC90 and V90 Cross Country) were built with inflatable-curtain (IC) airbag securing bolts whose surface-treatment process at the supplier varied, leaving some bolts susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. An internal chemical process can… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2017 Volvo S90 Front Passenger Seat Belt Buckle Stud Can Loosen and Separate — Recall 16V798 / Volvo R89708?
On 2016-2017 SPA-platform Volvos including the first-year 2017 S90 (built Feb 16, 2015 to Aug 22, 2016), the stud that attaches the front passenger seat belt buckle to its bracket may loosen over time. If it backs out, the buckle can separate from the bracket entirely, leaving th… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2017-2023 Volvo S90 Sensus Infotainment System Lag, Crashes, and Black Screen?
The Sensus infotainment system in the S90 suffers from significant lag, screen freezes, and black screen episodes. Since the system controls climate, seat heating, navigation, and vehicle settings through the central touchscreen, a crash renders many vehicle functions inaccessibl… Repairs typically run $0-$2,000. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2024 Volvo S90 Rear Air Suspension Strut and Compressor Failure?
The S90 equipped with rear air suspension (standard on Inscription and optional on other trims) experiences air spring leaks and compressor failure, typically after 50,000-70,000 miles. The rear air springs develop cracks in the rubber bladder, causing slow leaks that worsen in c… Repairs typically run $600-$3,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2022 Volvo S90 T6 Twin-Charged Engine Coolant Crossover Pipe Leak?
The T6 twin-charged engine in the S90 has a coolant crossover pipe (also called the coolant bridge or manifold) that runs between the cylinder head and the turbocharger. This pipe develops leaks at the O-ring seals, causing coolant loss that can lead to overheating if not caught. Repairs typically run $300-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2025 Volvo S90 Auxiliary Coolant Pump Leak?
The electric auxiliary coolant pump develops a leak or fails, affecting cabin heating performance and turbo/supercharger cooling on T6 models. The pump circulates coolant to the heater core and turbo when the engine is off or at idle. Repairs typically run $200-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2020 Volvo S90 Rear Door Lock Actuator / Latch Fails Locked, Door Cannot Be Opened From Inside or Outside?
A recurring SPA complaint that also appears in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 S90 under Latches/Locks: a rear door (often the passenger side) suddenly will not open from either handle. Owners note the safety implication for rear passengers. Causes documented on forums are the elec… Repairs typically run $600-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017 Volvo S90 A/C Evaporator Drain Hose Misrouted, Leaks Water Into Cabin and Can Compromise Airbag Deployment — Recall 16V690 / Volvo R89707?
Roughly 43,800 US-market 2016-2017 XC90 and 2017 S90 vehicles built April 15, 2015 through September 19, 2016 had the air-conditioning condensate drain hose installed incorrectly at the factory. Instead of routing outside, condensate can drain into the passenger compartment under… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2019 Volvo S90 Vehicle Connectivity Module Software Error Disables GPS Location for Emergency Calls — Recall 18V800 / Volvo R39917?
2017-2019 S90 (and the rest of the SPA 90/60 range) shipped with Vehicle Connectivity Module (VCM) software containing an error that can make the Telematics and Driver Support systems misbehave. The specific safety consequence is that when Volvo On Call places an automatic emerge… Repairs typically run $0-$600. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2021 Volvo S90 'Parking Brake Service Required' Message From Chafed EPB Caliper Wiring or Module Software — Volvo TJ 32525 / TJ 34647?
S90 and V90 owners across 2017-2021 report a recurring 'Parking brake service required' warning, sometimes with the electric parking brake refusing to release or apply. Volvo has issued multiple bulletins: TJ 34647 (2019, revised through 2024) directs a software upgrade for the m… Repairs typically run $100-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2017-2025 Volvo S90 Pilot Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control Malfunction?
The Pilot Assist semi-autonomous driving system and adaptive cruise control intermittently become unavailable, displaying error messages. Camera or radar sensor obstruction, calibration drift, or software bugs can trigger the issue. Heavy rain, snow, or direct sunlight may also c… Repairs typically run $0-$1,000. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2020 Volvo S90 LED Headlamp Condensation Inside Lens, Leak Test Then Headlamp Replacement?
2017-2020 S90 owners report moisture fogging inside the LED headlamps, sometimes pooling at the lower edge, that does not clear after driving. Volvo's position, documented in a 2018 S90 Technical Journal, is that light condensation is normal but if it does not dissipate after a s… Repairs typically run $0-$2,500. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2019 Volvo S90 Fuel Filler Door Lock Actuator Fails, Fuel Door Will Not Open — Volvo TJ 32887?
The S90's fuel flap is locked by a small electric actuator tied to central locking. On 2017-2019 cars the actuator (or its push-fit internal connection) fails, leaving the fuel door locked even when the car is unlocked; some owners report it working intermittently first. NHTSA co… Repairs typically run $150-$350. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2020 Volvo S90 TG-81SC 8-Speed Harsh P-R / R-D Engagement and 3-2 Downshift Clunk — Volvo TJ 32546 / TJ 35075?
The Aisin TG-81SC 8-speed in the T5 and T6 S90 (not the T8's hybrid version of the same box) is the subject of two Volvo Technical Journals: TJ 32546 'TG81-SC harsh shift P-R, R-D, N-D' (March/April 2017) and TJ 35075 'TG-81SC rough/hard shift in 3-2' (2020). Owners on Swedespeed… Repairs typically run $0-$250. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2020 Volvo S90 Left Engine Mount (Engine Pad) Click on Throttle Tip-In/Off — Volvo TJ 33442?
A distinct click or clack from the front-left of the engine bay when accelerating from a stop, lifting off, or during gear changes. Volvo's TJ 33442 'Left engine pad click sound' (2018, revised through 2020) confirms the source is the upper left hydraulic engine pad itself and wa… Repairs typically run $100-$700. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2020 Volvo S90 Steering Wheel Audio/Phone Switch Pad Stops Responding (SWM Buttons) — Volvo TJ 32033?
A widely reported SPA-platform fault on 2017-2020 S90s: the right-hand steering-wheel button cluster (volume, track, mute, voice, phone) goes dead, sometimes intermittently and often first on a single button, before the whole pad fails. Owners describe pressing hard near the conn… Repairs typically run $0-$900. Severity: low.
What is the 2017-2019 Volvo S90 Front Brake Squeal and Heavy Dust on 2017-2019 S90 (17-inch Wheel Setup) — Volvo TJ 34246 / TJ 33506?
From the first model year, S90 owners complained about persistent brake squeal at low speed and heavy brake dust, bad enough that Swedespeed's 'Brake Squeal on 2017+ S90 or V90' thread became a long-running reference. Volvo's fault-tracing bulletin TJ 34246 'SPA Brake noise' (Dec… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: low.
