The Volvo XC90 is the Nordic manufacturer’s take on how ruggedness combines with utter luxury. The SUV rakes in an MSRP of $39,700 and rivals the Acura MDX, the Volkswagen Touareg, and the BMW X5. The sales are strong and give a good impression to the buyer but the electrical problems do make a negative impact on the ownership. People complain about the sensors giving out false warnings and activating remedial actions. Apart from this, the owners have also reported difficulty in starting the SUV. If the electrical issues aren’t a factor for you, the transmission is said to give up low mileage and require a replacement. Let’s see what all the other issues the people have faced. The "HOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS" have seen that front bearing could become noisy and automatic transmission can have premature failure. To know more about that, Click on the video below:
2013 Volvo XC90 Problems
Electrical issues:
- XM/Sirius Radio scan issues: This issue is a very old one and is commonly observed in the XC90 since the 2008 model year. There is also a class-action lawsuit filed against the Nordic manufacturer due to this. The issue lists that the radio unit system in the SUV scans for an active XM/Sirius account even after switching the car off. This drains the battery after just 2 days of sitting idle and makes for a very inconvenient ownership.
- False warnings: Another notorious issue in Volvo cars is the warning systems throwing out random errors. People have reported getting myriads of warnings and alerts that activate the remedial steps. The activation of such steps is a major inconvenience to the public. The issue is very repetitive and happens quite often.
- Door lock actuators: The door lock actuators in the XC90 fail and open the doors while moving. The system unlatches the doors rather than swinging them open but is, nonetheless, a big danger for the occupants inside.
- Ignition issue: People have complained of the ignition switch malfunctioning. This prevents the keys from switching to the ignition position and locks it in accessories mode. The issue is very random and affects many XC90 vehicles. Often, the key slips out of the ignition while driving and shuts down the vehicle, causing a danger to the occupants inside.
- Alternator fires: There are a handful of incidents where the XC90 catches fire due to a faulty alternator. The fire engulfs the whole front area of the SUV and made for a pretty narrow escape for the occupants. Although a small stratum has faced this issue, it is a major one nonetheless.
Mechanical issues:
- Starter problems: There have been numerous reports of the starter motor failing and causing issues. Repeated cranking after such failure results in smoke coming out of the motor. Although no fires are reported, creating one due to the starter motor isn’t a far possibility.
- Transmission issue: The gearbox in the XC90 is reported to enter “Protection Mode” and stall the car. The issue happens suddenly and jerks the car to a stop. Owners are suggested to replace the whole transmission, which costs nearly $6,500, that too at very low mileage (sometimes under 5,000 miles). Apart from this, the transmission is said to give a lot of delays while shifting. This makes it very difficult to overtake.
- Suspension issues: Some people have reported the suspension of the XC90 to fail due to an issue with the right front ball joint. The said joint is renowned for fracturing while moving and causing a loss in the handling of the SUV. This also puts the lives of the occupants at risk.
2013 Volvo XC90 Recalls
There are no recalls for the 2013 Volvo XC90.
Should you buy the 2013 Volvo XC90?
The 2013 Volvo XC90 is a commendable offering from the Nordic manufacturer but some issues make it a difficult choice for people. The battery drain issue has attracted a class-action lawsuit but no solution has been provided yet. The starter motor is problematic and can shut down the car while moving, endangering the lives of the passengers. To add to this, the gearbox is pretty shoddy and has a history of failing at very low mileage. Seeing the catastrophic issues that have come up, we do not recommend buying the 2013 XC90 new. If you are buying one pre-owned, be very careful of the maintenance history and do proper due diligence.
