Volvo XC90: common problems, best years and what to check
Large seven-seat SUV; supremely safe and comfortable. Covers 2008–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Volvo XC90 a good used buy?
Best buy
2016+ D5 AWD
Avoid
high-mile Mk1 with auto issues
Who it suits: Large families wanting the safest seven-seat SUV.
What's good
- Outstanding safety
- Seven proper seats
- Comfortable
- Classy interior
What's not
- Expensive to run
- Air suspension bills
- PHEV complexity
- Thirsty petrols
By the numbers
- #107 most common model on UK roads, with about 79k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2024: 8.7k cars still licensed.
- 2008 cars survive 33% better than comparable cars of that year.
- D5 Drive-E uses a belt (150k / 10 yrs): budget £500–£800 if there's no invoice.
- The most expensive common fault: Auto gearbox failure (up to £3,000).
Volvo XC90 common problems by generation and engine
Volvo XC90 Mk1 (2002–2014) · 7-seat SUV
How to spot it: 08 plate to 14 plate. Upright, rounded SUV.
D5 2.4 (D5244T, diesel, 2002–2014)
Durable
- Auto gearbox failure£1,500–£3,000100k+
Volvo XC90 Mk2 (2015–) · 7-seat SUV; T8 PHEV
How to spot it: 15 plate onwards. Thor's hammer LED headlights.
D5 / B5 (D4204T23, diesel / mild hybrid, 2015–)
Smooth
- Air suspension faults (if fitted)£600–£2,500any
T8 Recharge (Drive-E + e, petrol plug-in hybrid, 2015–)
Complex
- Hybrid system faults£0–£3,000any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Volvo XC90 years
How many Volvo XC90s from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
Years that outlast similar cars: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014. No year falls off the road noticeably faster than similar cars.
Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2008+ cars)
Volvo XC90s pass their MOT first time 3 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (78% vs 75%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 59% | 57% | 146k miles |
| 2009 | 61% | 58% | 140k miles |
| 2010 | 63% | 59% | 135k miles |
| 2011 | 64% | 61% | 129k miles |
| 2012 | 69% | 63% | 119k miles |
| 2013 | 71% | 66% | 112k miles |
| 2014 | 69% | 69% | 105k miles |
| 2015 | 80% | 72% | 97k miles |
| 2016 | 80% | 75% | 89k miles |
| 2017 | 83% | 78% | 79k miles |
| 2018 | 84% | 81% | 68k miles |
| 2019 | 86% | 84% | 57k miles |
| 2020 | 86% | 86% | 48k miles |
| 2021 | 87% | 87% | 41k miles |
| 2022 | 87% | 89% | 33k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Diesel
Hybrid
Diesel hybrid
Petrol
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Position lamp: not working4.66 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut2.94 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.77 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn2.38 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.25 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed2.06 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn2.01 per 100
- Decelerometer (sp): efficiency below requirements1.57 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm25.91 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn14.72 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened11.16 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick11 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear7.06 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn6.61 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Play in steering rack inner joint(s)6.08 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt4.88 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Volvo XC90 have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| D5 Drive-E | belt | 150k / 10 yrs | £500–£800 |
Volvo XC90 running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Volvo XC90 ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Volvo XC90 vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo XC90 | 79k | 33–48 | 680 l | 2016+ D5 AWD |
| BMW X5 | 87k | 40–50 | 650 l | 2019+ G05 xDrive30d |
| Audi Q7 | 48k | 43–50 | 770 l | 4M 3.0 TDI |
| Land Rover Discovery | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | 57k | 42–50 | 630 l | 2019+ V167 300d |
| Kia Sorento | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Volvo XC90
- Air suspension and PHEV checks
Volvo XC90 FAQ
›Is the Volvo XC90 reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2016+ D5 AWD. Avoid: high-mile Mk1 with auto issues.
›What is the Volvo XC90 MOT pass rate?
78% of Volvo XC90s passed their MOT first time in 2025 (58,915 tests), better than the 75% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: position lamp: not working.
›What are the most common Volvo XC90 problems?
The costliest known faults are Auto gearbox failure; Hybrid system faults; Air suspension faults. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Volvo XC90 have a timing belt or chain?
D5 Drive-E: belt.
›What is the best year Volvo XC90 to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2008, 2009, 2010 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Volvo XC90 cost to run?
Real-world economy: D5/B5 38–45 mpg; T8 35–80 depending on charging. Insurance groups 33–48. A minor service is about £280–£380 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Volvo XC90?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Volvo XC90 ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001. Diesel: compliant only if Euro 6 — generally cars first registered from September 2015; earlier diesels pay £12.50 a day in London's ULEZ.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.