Model year 2020 · Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2020 Volvo XC90: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 Volvo XC90 at 21–27 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 34 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
9
EPA combined mpg
21–27
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as XC90PHEV.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Volvo dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2020 Volvo XC90 recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 9 safety recalls for the 2020 Volvo XC90, newest first.
Service brakes and 1 more component
NHTSA 25V392000Reported Jun 12, 2025
Filed by
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10329)
Components
Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic: Power assist: Electric: Control module: Software
Units affected
11,469 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2023 Volvo C40 BEV, 2025 EC40, 2023-2024 XC40 BEV, 2020-2026 XC90 PHEV, 2022-2026 XC60 PHEV, 2023-2025 S60 PHEV, 2024-2025 V60 PHEV, and 2025-2026 EX40 and 2025 S90 PHEV vehicles. In certain driving scenarios while coasting down a hill and using "B" mode or "One Pedal Drive," the vehicle may lose brake function.
Risk
A loss of brake function increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to use "B" Mode (for plug-in hybrid vehicles) or "One Pedal Drive" (for pure electric vehicles) until the repair has been completed. The brake module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10329.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020-2021 S90, 2020-2022 S60, V60, XC60, XC90, and 2022 V90 plug-in hybrid vehicles. The high-voltage battery may experience a short circuit within the battery module when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is parked.
Risk
A short circuit in a high-voltage battery increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles until the remedy has been completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the high-voltage battery module as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the software to monitor the battery. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 28, 2025. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10312.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10289)
Units affected
291 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2020 S60, V60, S90I, XC60 and XC90 hybrid vehicles. The pushrod screw joint, connecting to the brake pedal to the hydraulic brake unit, may be loose.
Risk
A loose brake pedal can result in a loss of braking function, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will tighten the brake pedal pushrod screw joint, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 17, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10289.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10259)
Units affected
2,911 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Risk
An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10213)
Units affected
74 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2022 V60CC, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. During steering gear assembly, double screws may have been assembled on top of each other, which can cause a screw to fall into the gearbox housing.
Risk
A screw inside the gearbox housing can cause the steering wheel to lock up and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 1, 2023. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10213.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip and 1 more component
NHTSA 21V716000Reported Sep 15, 2021
Filed by
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10120)
Components
Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Service brakes, hydraulic
Units affected
9 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2021 S90L, 2020-2021 XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An improperly welded rotor and shaft may separate within the integrated brake system.
Risk
Separation of the rotor and shaft may cause a reduction in braking assistance and a loss of the Antilock Brake System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the hydraulic unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10120.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2019-2020 V90, XC60, S60, V60, V60CC, S90, V90CC, S90L, and XC90 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump can blow a fuse and fail.
Risk
Failure of the low-pressure fuel pump can cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10100.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (manufacturer recall no. R10093)
Units affected
162 (estimate)
Problem
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Risk
The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.
Volvo Cars USA LLC (Volvo Cars) is recalling certain 2019-2020 S60, V60, V60 Cross Country, S90L, V90, V90 Cross Country, XC40, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. Due to a software/hardware incompatibility, the Automatic Emergency Brake (AEB) system may not detect obstacles and engage as intended.
Risk
If the automatic emergency braking system does not engage as intended, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will update the Active Safety Domain Master (ASDM) software, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R29998.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2020 Volvo XC90 fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2020 Volvo XC90 crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2020 Volvo XC90 NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2020 Volvo XC90 T5 SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.9%
Standard
2020 Volvo XC90 T5 SUV FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
19.1%
Standard
2020 Volvo XC90 T6 SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.9%
Standard
2020 Volvo XC90 T8 SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.9%
Standard
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2020 Volvo XC90 owner complaints
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Volvo XC90, most recently on Oct 14, 2026. 2 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2020 Volvo XC90 complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Electrical system
11
Engine
7
Unknown or other
7
Service brakes
4
Fuel/propulsion system
3
Power train
3
Vehicle speed control
3
Air bags
2
Latches/locks/linkages: Doors: Latch
2
Structure: Body
2
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
