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2018 Volvo XC90 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Volvo XC90. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 30% of relevant complaints.
Better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 4 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 27%).
Does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 47 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). For comparison, the 2017 scores 41% and the 2019 scores 31%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Volvo XC90 years
Of the 7 Volvo XC90 years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (30%). The worst is the 2016 (52%), the best the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2018 drew 51 complaints (14 drivetrain), against 80 for the 2017 and 42 for the 2019.
Volvo XC90 years to avoid and best years →
2016 XC90 problems · 2017 XC90 problems · 2018 · 2019 XC90 problems · 2020 XC90 problems · 2022 XC90 problems · 2023 XC90 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 Volvo XC90
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 14 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Volvo XC90 engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2018 Volvo XC90, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 Volvo XC90? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2018 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 14 of 47 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (30%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Volvo XC90?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Volvo XC90 is electrical system: 15 of 51 complaints (29%) name it, followed by service brakes (12) and fuel/propulsion system (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 30% of the relevant total.
Is the 2018 Volvo XC90 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 30% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 71% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Volvo XC90 years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2018 Volvo XC90?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2018 Volvo XC90, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Volvo XC90 years are better?
Among the Volvo XC90 years we track, the 2023 (16%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (30%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volvo-xc90
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.