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2023 Volvo XC90 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Volvo XC90. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 16% of relevant complaints.
Better than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2023 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 42%. 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 2023 compares with other Volvo XC90 years
Of the 7 Volvo XC90 years with enough complaints to score, the 2023 is the best on engine and transmission share (16%). The worst is the 2016 (52%). By volume, the 2023 drew 40 complaints (6 drivetrain), against 29 for the 2022.
Volvo XC90 years to avoid and best years →
2016 XC90 problems · 2017 XC90 problems · 2018 XC90 problems · 2019 XC90 problems · 2020 XC90 problems · 2022 XC90 problems · 2023
The rest of the picture on the 2023 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 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2023 Volvo XC90 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Volvo XC90 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. 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.
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2022-2023 S60, V60, S90L, XC60, and XC90 vehicles. An electronic control module (ECM) software error may prevent the combustion engine from starting, causing a loss of drive power.
Risk: The vehicle may lose drive power as the high voltage battery is depleted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 8, 2022. Owners may contact Volvo Car's customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for…
5 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 2023 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 2023 Volvo XC90 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 40 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (16%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Volvo XC90?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2023 Volvo XC90 is back over prevention: 12 of 40 complaints (30%) name it, followed by electrical system (10) and forward collision avoidance (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 16% of the relevant total.
Is the 2023 Volvo XC90 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 16% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 92% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Volvo XC90 years we score, it ranks 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 2023 Volvo XC90?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2023 Volvo XC90 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 22V793000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: engine control module (ecu/ecm)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Volvo XC90 years are better?
The 2023 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Volvo XC90 years we track (16%). The other years run higher. 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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.