2011 VOLVO XC90 Electrical System Problems
5 NHTSA complaints on file
Electrical System Issues in the 2011 VOLVO XC90
5 electrical system complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 VOLVO XC90. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
5
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Electrical System Complaints
Electrical, Brake lights suddenly stopped working on both sides at once. I checked the fuse only to be told a relay may be the issue. The location of said relay is vague and not serviceable by owner. Risk of rear end collision. Of following traffic
94,000 MILES 2011 VOLVO XC90 PURCHASED 4 MONTHS AGO. VEHICLE WAS PARKED STATIONARY IN DRIVEWAY. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WATER INTRUDED THE FRONT PASSENGER CABIN AND DASHBOARD OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH A SUNROOF DRAINAGEDEFECT IN THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF VOLVO XC90. SIX INCHES OF WATER POOLED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR AND PERMEATED THE DASH CAUSING THE CEM TO SHORT AND START AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH THICK SMOKE FROM THE ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THE CAR ALARM BEGAN TO GO OFF. THE ELECTRICAL FIRE BEGAN IN THE DRIVER COMPARTMENT HOUSING THE CEM. THE CEM WIRES WERE COMPLETELY MELTED AWAY. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS EFFECTED AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT PLUS SMOKE/FIRE/WATER REMEDIATION. PER MECHANIC REPAIRS EXCEED VALUE OF VEHICLE. TOTAL LOSS.
THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN SEVERAL VOLVO CAR MODELS SINCE 2008. THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PLACE DUE TO THIS DEFECT. THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE VOLVO XM/SIRIUS RADIO SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MANY VOLVO MODELS AND RESULTING BATTERY DRAIN, BATTERY REPLACEMENT COSTS, VOLVO FIRMWARE UPGRADE COSTS AND THE ADDITIONAL INABILITY TO PASS CALIFORNIA SMOG TESTS. THE PROBLEM: WHEN AN AFFECTED VOLVO VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION TO XM/SIRIUS RADIO, THE INTEGRATED VOLVO RADIO SYSTEM CONTINUALLY AND CONSTANTLY CHECKS FOR XM/SIRIUS ACCOUNT REACTIVATION, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THIS CONSTANT ELECTRONIC SEARCHING DRAINS A NEW AND FULLY CHARGED BATTERY WITHIN TWO TO THREE DAYS. THIS HAS LEFT MANY VEHICLE OWNERS STRANDED AND HAS COST OWNERS THOUSANDS IN UNNECESSARY REPAIRS, BATTERY REPLACEMENTS AND TOWING CHARGES. (THIS FREQUENTLY OCCURS TO VOLVO OWNERS LEAVING THEIR VEHICLES AT AIRPORT PARKING FOR A FEW DAYS.) VOLVO HAS BEEN SLOW...
RECENTLY WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT WITHOUT KNOWING IT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR COMPUTER MESSAGE CALLED OUR ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE RUNNING ON BATTERY. THE ONLY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WE DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO A VOLVO REPAIR FACILITY AND LEARNED WE LOST THE SERPENTINE BELT, THUS THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP,POWER STEERING AND AIR CONDITIONER WERE INOPERATIVE. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLS EVERYTHING AND WOULD NOT ISSUE A WARNING UNTIL THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND/OR THE BATTERY WAS CLOSE TO FAILING. THIS IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER FOR A DRIVER OR FAMILY WHO MIGHT DRIVE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR AT THE VERY LEAST HARM THE ENGINE THROUGH OVERHEATING. THE LOSS OF THE ALTERNATOR SHOULD SEND A WARNING TO THE DRIVER THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND TO STOP AT THE EARLIEST SAFE PLACE AND SEEK ASSISTANCE.
THE BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE FAILS DUE TO A DRAIN IN THE POWER SYSTEMS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN SOFTWARE SYSTEMS ,THIS FAULT IS KNOWN TO VOLVO AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR .IF THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN EVERY DAY THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS SEARCH FOR BLUE TOOTH PHONE SIGNALS AND SATELLITE RADIO SIGNALS CAUSING A DRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ENOUGH TO KILL THE BATTERY ON A DAILY BASIS. VOLVO SAYS THEY HAVE A REPAIR FOR THIS AND SAY THAT I MUST PAY. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT TO VOLVO THEY SHOULD REPAIR THIS. *TR
Other 2011 VOLVO XC90 Problem Areas
Engine
5 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
2 complaints
Power Train
2 complaints
Service Brakes
2 complaints
Steering
2 complaints
Air Bags
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasoline
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
1 complaint
Seat Belts
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontwarning Lightdevices
1 complaint
Seats
1 complaint
Structurebody
1 complaint
Suspension
1 complaint
Unknown Or Other
1 complaint
Vehicle Speed Control
1 complaint
Wheels
1 complaint