WE OWN A 2005 VOLVO XC90 AND IT HAS 54K MILES ON IT. WE HEARD A WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE REAR HUB BEARINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED. WE WERE NOT CONVINCED AND TOOK IT TO OUR AUTO MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON OUR AVALON, HE LOOKED AT IT AND AFTER SPENDING 5HRS ON IT CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WAS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. WE WENT BACK TO THE VOLVO DEALER AND ASKED…
2005 Volvo XC90 powertrain problems
moderate 56 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
56
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
VOLVO KNOWS THE V8 ENGINE ON THE 2005 XC90 IS FAULTY. SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNTERBALANCE SHAFT BEARING FAILING DUE TO WATER INTRUSION. FORTUNATELY MINE FAILED WHILE AT IDLE. UNFORTUNATELY THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS NOW SEIZED UP AND MY OTHERWISE CLEAN CAR IS A LARGE AND USELESS PAPERWEIGHT. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING AT SPEED, IT COULD CAUSE A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. UNLESS VOLVO ACTIV…
YESTERDAY, OUR 2005 VOLVO XC90 STALLED COMPLETELY AT AROUND 84,000 MILES AND WAS TOWED FOR SERVICE. A DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THIS WILL LIKELY REQUIRE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND POSSIBLY THE RADIATOR. OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL COVER THE COST OF MAJOR COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR BUT WILL NOT…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLVO XC90. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP SHAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MOTOR WAS NOT ENGAGING AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FOUR WH…
URGENT SERVICE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON 2005 VOLVO XC90 T6 WITH 80,000 KM. FLUSH AND NEW SOFTWARE TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM. IT DIDN'T SOLVE ANYTHING. ONE MONTH OR TWO LATER THE GEARS STARTING SLIPPING FROM STOPPED POSITION AND WHILE DRIVING. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE AND FILING WERE FOUND IN THE PAN. HAD TO HAVE TO A COMPLETE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Volvo XC90?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 56 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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