The 2010 Volvo XC90 has 12 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 XC90?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average
3 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2010 XC90· wheels
The spare tire cable assembly broke, causing spare tire to drop from under vehicle while parked in garage. The cable assembly dismounted from the carrier nut. Spare tire has never been used my owner. If vehicle was traveling on road at time of cable malfunction, would have…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volvo xc90. The contact stated that the dashboard had deteriorated to the point where it was structurally unsound and buckling in the area of the front passenger side air bag component. The dealer (Volvo escondido, 1938 auto park way, escondido, ca…
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Volvo xc90. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in her garage, the spare tire became detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician diagnosed that the winch that was holding the spare tire in place…
Had a problem with your 2010 Volvo XC90?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 xc90 vehicles manufactured from january 29, 2010, through august 16, 2010
This condition could lead to a sudden loss of power steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil pipes on the power steering rack free of charge. The recall is scheduled to begin during june 2011. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Volvo is recalling certain vehicles equipped with garmin 760 portable global positioning system (GPS) units because the batteries on those units may overheat
An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
Fix: Volvo advises owners to please stop using the garmin portable GPS device immediately, and visit the garmin website to determine if their unit is affected. The unit's battery will be replaced with a new battery and a spacer will be inserted on top of the battery next to the pcb. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on november 18, 2010. Owners may contact garmin at 866-957-1981 or visit garmin's website at www.garmin.com/nuvibatterypcbrecall.
Volvo is recalling certain model year 2010 xc90 vehicles
Fuel odor may be detected. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can lead to a fire at the right front wheel.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code printed on the fuel line and replace the fuel pressure line if it falls within the recalled range free of charge. The recall began on april 23, 2010. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Common questions
Is the 2010 Volvo XC90 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Volvo XC90 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2010 Volvo XC90?
The 2010 Volvo XC90 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2010 Volvo XC90?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2010 Volvo XC90 to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2010 Volvo XC90 a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 12 owner complaints. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2010 Volvo XC90?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Volvo XC90 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Volvo XC90?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 12 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Volvo/XC90.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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