2026 Volvo XC90MHEV Recalls & Complaints

Incident: October 12, 2026 · Filed: October 12, 2026

On [XXX], at approximately [XXX], I was driving my 2026 Volvo XC90 (VIN: [XXX], mileage: 12,393) westbound on [XXX], at approximately 50 mph. While travelling on a straight road, with vehicles passing in the adjacent left lane and no apparent hazard ahead, my vehicle suddenly initiated extremely aggressive automatic emergency braking. A collision warning and audible alert occurred almost simultaneously with the braking. The deceleration was so severe that my seatbelt locked, throwing me forward against the restraint and causing physical pain. The brakes then released, and the vehicle continued normally. I was driving manually, without adaptive cruise control or Pilot Assist engaged. This appears to be a false activation of the automatic emergency braking system. The unexpected braking created a serious risk of a rear-end collision. I have reported this incident to Volvo and requested a full investigation. I am asking NHTSA to investigate this potentially dangerous safety defect, including possible sensor, radar, camera or software malfunctions. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 7, 2026 · Filed: September 1, 2026

Was driving on a freeway when tire pressure light came on and tire blew out a few minutes later. I could not see the events of what happened behind me, but when my tire blew I got over to the right shoulder as safely as possible to move out of the way of oncoming traffic on the freeway. This incident occurred after only 2 months of driving car (3,000 miles on the car).

Incident: August 28, 2026 · Filed: August 28, 2026

While my own 2026 Volvo EX90 was in for warranty repair (air conditioning compressor failure, believed related to a recent over-the-air software update), the dealership provided me with a loaner vehicle that exhibits its own intermittent climate control malfunction: the air conditioning shuts off completely when the vehicle comes to a stop and resumes when the vehicle is put back in motion. This occurs consistently and unpredictably during normal driving. I am filing this as a related report to a prior NHTSA complaint I submitted regarding my own EX90's air conditioning/compressor failure, as this may indicate a broader pattern with climate control systems on this platform rather than an isolated defect.

Incident: August 25, 2026 · Filed: August 26, 2026

On 25th August, while driving my brand-new leased 2026 Volvo XC90 B6 (approximately 4,930 miles) at highway speeds of 60 to 65 mph on the interstate i80 NJ at night, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion. The engine abruptly shut off without warning, causing the vehicle to immediately and rapidly lose speed.Traffic conditions were active, and a semi-truck was directly behind my vehicle. Due to the sudden deceleration and total loss of engine power, I narrowly missed a life-threatening, high-speed collision with the semi-truck. I managed to safely maneuver the unpowered vehicle across active lanes to the right shoulder.Once on the shoulder, the "Check Engine" light and a "Turtle" icon (reduced engine performance indicator) appeared on the digital dashboard. The vehicle completely refused to restart. Eventually when Roadside Assistance arrived and attempted to add fuel to the tank to rule out a low fuel (odometer said 1/4 tank re ~65miles to empty), but the vehicle still failed to start or turn over. The car was flatbed-towed to an authorized Volvo dealership at 3:00 AM, where it currently sits. This is the second major electrical failure this new vehicle has suffered in less than 3 months, following a previous incident where the battery abruptly died. A complete powertrain and engine shutdown at highway speeds presents an extreme, life-threatening safety defect that requires immediate federal investigation

Incident: February 2, 2026 · Filed: February 2, 2026

I turned on my brand new 2026 Volvo XC 90 and none of the cameras worked. I hard reset it three times and it still didn’t work. The message on the screen said “Camera view is temporarily unavailable. Press home button to close.” This is the second issue with the vehicle. First was apple car play, now, it’s the camera system.