There are 2 owner-reported fuel system complaints for the 2008 Volvo XC90in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
BOUGHT OUR 2008 VOLVO XC90 IN 2010. LAST SPRING WE NOTICED A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM INSIDE AND OUT SIDE THE VEHICLE THAT BECAME STRONGER THE MORE WE DROVE IT AND FOR SOME TIME AFTER IT WAS PARKED. LOOKED IT UP ON U-TUBE, THE FUEL SENDING UNIT (FUEL PUMP) UNDER THE BACK SEAT LEAKS OVER TIME ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER CLIMATES. THERE WERE SEVERAL DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS ON LINE DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE, CONCLUDING A DEFECTIVE PART ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT FORMS A CRACK ON TOP AND LEAKS FUEL WHEN VEHICLE IS IN USE.. CALLED VOLVO MAIN OFFICE, GAVE THEM THE VIN # AND THEY SAID "NO, NOT ANY LIST !!" SO WE TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST VOLVO DEALER IN LAS VEGAS, ALL MOST 2 HOURS AWAY. WE ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS YELLOW. TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP AND THEY WOULD GLADLY REPLACE IT FOR $487.00 BUT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK UNTIL OUR NEXT VISIT-HAD TO ORDER THE NEW PUMP. THEY HAD US SIGN A WAIVER BEFORE WE LEFT BECAUSE THEY " RECOMMEND VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO THIS BEING A SAFETY ISSUE" HAVE MY COPY IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK THE NEXT WEEK AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF , WE PAID THE $487.00 AND THEY GAVE US A WARRANTY ON THE NEW FUEL PUMP FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR . THEY WERE VERY NICE AND PROFESSIONAL. MY QUESTION IS WHY DID WE HAVE TO PAY $480. 00 FOR A PART THAT WAS FAULTY?
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH 1-2 GEAR AND 5 TO 6 GEAR. THE DOWNSHIFT FROM 3-2 AND 2-1 IS REALLY ROUGH. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, EVEN ON THESE OLDER VOLVO'S.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026