There are 4 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2008 Volvo XC90in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
LOUD CLUNKING NOISES COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE, VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC TO BE DRIVE AXLES WARN OUT, WITH RELATIVELY LOW LOW MILES I CONTACTED VOLVO DEALER AND WOULD DO NOTHING BUT CHARGE FOR REPLACEMENTS AND FURTHER DIAGNOSIS. PREMATURE FAILURE OF DRIVE AXLES CAN CREATE AN UNSTABLE DRIVING INCIDENT. WHICH IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT . IT SEEMS THAT ALL THESE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER EVERYWHERE WHICH MAKES ME THINK THERE MUST BE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THIS.
EXCESSIVE VIBRATION/SHAKING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF A V8 ENGINE XC90 DURING LIGHT/MODERATE ACCELERATION (SEVERE SHAKING DURING FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION). ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF VOLVO DEALER SERVICE ADVISORS, THIS VIBRATION/SHAKING HAS BEEN A 'MAJOR ISSUE' CAUSED BY FAILING RIGHT SIDE FRONT AXLES (350.00) &/OR FAILING TRANSMISSION VALVE BODIES ($3500.00). GIVEN THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A MAJOR MECHANICAL FLAW ACCORDING TO VOLVO DEALER SERVICE, WHY HASN'T THESE DANGEROUS DRIVE TRAIN ISSUES BEEN ADDRESSED AS A MANDATORY RECALL?? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A SHAKING MOTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
MY 2005 T6 HAS ALREADY HAD A TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 25K MILES (UNDER WARRANTY). THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION RECENTLY SLIPPED GEARS WITH 32K MILES AND THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS "OLDER" VERSION OF THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CODE WHICH CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN. *TR
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 25, 2026