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Volvo carsAlso sold as Volvo S90

Volvo V90 problems (2016–2024)

All 2 engines of the Volvo V90 that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the D4/D5 and the Drive-E gasolina. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the Drive-E gasolina, with a «With caution» verdict.[1][2][3]

Outside the engine: Outside the engine, the V90 from 2016 onwards has few documented faults: according to the 22 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr there are isolated electronic faults and a worn Start-Stop battery, and the page cites several recalls, including the 2020 automatic braking one.[4][5]

Volvo V90 (2016–2024)
Photo: MichalPL · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Reference image for this generation.
02468106.3out of 10

Volvo V90 rating: acceptable reliability

Calculated using only 11 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. Limited evidence: it is based on few sources or few documented faults, so it is not included in the rankings. Having few documented faults does not mean it is reliable: it may simply be little studied. How it is calculated

  • Engine5.4From 5.2 to 5.7 depending on the engine
  • Gearbox10.0No documented faults
  • Suspension5.3Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Brakes7.9Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.8 times the defects normal for its age
  • Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
  • Steering5.2Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electrical system9.61 fault
  • Headlights and lights8.4Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.6 times the defects normal for its age
  • Electronics and infotainment8.61 fault
  • Climate control10.0No documented faults
  • Bodywork and interior7.7Technical inspection (ITV) only: 0.9 times the defects normal for its age
  • Airbags and safety7.91 fault

The weak points of the Volvo V90

  1. 1High severity: High oil consumption from 90,000-150,000 km that harms the turbo (VEA)D4/D5 engine
  2. 2High severity: High oil consumption that can damage the turboDrive-E gasolina engine
  3. 3High severity: 2020 recall for the obstacle detection of the automatic braking (AEB)Airbags and safety
  4. 4Medium severity: Clogged EGR valve or EGR cooler leaking into the intakeD4/D5 engine
  5. 5Medium severity: DPF (particulate filter) blockage and incomplete regenerationsD4/D5 engine

Documented engines, from highest to lowest risk

The first label is the most serious fault affecting that engine in this car; the second, our verdict for the versions it is fitted to. Each engine's risk index is calculated only from the faults that affect this car (how we calculate it). We only show engines we have documented with sources: if yours does not appear, we have not analysed it yet. View all engines

See what to check before buying

Outside the engine

1 recall or campaign documented, the latest: Obstacle detection / automatic emergency braking (AEB), March 2020. See the campaigns for the Volvo V90

9 sourcesHow we work

D4/D5

Volvo D4/D5 (5 cilindros and VEA) · Diesel

In the V90
2016–2024[5]
Names
D3 · D4 · D5
Faults that affect it
4 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
48
Moderate risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • 2.0 D2/D3/D4/D5 VEA 4-cylinder (D4204T, 2013-2024)2013–2024 · 120–235 hp · D4204T

    With caution

    The most repeated fault in the reliability sources consulted is the EGR valve, followed by the DPF and, on the 190 hp D4, oil consumption that can end up damaging the turbo from 90,000-150,000 km; none is serious enough to rule it out, but check the emissions system history and the oil level.[1][6][7]

Faults that affect the V90

Only those that affect the versions and years that this car used. The D4/D5 has 6 documented faults in total.

  1. High severityFrequency: CommonLubricationHigh oil consumption from 90,000-150,000 km that harms the turbo (VEA)On the 190 hp VEA D4, several owners document oil consumption that soars from 90,000-150,000 km (up to 1 litre per 1,000 km in one case), and Fiches-auto.fr warns that this lack of lubrication can end up damaging the turbo. It describes it as "the most sensitive engine" on the Volvo V60 page.
  2. Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlClogged EGR valve or EGR cooler leaking into the intakeYes, in both D4/D5 families: the EGR gets dirty or clogged, and its cooler can lose its seal and leak coolant into the intake. It appears in the XC60, S60, V40 and V60, between 56,000 and 180,000 km, with limp mode and, in some cases, several valve replacements.
  3. Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlDPF (particulate filter) blockage and incomplete regenerationsYes: the D4/D5's diesel particulate filter (DPF) can clog or give sensor faults when regenerations are not completed, almost always because of short journeys. Documented in the XC60 (9 cases out of 132 testimonies), the XC90 and the S60/V40 VEA, sometimes together with AdBlue warnings.
  4. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboDamaged charge air hose or pipe on the Volvo D4On the Volvo 2.0 D4 diesel an intercooler hose can be damaged, and on the 2010-2013 V60 a pipe bracket made it rub against the pulley (P0299, loss of power). Volvo corrected it with a service action and modified parts.

V90 D4/D5 pageAll versions and faults of the D4/D5

Drive-E gasolina

Safest option

Volvo Drive-E gasolina (VEA de 4 and 3 cilindros) · Petrol

In the V90
2016–2024[3][4][8]
Names
T4 · T5 · T6 · B4 · B5 · B6
Faults that affect it
4 · 1 of high or critical severity
Risk index on this car
43
Moderate risk

Verdict for the version it uses

  • The best-documented fault is high oil consumption on some units (up to 1 litre per 1,000 km according to a German used-car analysis), which in one known case ended up damaging the turbo; carbon build-up on the intake valves, typical of direct injection, is also documented. Neither is acknowledged by Volvo with a specific campaign, so you should check the service history and oil consumption before buying.[1][2][3]

Faults that affect the V90

  1. High severityFrequency: CommonLubricationHigh oil consumption that can damage the turboYes: on the more powerful versions (T5, T6, B5), a German used-car analysis documents oil consumption of up to 1 litre per 1,000 km, and on one Volvo XC60 that lack of lubrication ended up damaging the turbo at 150,000 km. Volvo does not acknowledge it with a campaign of its own.
  2. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIntakeCarbon build-up on injectors and intake valves due to direct injectionYes: as with other direct-injection engines, the Drive-E's injectors and intake valves accumulate carbon over time, with possible loss of power and rough idling. Two used-car analyses (Volvo XC40 and V90) flag it as a known weak point of this engine.
  3. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingLeak from the expansion tank or faulty cap in the cooling systemOn the Volvo V40 II with the T2 Drive-E engine, two owners document a leak from the coolant expansion tank (17,900 km) and a faulty cooling system cap (49,000 km). These are isolated cases, but they involve a component that is cheap to check at any service.Appears at around 17,900 km
  4. Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalIntakeRecall over the plastic intake manifoldOn the Volvo V60 and V90 with the Drive-E engine, two German analyses document a recall over a plastic intake manifold that can deform or overheat on units built up to 2018. We have not confirmed the official reference or whether it also affects the diesel.

V90 Drive-E gasolina pageAll versions and faults of the Drive-E gasolina

Faults of the Volvo V90 outside the engine

Suspension, brakes, tyres, electronics and the rest of the car. They occur with any engine.

What the MOT inspection finds on the Volvo V90

Official Dutch MOT (APK) inspection data: 1,860 inspections of 1,050 cars registered between 2016 and 2022, compared with cars of the same age.

  • Suspension and axles· counts in the score

    Defects in 3.8% of inspections; in cars of its age, 1.8%.

    More defects than average

  • Brakes· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 2.4%.

    Average

  • Steering· counts in the score

    Defects in 1.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.7%.

    More defects than average

  • Headlights and lights· counts in the score

    Defects in 6.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 10.2%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Rust and bodywork· counts in the score

    Defects in 0.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.1%.

    Average

  • Exhaust and emissions

    Defects in 0.7% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.8%.

    Average

  • Fluid leaks

    Defects in 0.1% of inspections; in cars of its age, 0.6%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Glass, wipers and mirrors

    Defects in 1.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 3.4%.

    Fewer defects than average

  • Tyres and wheels· depends mostly on maintenance

    Defects in 11.9% of inspections; in cars of its age, 14.3%.

    Average

The inspection measures wear and the defects visible at a periodic check, not engine or electronics failures. Source: RDW Open Data (public domain). How we calculate it · opendata.rdw.nl

Checklist for buying a used Volvo V90

Check the advert or the paperwork to see which engine the car has and go through its section. Each point comes from a documented fault; you can tick them off as you inspect.

If it has the D4/D5 (2016–2024)

High oil consumption from 90,000-150,000 km that harms the turbo (VEA)

High severity

Clogged EGR valve or EGR cooler leaking into the intake

Medium severity

DPF (particulate filter) blockage and incomplete regenerations

Medium severity

Damaged charge air hose or pipe on the Volvo D4

Medium severity

If it has the Drive-E gasolina (2016–2024)

High oil consumption that can damage the turbo

High severity

Carbon build-up on injectors and intake valves due to direct injection

Medium severity

Leak from the expansion tank or faulty cap in the cooling system

Medium severity

Recall over the plastic intake manifold

Medium severity

Wear parts for the Volvo V90

Brakes, wiper blades, pollen filter and battery, searched for this model. The exact part number depends on the engine and year: confirm it with the registration plate or VIN.

Affiliate links: if you buy from these shops, MotorFiable may receive a commission at no cost to you. Check compatibility against the registration plate or VIN before ordering. Affiliate links

Buying a Volvo V90?

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Volvo V90 reliable?

All 2 engines of the Volvo V90 that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the D4/D5 and the Drive-E gasolina. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the Drive-E gasolina, with a «With caution» verdict. Outside the engine, the V90 from 2016 onwards has few documented faults: according to the 22 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr there are isolated electronic faults and a worn Start-Stop battery, and the page cites several recalls, including the 2020 automatic braking one.

Which Volvo V90 engine is the most reliable?

Among the 2 engines we have documented, none has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the Drive-E gasolina, with a «With caution» verdict. The best-documented fault is high oil consumption on some units (up to 1 litre per 1,000 km according to a German used-car analysis), which in one known case ended up damaging the turbo; carbon build-up on the intake valves, typical of direct injection, is also documented. Neither is acknowledged by Volvo with a specific campaign, so you should check the service history and oil consumption before buying.[1][2][3]

What problems does the Volvo V90 have apart from the engine?

Outside the engine, the V90 from 2016 onwards has few documented faults: according to the 22 owner reports on fiches-auto.fr there are isolated electronic faults and a worn Start-Stop battery, and the page cites several recalls, including the 2020 automatic braking one. The most important documented faults are: 2020 recall for the obstacle detection of the automatic braking (AEB) (airbags and safety, high severity), intelliSafe sensor unit coming loose and isolated electronic faults (electronics and infotainment, medium severity) and auxiliary Start-Stop battery worn out after six years (electrical system, low severity).[4][5]

What faults does the Volvo V90 have?

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: high oil consumption from 90,000-150,000 km that harms the turbo (VEA) (D4/D5, high severity), high oil consumption that can damage the turbo (Drive-E gasolina, high severity), clogged EGR valve or EGR cooler leaking into the intake (D4/D5, medium severity), DPF (particulate filter) blockage and incomplete regenerations (D4/D5, medium severity) and damaged charge air hose or pipe on the Volvo D4 (D4/D5, medium severity).

What is the best year to buy a Volvo V90?

According to our rating by year, the best are 2024, 2023, 2022 and 1 other years with the same rating (6.9/10); the worst rated is 2016 (6.3/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Does the Volvo V90 have recalls?

Yes: we have documented one campaign for the Volvo V90, such as obstacle detection / automatic emergency braking (AEB), March 2020 (2020). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.[4]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2008-2017)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. Volvo XC60 II (ab 2017) – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published November 2022 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  3. Volvo V90 – Bekannte Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Other source · published January 2024 · consulted 27 September 2026 · in German
  4. Tous les problèmes sur Volvo S90 V90 2016 (22 témoignages)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026 · in French
  5. Volvo V90Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 5 October 2026
  6. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo V60Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  7. Fiabilité et pannes Volvo XC60 (2017-)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  8. Volvo V90Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
  9. Volvo V60 D4 2,0 16V CDI - Fahrzeug hat keine Leistung (P0299)HELLA Tech World · Technical documentation · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German