2004 Volvo XC90: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 Volvo XC90: 6 recalls, 462 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
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Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #03V391000 · 2003 · 18,692 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the seat belt attachment(s) for the second and third row seat(s) May not have been fitted properly.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the second and/or third row seat belt attachments. Owner notification began on December 8, 2003. Owners should contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552.
Wheels Vehicle recall #03V434000 · 2003 · 2,586 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain sport utility vehicles, the front wheel speed sensors May be defective, causing an erroneous wheel speed signal.
Why it matters: This can adversely affect a number of vehicle functions, including brake, engine, transmission, and torque distribution control which rely on this signal for proper operation.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front wheel sensors. Owner notification began on December 8, 2003. Owners should contact Volvo cars at 1-800-458-1552.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #06V144000 · 2006 · 122,431 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain vehicles, if the wiper arm is activated in extreme winter weather conditions and without lifting the wiper arms and cleaning the windshield prior to moving, the wiper arm might slip on its driveshaft, resulting in an inability to move the wipers from the park position.
Why it matters: Inoperative wipers under inclement weather conditions could cause a crash due to impaired visibility.
The fix: Dealers will replace the wiper arms and retaining nuts. The recall began on September 5, 2006.
Steering Vehicle recall #06V155000 · 2006 · 126,743 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles,the outer tie rod ball joint can deform at high loads causing a loss of the clamping force and the nut May loosen, which May eventually lead to a fatigue fracture of the outer tie rod ball joint.
Why it matters: The driver May notice that the vehicle is difficult to maneuver increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the outer ball joint tie rods with improved outer ball joint tie rods free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2006.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #09V483000 · 2009 · 158,733 vehicles
What's wrong: S. Territories. When exposed to certain environmental conditions (hot climate and temperature cycling) over time and in combination with varying fuel quality, the fuel pump can develop cracks in the fuel pump flange.
Why it matters: If the condition occurs vehicle owners May notice fuel smell and/or fuel leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel pump installed in the vehicle, and if necessary replace the fuel pump with a part of a modified design. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on January 15, 2010.
Equipment Vehicle recall #10V566000 · 2010 · 416 vehicles
What's wrong:
Why it matters: An overheated battery could lead to a fire.
The 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…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 3 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (158): the most common themes are electrical failure (76), stalls / loses power (57), warning light on (37).
- Transmission & drivetrain (145): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (47), warning light on (24), stalls / loses power (15).
- Fuel system (40): the most common themes are leaks (21), stalls / loses power (4).
- Fuel & propulsion (34): the most common themes are leaks (13), warning light on (5), fire / smoke (4).
The 2004 Volvo XC90 has 462 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 23 XC90 model years for complaints (7.0× the average XC90 year). Complaints peaked in 2010 (84 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 86,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (93 complaints, 5 recalls), 2005 (223 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 19 | Premium |
| 2.5 L 5-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Premium |
| 2.9 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S4) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2004 Volvo XC90.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2004 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2004 Volvo XC90. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2004 Volvo XC90 problems?
Owners have filed 462 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (158), transmission & drivetrain (145), fuel system (40).
What gas mileage does the 2004 Volvo XC90 get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (2.5 L, Automatic (S5)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 Volvo XC90 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.