VehicleVerdict

2005 Volvo XC90 electrical system problems

The 2005 Volvo XC90 has 56 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 18% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

56

Electrical System complaints

18%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Related recalls

10V566000Electrical SystemNovember 8, 2010 · 416 units

Defect

VOLVO IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GARMIN 760 PORTABLE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS) UNITS BECAUSE THE BATTERIES ON THOSE UNITS MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence

AN OVERHEATED BATTERY COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

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 PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN AT 866-957-1981 OR VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

07V221000Electrical SystemMay 25, 2007 · 42,211 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT WHILE DOING BATTERY MAINTENANCE THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN BE MISPLACED UNDER A BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY.

Consequence

MISPLACEMENT OF THE JACK'S CRANK HANDLE CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK AS IT CAN RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY WHICH COULD THEN LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE PROPER PLACEMENT OF THE JACK CRANK HANDLE AND A WARNING LABEL WITH APPROVED TEXT WILL BE AFFIXED TO THE BRACKET WHICH RETAINS THE BATTERY. THIS WARNING LABEL WILL INFORM AN OPERATOR NOT TO PLACE THE JACK CRANK HANDLE BETWEEN THE BRACKET AND THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 7, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

05V529000Electrical SystemNovember 17, 2005 · 10,259 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTION, THE B+TERMINAL MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID. IF THIS OCCURS, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID MAY DEVELOP INTO A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY CABLE TO GROUND.

Consequence

SMOKE MAY APPEAR FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO START THE CAR. IF THE SHORT CIRCUIT HAPPENS DURING DRIVING, ELECTRICAL POWER COULD BE LOST RESULTING IN THE WARNING LAMPS BEING DEACTIVATED. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INCREASE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE B+TERMINAL AND THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID BY ADJUSTING THE TERMINAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLVO AT 1-800-458-1552.

What owners report

DRIVING IN PITCH BLACK NIGHT ON BACKROADS OF CHARLESTON, SC. LIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER LEFT HEADLIGHT FLICKERED FOR A FEW DAYS. LIGHTS WENT OUT AND CAR WENT OFF ROAD AS WE WERE IN A CURVE. REGAINED CONTROL AFTER SPINNING ON WET GRASS. I NEED THE HEADLIGHTS REPAIRED BY VOLVO AT THEIR EXPENSE AND…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 27, 2012 · crash

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2005 Volvo XC90 have?

NHTSA has 56 complaints about the 2005 Volvo XC90 electrical system — 18% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2005 Volvo XC90 electrical system?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the electrical system: 05V529000, 07V221000, 10V566000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.