Volvo
S90
Compact Cars · model years 1998 to 2021
Includes S90, S90 AWD, S90 AWD PHEV and 1 more as listed by the EPA.
The verdict
Best year: 2021. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 6; recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3.
Worst year: 1998. complaints: 25, about 8.3x this model's typical 3; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 3.
Year by year
| Year | Trims | MPG | Fuel cost | Recalls | Complaints | Investigations | TSBs | Top complaints | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 1Gas | 18 | $4,300 | 0 | 25 | 0 | no data | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 24%, VISIBILITY 15%, EQUIPMENT 12% | |
Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2017 | 2Gas | 26 | $2,975 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 446 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER 50%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 13%, POWER TRAIN 13% | |
Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2018 | 4Gas, Plug-in Hybrid | 26.5 | $2,900 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 376 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 17%, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 9% | |
Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2019 | 4Gas, Plug-in Hybrid | 26.5 | $2,900 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 284 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 67%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 33% | |
Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2020 | 2Gas, Plug-in Hybrid | 27.5 | $2,825 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 205 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 40%, SERVICE BRAKES 20%, SUSPENSION 20% | |
Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
| 2021 | 2Gas, Plug-in Hybrid | 27.5 | $2,825 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 183 | no data | |
Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better. | |||||||||
How the numbers moved
How we score each year
We compare each year of the Volvo S90 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.
A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.
Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.
Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.