Scandinavian calm in a world of German excess
Volvo's flagship luxury saloon offers a Scandinavian alternative to the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Audi A6. It targets buyers who value understated elegance, class-leading safety tech, and serene comfort over outright sportiness. Priced below its German rivals, it represents quiet luxury with strong residual values.
We track 4 known issues across the Volvo S90 range, with 3 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Volvo S90? Enter the reg to see which of our 4 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
SPA (2016–2024) — Petrol options included the 2.0 T4/T5/T6, with 2.0 D4/D5 on the diesel side. We track 4 known issues on this generation, with 3 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Front suspension ball joint wear (£200–£350 to address).
MOT data shows diesel variants fail ball joint tests at 4.3x the fleet average rate, typically between 20,000-40,000 miles. The additional weight of the diesel engine and battery system on hybrid variants places higher loads on the front suspension ball joints than the suspension geometry was originally calibrated for. This is a safety-critical failure mode that affects steering control.
A failed ball joint can separate completely, causing immediate loss of steering control and wheel alignment. The car should not be driven if ball joint failure is confirmed. Replacement typically requires professional alignment afterward.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The high-pressure oil feed pipe to the turbocharger develops leaks at the banjo bolt connections, particularly where the pipe connects to the turbocharger housing. This is widely reported across Volvo forums for the SPA platform engines. Oil starvation can destroy the turbocharger bearing within minutes of driving, making this a critical failure mode requiring immediate attention.
Oil starvation destroys the turbocharger bearing assembly, requiring complete turbocharger replacement at £2,000-4,000. The car should not be driven if active oil leakage is visible around the turbocharger. Continued driving risks engine damage from oil loss.
During a test drive, check for hesitation, lack of power or unusual whining from the turbo area. Watch for blue or white smoke from the exhaust under hard acceleration. Check the oil condition and service history — turbos rely on clean oil.
The diesel particulate filter becomes blocked on vehicles used primarily for short journeys or city driving where regeneration cycles cannot complete naturally. The SPA platform DPF system is particularly sensitive to incomplete regeneration cycles, leading to progressive blockage and eventually requiring expensive cleaning or replacement. This is a documented issue across Volvo diesel forums.
Complete DPF blockage puts the car into limp mode with severely restricted performance. DPF replacement costs £1,500-2,500. Professional cleaning costs £300-600 but is not always successful on heavily contaminated filters.
Ask about the car's typical usage — short urban journeys prevent DPF regeneration. Check for DPF warning lights and ask about any previous regeneration issues. A forced regeneration at a garage costs far less than a DPF replacement.
The large 19-inch wheel and brake package fitted as standard creates higher brake temperatures and pad consumption than typical executive saloons. Front pads commonly need replacement by 25,000-30,000 miles under normal driving conditions.
Worn brake pads damage the brake discs if not replaced promptly. Disc replacement adds £400-800 to the repair cost. The car remains safe to drive with moderate pad wear but should be inspected immediately if grinding noises are heard.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 4 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Volvo S90 common problems page.
Based on 29k real DVSA MOT tests, the Volvo S90 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is headlight fault at 9x the fleet average.
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Volvo S90 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 18k miles) typically costs £120–£180 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include automatic transmission fluid (£300–£450).
See the full Volvo S90 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Volvo S90 is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2021 is the standout year with the highest reliability scores. Post-2019 models are significantly improved over early production cars. Avoid the 2017 model year, which had the most reported issues including engine and electrical faults.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Volvo S90, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 4 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 4 known Volvo S90 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.