General: How reliable is Volvo XC90

[slycom]

So, it seems that the hybrid battery can stop working. It's ok if it happen when car is less than 100k. I read the battery itself is very reliable but mostly the inverters could be a problem. The inverter cost for Lexus 400h is around £700 and there were call to replace failure inverters but anyway the cost of broken turbocharger in diesel is similar price I guess.

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by slycom

So, it seems that the hybrid battery can stop working. It's ok if it happen when car is less than 100k. I read the battery itself is very reliable but mostly the inverters could be a problem. The inverter cost for Lexus 400h is around £700 and there were call to replace failure inverters but anyway the cost of broken turbocharger in diesel is similar price I guess.

Is very much the point I was making earlier.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Bonefishblues

Here's a specialist. Note their prices, which are comparable to many repairs on high mileage ICEs.

http://www.hybridbatterysolutions.co.uk/

There's much talk about batteries, but often little information. In truth, they are about the most reliable and longest-lived component on a hybrid car.

That's battery witchcraft which usually involves short pulses of high current, high voltage charges to reinvigorate dead cells. It is a known technique (check out YouTube for videos of those who resurrect power drill batteries) and if done carefully can have positive results but the battery will deteriorate more quickly each time its done. It's the same really as putting an anti slip compound into an automatic gearbox.....

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by slycom

Also petrol engines used in hybrid cars has less parts which can brake than most diesel cars.

That's Not the case, a modern common rail diesel has fewer moving/active parts than a petrol equivalent (I.e. No ignition system). The reason most hybrids are petrol is that they sell in much fewer numbers so manufacturers make the same car for all markets - diesel is not readily available for passenger cars in some countries - e.g. America so they focus on petrol engines.

[jamie1131]

Does your 2007 XC90 have the D5 185bhp engine? If it does I'd be interested to know if it uses any oil at all?

There are several users on here at the moment with excessive oil consumption and they all seem to be 2007 cars with the 185 engine and around 150,000 miles.

Have a scroll through this section and the diesel section and you'll find lots of different threads with similar topics.

[Dieseltractor]

I've had 2 XC90s. The first one was the most unreliable thing I've ever owned and I'd had 2 V70s previously, the first being particularly good! I bought a second XC90, fairly low miles in the belief that the first one was some sort of dud but no, it's as bad as the first one was!
Had loads of BMWs (not the X5 hich has a poor reputation anyway) and nothing like the poor reliability of the XC90. With the latest set of problems I'm experiencing I'm considering torching the thing and claiming on the insurance, this is the last Volvo I will ever buy!

[osullivant]

Originally Posted by Dieseltractor

I've had 2 XC90s. The first one was the most unreliable thing I've ever owned and I'd had 2 V70s previously, the first being particularly good! I bought a second XC90, fairly low miles in the belief that the first one was some sort of dud but no, it's as bad as the first one was!
Had loads of BMWs (not the X5 hich has a poor reputation anyway) and nothing like the poor reliability of the XC90. With the latest set of problems I'm experiencing I'm considering torching the thing and claiming on the insurance, this is the last Volvo I will ever buy!

Before you do that, if i park mine on the edge of a lake, would you consider ramming into it and nudging mine into the deep end.... (of course I will have been gone to buy more oil and will have drained all the other liquids, ( so no fishes or other aquatic species will be harmed)

I'll buy you a pint!, ps (bring along your insurance details)

[SwissXC90]

I have had the following faults in 1 year of ownership:

2 x light bulbs fail (parking lamp and headlamp)
1 x mirror motor failled (my own stupid fault to folding mirrors when they were frozen)

[TruckbusUK]

I just hope none of your insurance companies read this ..... just in case the inevitable happens and strikes an accord, must happen ... sods law!

[TruckbusUK]

Originally Posted by SwissXC90

I have had the following faults in 1 year of ownership:

2 x light bulbs fail (parking lamp and headlamp)
1 x mirror motor failled (my own stupid fault to folding mirrors when they were frozen)

In 8yrs I have had

Rear parking sensors replaced (warranty)
Rear n/s chrome trim replaced (warranty)
Steering lock replaced (85% goodwill)

I have owned since new, and that's it except for maintenance items and wear and tear... but if your car has previous owners, who knows what (or what has not) been maintained .... the car or manufacturer is not always the one at fault!

Its a fickle thing, a previously owned car! .... the older and more owners, the worse the problems I guess.