Buyer Research

2018 Volvo S90 — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $24,000–$34,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

A serenely comfortable, beautifully designed luxury sedan — the S90's minimalist Scandinavian cabin, superb seats, and quiet ride make it a distinctive alternative to the German sedans. The Drive-E turbo (and twin-charged T6) engines are efficient but complex, and Volvo service costs more. A documented S90 with full history is a genuinely lovely, comfortable car; verify the engine, electronics, and remaining warranty, and buy from someone who maintained it properly.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 36 owner complaints for the 2018 Volvo S90, and no recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is electrics and electronics at 25%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.

Not written up yet: the brakes (6 complaints). That group is in the public record and is not covered by the issues below. Treat it as something to ask about, not as absent.

Looked at and set aside: latches/locks/linkages (6) — 6 latch or lock complaints; inconvenient and usually cheap.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2018 Volvo S90

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Drive-E turbo/supercharger complexity (T6)Medium

The twincharged 2.0L (T6) is complex; verify service and check for oil/coolant issues. The T5 turbo is simpler.

Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Electronics / Sensus infotainmentMedium

The large touchscreen and electronics can glitch; verify all systems.

Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (9).

PCV / oil separator / leaksMedium

Check for oil consumption and PCV/leak issues.

Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Higher service costLow

Volvo service costs more than mainstream; budget accordingly.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Oil consumption / leaks
✗Turbo/supercharger faults (T6)
✗Electronics faults
✗No Volvo-savvy service history

Good Signs

✓Documented service by a Volvo specialist
✓Steady oil, no leaks
✓All electronics working

Found a specific Volvo S90?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2018 Volvo S90 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.