MajorCommonSuspension

Volvo XC90: Air suspension compressor failure (blown 40A fuse) - Volvo QB-100 extended warranty

Air suspension compressor failure (blown 40A fuse) - Volvo QB-100 extended warranty is a common suspension fault on the Volvo XC90 on the 2016–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 27 documented faults on the Volvo XC90.

Vehicle: Volvo XC90
Years: 2016–2020
System: Suspension

This page covers the Volvo XC90 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Volvo XC90 faults27 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Second-generation XC90s with optional four-corner air suspension are the poster child for Volvo's compressor failures: an internal valve sticks due to residue from an anti-corrosion agent used in manufacture, the compressor seizes and blows its 40A fuse, and the car sags with an 'active chassis / suspension service required' warning. Volvo's QB-100 bulletin extended compressor cover to 7 years unlimited km, but most 2016-2018 cars are now past it. Aged air springs and lines also leak, so budget for the system, not just the pump. Coil/'Touring' suspension cars avoid all of this.

What you would notice

Car sagging overnight, especially at the rear
'Suspension service required' or 'Active chassis' warnings
Compressor buzzing constantly or not at all
Ride height stuck in one setting

How to check it

Where to look. Compressor under the right rear of the car; air springs at all four corners

See the car after it has sat overnight and confirm it is level and at normal height. Cycle through ride heights and time how quickly it lifts; listen for a laboured or silent compressor. Check for the QB-100 compressor replacement in the service history and ask a dealer to check for suspension DTCs. Inspect air springs (behind each wheel) for perishing.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Was the compressor replaced under Volvo's QB-100 extended warranty?”
“Does it ever sit low after parking?”
“Have any air springs or ride-height sensors been replaced?”

Now check the Volvo XC90 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Go-Parts '2016-2026 Volvo & Polestar Air Suspension Failure' guide (QB-100)
SwedeSpeed 'Air Suspension Failure' thread
Vigor Air Ride 'Volvo XC90 Air Suspension Problems' guide
RepairPal XC90 air suspension problem page

Volvo XC90 buyer questions

Is air suspension compressor failure (blown 40a fuse) - volvo qb-100 extended warranty serious on a Volvo XC90?

We rate it major and common on the Volvo XC90. Second-generation XC90s with optional four-corner air suspension are the poster child for Volvo's compressor failures: an internal valve sticks due to residue from an anti-corrosion agent used in manufacture, the compressor seizes and blows its 40A fuse, and the car sags with an 'active chassis / suspension service required' warning. Volvo's QB-100 bulletin extended compressor cover to 7 years unlimited km, but most 2016-2018 cars are now past it. Aged air springs and lines also leak, so budget for the system, not just the pump. Coil/'Touring' suspension cars avoid all of this.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volvo XC90?

$1,500 to $5,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Volvo XC90 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2016–2020 Volvo XC90. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.