
2007 Volvo XC90 
Safety is the Volvo cornerstone. Our concern dates back to 1927 when the\
 first Volvo rolled off the 
production line. Three-point seat belts (a Volvo invention), safety ca\
ges, and energy-absorbing impact 
zones were designed into Volvo vehicles long before it was fashionable o\
r required by government 
regulation. We will not compromise our commitment to safety. We continue\
 to seek out new safety 
features and to refine those already in our vehicles. You can help. We w\
ould appreciate hearing your 
suggestions about improving automobile safety. We also want to know if y\
ou ever have a safety concern 
with your vehicle. Call us in the U.S. at: 800-458-1552 or in Canada at:\
 800-663- 8255.
Occupant safety 
How safely you drive doesn't depend on how old you are but rather on: 
l     How well you see. 
l     Your ability to concentrate. 
l     How quickly you make decisions under stress to avoid an accident.
The tips listed below are suggestions to help you cope with the ever cha\
nging traffic environment. 
l     Never drink and drive. 
l     If you are taking any medication, consult your physician about its poten\
tial effects on your driving 
abilities. 
l     Take a driver-retraining course. 
l     Have your eyes checked regularly. 
l     Keep your windshield and headlights clean. 
l     Replace wiper blades when they start to leave streaks. 
l     Take into account the traffic, road, and weather conditions, particularl\
y with regard to stopping 
distance.
Reporting safety defects in the U.S. 
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash \
or could cause injury or death, 
you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Admini\
stration (NHTSA) in 
addition to notifying Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. If NHTSA receive\
s similar complaints, it may 
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a \
group of vehicles, it may order a 
recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in ind\
ividual problems 
between you, your retailer, or Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. To cont\
act NHTSA, you may either 
call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-42\
4-9153) or write to: NHTSA, U.
S. Department of Transportation, Washington D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from: 
http://www.safecar.gov
Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle is covered under a servic\
e campaign, safety or emission 
recall or similar action, it should be completed as soon as possible. Pl\
ease check with your local retailer 
or Volvo Cars of North America, LLC if your vehicle is covered under the\
se conditions.
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2007 Volvo XC90 
The indicator and warning symbols light up when you turn the ignition ke\
y to the driving position 
(position II) before starting. This shows that the symbols are functio\
ning. When the engine starts, all 
symbols go out. If the engine is not started within 5 seconds, all symbo\
ls except CHECK ENGINE and 
 go out. Certain symbols may not have their functions illustrated, depen\
ding on the vehicle's 
equipment. The symbol for the parking brake goes out when the parking br\
ake is released.
Warning symbol 
 in center of the instrument panel 
This symbol shines as a red or yellow light depending on the severity of\
 the discovered fault.
Red symbol - Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in a suitable location and read t\
he message shown in 
the text window. The symbol and accompanying text will remain on until t\
he fault has been corrected.
Yellow symbol - Follow the instructions shown in the text window. The text can be eras\
ed by pressing 
the READ button (see 
page 50), or will disappear automatically after two minutes.
NOTE: When the message "TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICE" is displayed, the text can \
be erased and 
the yellow symbol light can be turned off by pressing the READ button. T\
he text will disappear and the 
symbol light will go out automatically after two minutes. 
Seat belt reminder 
This symbol lights up to indicate that the driver has not fastened his/h\
er seat belt. 
Supplemental Restraint System SRS 
If this light comes on while the vehicle is being driven, or remains on \
for longer than approximately 10 
seconds after the vehicle has been started, the SRS system's diagnostic \
functions have detected a fault in 
a seat belt lock or tensioner, a front airbag, side impact airbag, and/o\
r an inflatable curtain. Have the 
system(s) inspected by a trained and qualified Volvo service technicia\
n as soon as possible. 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
pg. 48 Instruments and controls 
Indicator and warning symbols 
BRAKE Brake failure warning light If the light comes on while driving or brak\
ing, stop immediately, 
open the hood and check the brake fluid level in the reservoir. See 
page 185 for reservoir position and 
page 189 for instructions. 
Canadian models are equipped with this warning light 
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could\
 indicate a fault in the 
brake system. 
- Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine. 
- Restart the engine. 
- If both warning lights go off, no further action is required. 
- If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switc\
h off the engine again and check the 
brake fluid level (see 
page 185 for the location of the brake fluid reservoir). 
- If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an \
authorized Volvo retailer and have 
the brake system inspected. 
WARNING! 
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
 failure - Service urgent" 
message is displayed in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle \
towed to an authorized 
Volvo retailer and have the brake system inspected. 
PARK BRAKE Parking brake applied This light will be on when the parking brake (ha\
nd brake) is 
applied. applied. The parking brake pedal is located on the left side of\
 the driver's footwell. See also 
page 66 for additional information. 
Canadian models are equipped with this symbol. 
Oil pressure warning light If the light comes on while driving, stop the\
 vehicle and then stop 
the engine immediately and check the engine oil level. See 
page 187. If the light stays on after restart, 
have the vehicle towed to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer. After h\
ard driving, the light may come 
on occasionally when the engine is idling. This is normal, provided it g\
oes off when the engine speed is 
increased. 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
SERVICE REQUIRED Take your vehicle to an authorized Volvo retailer for 
inspection at your convenience (but preferably before the next 
scheduled maintenance service). 
FIX NEXT SERVICE  ave the system affected inspected at the next scheduled 
maintenance service. 
TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICE  This message will be displayed at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) 
intervals, after 750 hours of driving or after 12 months, 
whichever occurs first, to remind the driver that the service 
interval has been exceeded. The message will be displayed for 
2 minutes each time the vehicle is started until reset by the 
servicing retailer. 
OIL LEVEL LOW - FILL OIL
1  Check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page 187. 
OIL LEVEL LOW - STOP SAFELY
2Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the 
oil level and top up if necessary. See 
page 187. 
OIL LEVEL LOW - STOP ENGINE
2Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the 
oil level and top up if necessary. See 
page 187. 
OIL LEVEL LOW - SEE MANUAL
2Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the 
oil level and top up if necessary. See 
page 187. 
DSTC SPIN CONTROL OFF  The stability system's spin control function has been turned off. 
See 
page 130 for details. 
1. Yellow warning symbol, see page 47. 
2. Red warning symbol, see 
page 47. 
pg. 52 Instruments and controls 
Switches in the center console 
 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
WARNING! 
Never switch off the ignition (turn the ignition key to position 0) or\
 remove the key from the ignition switch while the 
vehicle is in motion. This could cause the steering wheel to lock, which\
 would make the vehicle impossible to steer. 
Economical driving conserves natural resources 
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid\
 starts and stops and adjusting the speed of your 
vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules: 
l     Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by \
driving with a light foot on the accelerator 
pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fu\
el and is subject to increased wear. 
l     Whenever possible, avoid using the vehicle for driving short distances. \
This does not allow the engine to reach normal 
operating temperature. 
l     Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking. 
l     Use the transmission's (D)rive position as often as possible and avoid using "kickdown" to help \
improve fuel economy. 
l     Do not exceed posted speed limits. 
l     Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the vehicle. 
l     Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tir\
es are cold). 
l     Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended. 
1. The gear selector must be in the (P)ark position (automatic transmission). 
2. Please be aware that leaving the key in this position will increase b\
attery drain. 
pg. 122 Starting and driving 
Economical driving 
l     Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc, increase air resistance and also f\
uel consumption. 
l     At highway driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air c\
onditioning on and the windows closed than 
with the air conditioning off and the windows open. 
l     Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you le\
arn how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are: 
l     Dirty air cleaner 
l     Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter 
l     Dragging brakes 
l     Incorrect front end alignment. 
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard\
 Maintenance Service intervals. 
CAUTION! 
Drive slowly and carefully if going through standing water (i.e. floode\
d roadways, etc.). Damage to the engine could 
result if excess water is drawn in through the air intake system. Never \
drive the vehicle in water deeper than 18 inches 
(48 cm). 
pg. 123 Starting and driving 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
Difficult driving conditions 
Driving on rough/unpaved surfaces 
The Volvo XC90 is designed primarily for on-road driving, and it has exc\
ellent handling characteristics on very rough or 
unpaved roads. 
When driving on poorly maintained or unpaved roads, please keep the foll\
owing in mind: 
l     Reduce speed on rough surfaces to minimize possible damage to the vehicl\
e's underbody. 
l     When driving on soft surfaces such as dry sand or snow, try to avoid sto\
pping if at all possible. 
WARNING! 
Avoid driving diagonally across steep inclines as this could increase th\
e risk of a roll-over. Try to drive straight up or 
down the slope. 
If the road is very steep, avoid turning the vehicle around to help avoi\
d the risk of rolling over. Back the vehicle up or 
down the incline instead. 
NOTE: Avoid driving on steep inclines if the fuel tank is nearly empty. If th\
e flow of fuel to the engine is interrupted due 
to the vehicle's angle of inclination, this could result in damage to th\
e three-way catalytic converter. We recommend 
keeping the fuel tank at least half full when driving on steep inclines.\
Driving through water 
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 1\
8 inches (48 cm), at a maximum speed of 6 mph 
(10 km/h). 
Take particular care when driving through flowing water. 
Clean the electrical connections for trailer wiring after driving in mud\
 or water. 
When driving through water, maintain low speed and do not stop in the wa\
ter. 
WARNING! 
After driving through water, press lightly on the brake pedal to ensure \
that the brakes are functioning normally. Water 
or mud can make the brake linings slippery, resulting in delayed braking\
 effect. 
CAUTION! 
l     Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner. 
l     If the vehicle is driven through water deeper than 18 in (48 cm), wate\
r may enter the differential and the 
transmission. This reduces the oil's lubricating capacity and may shorte\
n the service life of these components. 
l     Do not allow the vehicle to stand in water up to the door sills longer t\
han absolutely necessary. This could result in 
electrical malfunctions. 
l     If the engine has been stopped while the car is in water, do not attempt\
 to restart the engine. Have the car towed out 
of the water. 
pg. 124 Starting and driving 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
BRAKE Brake circuit malfunction 
The brake system is a hydraulic system consisting of two master cylinder\
s and two separate brake circuits. If a problem 
should occur in one of these circuits, it is still possible to stop the \
vehicle with the other brake circuit. 
If the brake pedal must be depressed farther than normal and requires gr\
eater foot pressure, the stopping distance will be 
longer. 
A warning light in the instrument panel will light up to warn the driver\
 that a fault has occurred. 
If this light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately and ch\
eck the brake fluid level in the reservoir.
NOTE: Press the brake pedal hard and maintain pressure on the pedal - do not \
pump the brakes. 
WARNING! 
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
 failure - Service urgent" message is displayed in 
the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle towed to a Volvo retaile\
r and have the brake system inspected. 
NOTE: When the vehicle is at a standstill and the engine is idling, e.g. at a\
 traffic light and the brake pedal is depressed, 
the pedal may go down slightly. This is a normal function of the power-a\
ssisted brake system.
Power brakes function only when the engine is running 
The power brakes utilize vacuum pressure which is only created when the \
engine is running. Never let the vehicle roll to a 
stop with the engine switched off. 
If the power brakes are not working, the brake pedal must be pressed app\
roximately four times harder than usual to make 
up for the lack of power assistance. This can happen for example when to\
wing your vehicle or if the engine is switched off 
when the vehicle is rolling. The brake pedal feels harder than usual.
Water on brake discs and brake pads affects braking 
Driving in rain and slush or passing through an automatic car wash can c\
ause water to collect on the brake discs and pads. 
This will cause a delay in braking effect when the pedal is depressed. T\
o avoid such a delay when the brakes are needed, 
depress the pedal occasionally when driving through rain, slush etc. Thi\
s will remove the water from the brakes. Check 
that brake application feels normal. This should also be done after wash\
ing or starting in very damp or cold weather.
Severe strain on the brake system 
The brakes will be subject to severe strain when driving in mountains or\
 hilly areas, or when towing a trailer. Vehicle 
speed is usually slower, which means that the cooling of the brakes is l\
ess efficient than when driving on level roads. To 
reduce the strain on the brakes, shift into a lower gear and let the eng\
ine help with the braking. Do not forget that, if you 
are towing a trailer, the brakes will be subjected to a greater than nor\
mal load. 
pg. 128 Starting and driving 
Brake system 
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) 
If the warning lamp lights up there is a malfunction of the ABS system (\
the standard braking system will however 
function) and the vehicle should be driven cautiously to a Volvo retail\
er for inspection. The Anti-lock Braking System 
(ABS) helps to improve vehicle control (stopping and steering) durin\
g severe braking conditions by limiting brake lockup. 
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2007 Volvo XC90 
When the system "senses" impending lockup, braking pressure is automatic\
ally modulated in order to help prevent lockup, 
which could lead to a skid. 
 
The system performs a self-diagnostic test when the engine is started an\
d when the vehicle first reaches a speed of 
approximately 12 mph (20 km/h). The brake pedal will pulsate several times and a sound may be audible f\
rom the ABS 
control module. This is normal. 
 
To obtain optimal effect from the ABS system, constant pressure should b\
e kept on the brake pedal. Do not pump the 
brake pedal. 
 
The switching of the ABS modulator will be audible and the brake pedal w\
ill pulsate during braking. Please be aware that 
ABS does not increase the absolute braking potential of the vehicle. Whi\
le control will be enhanced, ABS will not shorten 
stopping distances on slippery surfaces.
ABS with EBD (Electronic Brake Force Distribution) 
EBD is an integrated part of the ABS system. EBD regulates the hydraulic\
 pressure to the rear brakes to help provide 
optimal braking capacity. The brake pedal will pulsate during braking, w\
hich is normal. 
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could\
 indicate a fault in the brake system. 
- Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine. 
- Restart the engine. 
- If both warning lights go off, no further action is required. 
- If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switc\
h off the engine again and check the brake fluid level 
(see 
page 185 for the location of the brake fluid reservoir). 
WARNING! 
If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake\
 failure - Service urgent" message is displayed in 
the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle towed to a Volvo retaile\
r and have the brake system inspected. 
- If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an \
authorized Volvo retailer and have the brake system 
inspected.
Emergency Brake Assistance (EBA) 
The EBA function is designed to provide full brake effect immediately in\
 the event of sudden, hard braking. The system is 
activated by the speed with which you depress the brake pedal.
NOTE: 
l     When the EBA system is activated, the brake pedal will go down and press\
ure in the brake system immediately 
increases to the maximum level. You must maintain full pressure on the b\
rake pedal in order 
pg. 129 Starting and driving 
Brake system 
to utilize the system completely. There will be no braking effect if the\
 pedal is released. EBA is automatically deactivated 
when the brake pedal is released. 
l     When the vehicle has been parked for some time, the brake pedal may sink\
 more than usual when the engine is started. 
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