2012 VOLVO XC90 ESP

Introduction
Important information
11
Risk of damage to the vehicle
G031592
White ISO symbols and white text/image on a
black or blue warning background and space
for a message. If the information on decals of
this type is ignored, damage to the vehicle
could result.
Information
G031593
White ISO symbols and white text/image on a
black background. These decals provide gen-
eral information.
NOTE
The decals shown in the Owner’s Manual
are examples only and are not intended to
be reproductions of the decals actually used
in the vehicle. The purpose is to give an indi-
cation of how they look and their approxi-
mate location in the vehicle. The applicable
information for your particular vehicle can
be found on the respective decals in the
vehicle.
Types of lists used in the manual
Procedures
Procedures (step-by-step instructions), or
actions that must be carried out in a certain
order, are arranged in numbered lists in this
manual.
If there is a series of illustrations associated
with step-by-step instructions, each step
in the procedure is numbered in the same
way as the corresponding illustration.
Lists in which letters are used can be found
with series of illustrations in cases where
the order in which the instructions are car-
ried out is not important.
Arrows with or without numbers are used
to indicate the direction of a movement.
If there are no illustrations associated with a
step-by-step list, the steps in the procedure
are indicated by ordinary numbers.
Position listsRed circles containing a number are used
in general overview illustrations in which
certain components are pointed out. The
corresponding number is also used in the
position list's description of the various
components.

Introduction
Important warnings
15 Driver distraction
A driver has a responsibility to do everything
possible to ensure his or her own safety and
the safety of passengers in the vehicle and oth-
ers sharing the roadway. Avoiding distractions
is part of that responsibility.
Driver distraction results from driver activities
that are not directly related to controlling the
vehicle in the driving environment. Your new
Volvo is, or can be, equipped with many fea-
ture-rich entertainment and communication
systems. These include hands-free cellular tel-
ephones, navigation systems, and multipur-
pose audio systems. You may also own other
portable electronic devices for your own con-
venience. When used properly and safely, they
enrich the driving experience. Improperly used,
any of these could cause a distraction.
For all of these systems, we want to provide the
following warning that reflects the strong Volvo
concern for your safety. Never use these devi-
ces or any feature of your vehicle in a way that
distracts you from the task of driving safely.
Distraction can lead to a serious accident. In
addition to this general warning, we offer the
following guidance regarding specific newer
features that may be found in your vehicle:
•Never use a hand-held cellular telephone
while driving. Some jurisdictions prohibitcellular telephone use by a driver while the
vehicle is moving.
•If your vehicle is equipped with a naviga-
tion system, set and make changes to your
travel itinerary only with the vehicle parked.
•Never program your audio system while
the vehicle is moving. Program radio pre-
sets with the vehicle parked, and use your
programmed presets to make radio use
quicker and simpler.
•Never use portable computers or personal
digital assistants while the vehicle is mov-
ing.
Accessory installation
•We strongly recommend that Volvo owners
install only genuine, Volvo-approved
accessories, and that accessory installa-
tions be performed only by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.
•Genuine Volvo accessories are tested to
ensure compatibility with the performance,
safety, and emission systems in your vehi-
cle. Additionally, a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician knows where
accessories may and may not be safely
installed in your Volvo. In all cases, please
consult a trained and qualified Volvo serv-
ice technician before installing any acces-
sory in or on your vehicle.
•Accessories that have not been approved
by Volvo may or may not be specifically
tested for compatibility with your vehicle.
Additionally, an inexperienced installer
may not be familiar with some of your car's
systems.
•Any of your car's performance and safety
systems could be adversely affected if you
install accessories that Volvo has not tes-
ted, or if you allow accessories to be instal-
led by someone unfamiliar with your vehi-
cle.
•Damage caused by unapproved or
improperly installed accessories may not
be covered by your new vehicle warranty.
See your Warranty and Service Records
Information booklet for more warranty
information. Volvo assumes no responsi-
bility for death, injury, or expenses that
may result from the installation of non-gen-
uine accessories.

01 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor 01
30
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS
classification capability. It does not indicate
OWS malfunction.
ModificationsIf you are considering modifying your vehicle in
any way to accommodate a disability, for
example by altering or adapting the driver's or
front passenger's seat(s) and/or airbag sys-
tems, please contact Volvo at:
In the USA
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Customer Care Center
1 Volvo Drive
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh,
New Jersey 07647
1-800-458-1552
In Canada
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
WARNING
•No objects that add to the total weight
on the seat should be placed on the
front passenger's seat. If a child is
seated in the front passenger's seat
with any additional weight, this extra
weight could cause the OWS system to
enable the airbag, which might cause it
to deploy in the event of a collision,
thereby injuring the child.
•The seat belt should never be wrapped
around an object on the front passeng-
er's seat. This could interfere with the
OWS system's function.
•The front passenger's seat belt should
never be used in a way that exerts more
pressure on the passenger than normal.
This could increase the pressure exer-
ted on the weight sensor by a child, and
could result in the airbag being enabled,
which might cause it to deploy in the
event of a collision, thereby injuring the
child.
WARNING
Keep the following points in mind with
respect to the OWS system. Failure to follow
these instructions could adversely affect the
system's function and result in serious injury
to the occupant of the front passenger's
seat:
•The full weight of the front seat passen-
ger should always be on the seat cush-
ion. The passenger should never lift
him/herself off the seat cushion using
the armrest in the door or the center
console, by pressing the feet on the
floor, by sitting on the edge of the seat
cushion, or by pressing against the
backrest in a way that reduces pressure
on the seat cushion. This could cause
OWS to disable the front passenger's
side airbag.
•Do not place any type of object on the
front passenger's seat in such a way
that jamming, pressing, or squeezing
occurs between the object and the front
seat, other than as a direct result of the
correct use of the Automatic Locking
Retractor/Emergency Locking Retrac-
tor (ALR/ELR) seat belt (see page 38).
•No objects should be placed under the
front passenger's seat. This could inter-
fere with the OWS system's function.

02 Instruments and controls
Hazard warning flashers
02
74
Hazard warning flashers
12
3
45
6
78
9 ABC
DEF
GHI
JKL
MNO
PQRS
TUVWXYZ
0
*
#
POWERVOLUMECDAM FM
G027096
The four-way flasher should be used to indi-
cate that the vehicle has become a traffic haz-
ard. To activate the flashers, press the triangu-
lar button in the center dash. Press the button
again to turn off the flashers.
NOTE
Regulations regarding the use of the hazard
warning flasher may vary, depending on
where you live.
Rear window and door mirror defrosterPress the switch to start heat-
ing the rear window and door
mirrors to remove ice or con-
densation. A light in the switch
will light up.
A timer automatically switches off the heating
after approximately 12 minutes. The LED will
go out correspondingly.

02 Instruments and controls
Mirrors
02

* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.83 Rearview mirror
G026660
To reduce glare from the headlights of follow-
ing vehicles, use the control to switch between
the normal and night-driving positions.
Normal position
Night position, reduces glare from follow-
ing headlights
Autodim function*The autodim function reacts to headlights from
following traffic and automatically reduces
glare.
NOTE
This function is automatically switched off
when the gear selector is placed in the
Reverse position.
Rearview mirror with compass*
G026965
The upper left-hand corner of the rearview mir-
ror has an integrated display that shows the
compass direction toward which the car is
pointing. Eight different directions can be dis-
played:
N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W and NW. The
display shows your car's orientation with
respect to true north.
If the compass is activated, it will be displayed
automatically when the ignition is in postilion IIor when the engine is running. The compass
can be switched off or on by pressing the inset
button on the rear side of the mirror (see the
inset illustration). This can be done with
straightened paperclip or similar object. The
button is recessed approximately 1 in. (2.5 cm)
in the mirror.
G026409
Magnetic zonesThe earth is divided into 15 magnetic zones.
The compass is initially set for the zone to
which the car was delivered, and should
always be adjusted if the car is driven to a new
magnetic zone. To do so:
1.
Switch the ignition to position II.

02 Instruments and controls
HomeLink® Wireless Control System*
02
90* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Erasing HomeLink Buttons
To erase programming from the three Home-
Link buttons (individual buttons cannot be
erased but can be “reprogrammed” as outlined
below), follow the step noted:
1. Press and hold the two outer HomeLink
buttons until the indicator light begins to
flash-after 10 seconds.
2. Release both buttons. Do not hold for
longer that 20 seconds.
HomeLink is now in the train (or learning) mode
and can be programmed at any time beginning
with “Programming” - step 1.
Reprogramming a Single HomeLink
Button
To program a device to HomeLink using a
HomeLink button previously trained, follow
these steps:
1. Press and hold the desired HomeLink but-
ton. DO NOT release the button.
2. The indicator light will begin to flash after
20 seconds. Without releasing the Home-
Link button, proceed with “Programming”
- step 1.For questions or comments, contact HomeLink
at: www.homelink.com or 1–800–355–3515.
This device complies with FCC rules part 15
and Industry Canada (IC) RSS-210. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions: (1)
This device may not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and (2) This device must accept any
interference that may be received including
interference that may cause undesired opera-
tion.
NOTE
The transmitter has been tested and com-
plies with FCC and IC rules. Changes or
modifications not expressly approved by
the party responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate the
device.
2
2The term “IC:” before the certification/registration number only signifies that Industry Canada technical specifications were met.

03 Climate
Electronic climate control (ECC)
03
100* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
will light up to indicate that the defrost function
is engaged.
•Blower speed increases automatically and
the air conditioning will switch on (if not
already on and if the passenger compart-
ment blower is not turned off) to dehumid-
ify the air in the passenger compartment.
•Recirculation will not function while defrost
is engaged.
The climate system will return to its previous
settings when the defroster function is
switched off.
Rear window and door mirror
defrosters
This function defrosts/deices the rear window
and door mirrors. The LED in the switch will
light up to indicate that the heating function is
engaged. For additional information on this
function see page 74.
Never use ice scrapers made of metal as they
can easily scratch the mirror surface.
Heated front seats*
1. Press the switch once for maximum seat
heating. Both LEDs in the switch will be lit.
2. Press the switch a second time for comfort
heating. One LED in the switch will be lit.3. Press the switch a third time to turn the
heating off completely. The LED will go off.
The seat heating for the passenger seat should
be switched off when the seat is not occupied.
Heated rear seats (XC90 Executive*)
G030976
Button for rear seat heating
Heating for the respective outboard rear seats
can be switched on or off with buttons on either
side of the center console (see the illustration).
To switch on rear seat heating:

Press the button.
> The symbol in the button will illuminate.To switch off rear seat heating:

Press the button.
> The symbol in the button will go out.
Temperature
These controls are used to individually set the
temperature for both sides of the passenger
compartment. Please note that the compart-
ment will not be heated or cooled faster by set-
ting the temperature higher or lower than nec-
essary.
Set the control to the temperature you prefer.
Blower control1
Turn the control clockwise to increase or coun-
terclockwise to decrease the blower speed.
Pressing the AUTO switch will automatically
regulate blower speed and override manual
adjustment.
Turning the blower control counterclockwise
until an orange LED comes on will turn both the
blower and the air conditioning off.
Blower control for rear climate
system*
Turn the control to increase or decrease blower
speed.
1See also see page 94.

04 Interior
Interior lighting
04

111 Reading lights and courtesy light
G026960
Driver's side front reading lamp
Courtesy lights
Passenger's side front reading lamp The
reading lights can be switched on or off by
pressing buttons 1 or 3. The courtesy light-
ing (including footwell lighting) can be
turned on or off by pressing button 2. This
also activates the automatic function.
G027153
Rear reading lights
Driver's side rear reading light
Passenger's side rear reading light The
rear reading lights can be switched on and
off by pressing buttons (4) or (5).
Automatic functionThe reading lights and courtesy lights will
switch off automatically approximately
10 minutes after the engine has been turned
off. The lights can be turned off sooner by
pressing the respective buttons.The courtesy lights come on automatically
1
and remain on for approximately 30 seconds
when:
•The vehicle has been unlocked from the
outside with the remote key or key
•If the engine has been switched off and the
ignition key has been turned to position 0
The courtesy lights will come on and remain on
for approximately 10 minutes when:
•One of the doors is opened (assuming the
courtesy lighting has not previously been
switched off)
The courtesy lighting will go off when:
•The engine is started
•The vehicle is locked from the outside with
the remote key or key blade.
The automatic function can be disconnected
by pressing button (2) for more than 3 seconds.
Briefly pressing the button again automatically
reconnects the function.
The courtesy light timer periods can be
changed. Contact a trained and qualified Volvo
service technician.
1This function is light dependent and is only activated in dark conditions.