2023 Volvo XC90 T8 with a replaced rear drive unit and no repair record

This 2023 Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid was a well kept, seven-seat SUV with a very healthy high-voltage battery and an engine and gearbox that drove perfectly. It was being sold by a dealer. The finding that mattered most was underneath: the rear subframe had been removed and the rear electric drive unit replaced, the seller had not mentioned it, and there was no repair record.

The car

The T8 combines a 1,969 cc turbo petrol engine with electric motors, an 8-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, with an electric motor driving the rear axle. It was an Irish car from new, first registered in September 2023, with one private owner before a garage. Neither history check showed a write-off or recorded damage. The odometer read 77,988 km, and the national mileage records rise steadily to that figure, about 26,000 km a year. The service book showed three services.

What we found

Rear drive unit and subframe replaced

On the lift, our inspector found that the rear subframe had been taken out and the rear electric drive unit, the motor that drives the rear wheels, had been replaced. All the rear suspension had been removed to do it. What could be checked looked correct, but no repair record was found. The work was likely done under the Volvo warranty, which ran for 36 months and had just ended. Replaced parts usually carry their own repair warranty, and that depends on having the paperwork.

Not safe to drive as presented

The front left tyre was low on pressure, and a warning came up on the dashboard during the road test. The front tyres measured 3.00 mm and 4.23 mm, both worn flat on their outer edges, which is typical of wheels out of alignment. The car pulled strongly to the left. The most likely cause was the low tyre, but in our inspector's view the car had also not been aligned after the subframe was refitted.

Diagnostics

The first scan found 56 fault codes across 21 modules, most of them low voltage and network codes. That pattern is consistent with the 12-volt power-down that a rear drive unit replacement requires. After clearing, 54 did not return and 44 of 45 modules were clear. Two minor codes stayed in the high-voltage battery module, one a low supply voltage event and one a timer synchronisation error.

Other points

• Light oil sweating at the oil filter housing, and no spark plug change recorded.
• A windscreen chip already filled with resin. The seller would not pay for a new screen and suggested an insurance claim. The car has a front camera, so any replacement needs recalibration.
• Outstanding dealer stock finance, which must be cleared before purchase.
• Road tax expired, and no tax recorded between August 2024 and May 2025.
• Both passenger side doors repainted, with a small filler repair of around 2,000 microns low on the rear door. Cosmetic, no structural damage.

What it would cost

The report put the total at €2,090 to €3,830. The main items were two front tyres at €500 to €800, a four-wheel alignment with a check of the subframe bolts at €120 to €200, and an oil service at €250 to €400. The windscreen line of €600 to €1,200 applies only if the seller does not cover it, and wheel refurbishment at €240 to €480 is optional.

Our verdict

Conditional pass. The conditions were new front tyres, an alignment with all rear bolts checked, the repair record for the rear drive unit, a written agreement on the windscreen, the oil seep checked and spark plugs replaced, and the finance cleared. The positives were strong: an official battery certificate at 95.11% state of health with a 33 mV cell spread, a very good cold start, a smooth and powerful engine and gearbox, brakes in good order with plenty of life left, and a mileage record with no sign of manipulation.

Buying a used XC90 T8 in Ireland: what to check

• Get the high-voltage battery tested and ask for a certificate rather than relying on the displayed electric range.
• Rear electric drive unit failure is listed as a known issue on this model. Ask whether it has been replaced and get the paperwork if it has.
• 12-volt battery drain is another listed issue, and a weak 12-volt supply can leave a trail of fault codes.
• Ask a Volvo dealer to confirm by VIN that recalls, including one covering ABS and stability control, have been completed.
• If the windscreen needs replacing, budget for front camera recalibration.

A major repair hidden under a car is easy to miss on a forecourt, and finding it before buying is what lets you ask for the paperwork while you still can.