I've never had a bit of trouble with the air suspension on my 2017 with 35,000 miles on it. However I do live in Tucson where we never have really cold weather.

 

I see air suspension service required message every time when temperature drops to 20s or below. Need to sit idle for 15min or so to warm it up, otherwise it will drive like there is no suspension at all.

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MY2019T8, ~20k miles, 2 New England "winters" if you can even call it that. Zero problems with air suspension.

 

Likewise at 20,000 miles outside Boston. Love the air suspension.

Worked fine on the Grand Cherokee we traded for the Excellence.

 

Thank you everyone !

 

I just bought a 2020 T6 Inscription and passed on air suspension. If you use the search function in this forum and search for "air suspension", you will find both positive and negative posts. I decided against it because I don't like paying an additional $1,800 for something that may or may not become an issue.

 

Well, I think it's worth the extra cost despite the potential problems. I drove a loaner w/o air suspension last Friday and the difference in ride quality is very noticeable.

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I find the ride quality of the air shocks slightly better and appreciate the various height and leveling options. I had a 2017 XC90 T8 with air shocks and never had a problem for 3 years and over 40,000 mi. I now have a 2020 XC90 T8 with air shocks but with few miles on it due to the virus.

 

As mentioned above, the leveling function is useful or (eg. when loading) even important.

 

We have had multiple problems with the air suspension in our 2016 XC90 including two compressors replaced, it always seems to happen in cold weather (Ohio here). I personally will be avoiding it in the future.

 

You are more likely a victim of first year of a new model car.....

 

2019 T6 inscription with two winters under out belt. no issues with the air suspension. but we got extended warranty for peace of mind.

 

If you have indoor garage for your XC90 in Winters (below -10 Celsius e.g. in Toronto area) , you should be fine. Otherwise, avoiding the air suspension.

 

I've got air suspension and wouldn't be without it. As a mater of fact, I voted with my wallet; My 2020 on order has air suspension.

The 2016 air compressor was replaced around 40k miles, one day in the shop, no big deal.

 

We got the air suspension reluctantly, and are really liking the ride with it. This is warm climate though (Atlanta). We did get the extended warranty.

 

Looks like its not that bad.... I'm looking at 2020 T8 R design and most comes with Air suspension.

 

I'm 2+ months in on mine and love it! Buy it and don't look back. Welcome aboard!

 

This is optional lounge set up. Usually it is a front passenger seat there.

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2016 with 57000 miles and no problems. Car in upper mid atlantic.

 

Mine is a 2017 with 41k miles; no issues. I’d recommend.

 

glad to hear great comments .... My 2020 T8 R design is on the way!

 

The irony is that the air suspension is more useful in regions with more extreme cold weather, as roads that are salted and experience more freeze/thaw cycles have more issues. Living in the Seattle area, my little Prius C hatchback was a smoother ride than my XC90 with air suspension in Minnesota. Why? Because the Seattle suburb roads are always pristine. No problems with air suspension here, though.

 

We have a 2017 XC90 without air suspension, and a 2020 XC90 with air suspension. Air suspension is a smoother ride overall and the options of ride height in different drive modes is cool. Purchased the VIP platinum warranty for extra piece of mind.

However, from the first time pulling the 2020 into our driveway, there was a loud, muffled, "thump" from the suspension when we drove over the water flow "cut out" at the edge of our driveway. It happens intermittently, both cold starts and hot, in the front and rear. I took it to the dealer for a little body work, a service bulletin for the rear windows sticking, and had them check out the suspension. Side note - this has never happened in the 2017 without the air suspension, after 66,000 miles.

The dealer provided a 2019 XC90 T8 loaner with air suspension. When we arrived home from the dealer (1+ hour drive), the loaner T8 did the *exact same thing* over the same bumps in the driveway. I was able to replicate it multiple times on video and audio and emailed it to the service advisor.

Unfortunately they were unable to replicate it in my 2020. So they did all the software updates and so far it hasn't happened again. But it only happens at slow speeds, backing up and driving forward, with abrupt bumps or drops that make the suspension compress and decompress quickly. The "thump" occurs during decompression. It sounds like someone took a large rubber mallet and struck a solid metal suspension part under the hood.

 

I have a 2016 T6 with 60K miles and thankfully, I haven't had any problems with my air suspension. I've never driven a non-air suspension XC90 so can't compare (ghetto dealer sends us to enterprise for a rental). I do feel the comfort mode isn't comfortable at all, I was expecting a floaty/cloud like ride but still feels too stiff. Perhaps misplaced expectations.

That said, I would say an extended warranty is mandatory on this car. I've charged about $4k to an extended warranty already and I'm only 10K miles outside the main warranty.

 

Oh yeah, we have the VIP platinum on both cars. At 54,000 miles, the 2017 needed a new long block engine due to a manufacturing defect with one of the intake camshafts. Diagnostics, parts, and labor was over $16,000. We paid $100 by using the VIP warranty. Worth every penny.

 

$16k...!!!

 

[Yep. The issue was simply a "whine" noise from the engine throughout most RPMs, distinctly different than the turbo and super chargers. We all thought it was the balance shaft, based on a service bulletin. That was replaced but the noise continued. Volvo corporate insisted the balance shaft replaced again. No change. Volvo corporate insisted it changed *again* but the tech refused. This caused some issues between the dealer and Volvo corporate.

Eventually their inspection of the engine showed premature wear on an intake cam shaft bearing. This caused metal contamination through the engine oil. It would have been catastrophic down the road obviously. Allegedly 2 other XC90'S in the US had this same issue. So, all that diagnosis, balance shaft replacements, and a new long block engine replacement...$16,000+.

I don't need to state the obvious here. 54,000 miles is outside factory warranty and I would have been stuck with the bill without the VIP platinum warranty.

 

[/QUOTE]
I also had a similar incident - At 53K miles, a spark plug exploded in cylinder 3, destroying the cylinder head. Volvo goodwill'ed it and dealer said the overall bill including swapping in all new pistons as part of a recall, was around $15K.[/QUOTE]

Oh wow, I remember reading about the change in spark plug part numbers and the recall. That's horrible, but I'm glad you were taken care of. Amazing what one tiny part of the engine can do if it fails!

 

No issues.

It's excellent and provides awesome additional clearance to make it through deep snow or other terrain in spite of all season tires

Off-road mode helps improve the approach and departure angles to same level perhaps better than our 2010's (love the approach angle on that one, it's fantastic for gnarly terrain).