2016 Volvo XC90 fuel tank door doesn't open

Sharon, My gas tank door wouldn't open this morning when I was ready to fill up my new XC90.... I had to leave the gas station and come home and google how to fix this! I just happen to open up this site and see your post about the same thing! Thank you! I figured out by reading your post without having to travel a couple hours to a Volvo dealership to get this fixed with very little gas! I unlock my vehicle and lock it with the remote and it worked... I was so afraid that I would run out of gas!!! Scary!!! Thank you!! Tana

Tanah, I'm glad my post helped! I was so afraid I'd run out of gas too! --Sharon

The same thing has happened to me--running on empty I pulled into the gas station to find I couldn't open the gas tank door. I will try locking/unlocking with the remote and see if that does the trick. Fingers crossed! Thanks, Sharon

Thank you so much, Sharon. We had the same problem on the Turnpike in NJ. The manual was worthless but a Google search turned up your post. It worked!

There is a simple way...be little ethical an gently knock the door some one will surely open it ;)

You just saved me from panicking at the gas station.

Thank you! Totally wouldn't open for us... gentle knock or hard knock... wouldn't open. The remote totally saved us!

Same thing just happened to me. Remote and door don't fix it. Found the closest dealer and we are here now trying to get it fixed. 90miles from home, a near empty tank, and have 2 small children with me. Apparently need a new "selenoid" not fun

Great solution Sharon, thanks! Christmas eve, dealer closed. Almost out of fuel. Checked the internet and there was your answer. Next I'll have the dealer explain it to me!

Thank you so much for sharing, Sharon. I ran into the same problem today while almost being out of gas. Locking and unlocking the car with the remote solved it and saved me a nearly impossible (no gas) trip to the dealership!

I have had my Inscription for 6 months. Today was the first time the fuel door wouldn't open with a long line of people waiting for gas. So frustrating!! You would think that an $80k car wouldn't have problems like this.

Just hit the 'unlock' buttopn on the fob. I had this issue with my wive's 'First Edition' and with my 2017 S90. The 'unlock' button with solve it.

Just saved my day! At station on fumes - thanks!

i tried the unlock on key FOB, still won't release the gas door cover on 2017 XC90! Any other thoughts?

Same thing just happened to me!!! I'm having so many issues with this car!

I love this car but I just had the same problem with the gas door not opening. I tried the remote and it worked. Even my dealership didn't know what to do. Thx for the help.

I'm having the same issue, but the key trick isn't working. This is the second time this has happened with our 2016 model along with a host of other issues. It's ridiculous given what we paid for this car. I feel like I'm driving a lemon!

Sharon - thank you! Your post was very helpful!

I had the same with 2017. Ran home, found your post, went back to pump gas. You save my day. Thanks

Googled at a gas station on Merritt Parkway with only fumes in tank. Got to here. It worked. THANK YOU!!

Thank you. That is a trick I will not forget.

Thank you - this trick just saved us today in Ottawa with a car full of kids!!!!

Thanks for your post. Just happens to us XC90 2017, drove home read the post and bingo. Poor design for Swedish car considering the weather in Sweden,

Thank you!! Was stranded at a gas station trying to figure this out, googled and found your post!

Mine did this and the remote didnt help. Had to (and periodically still need to) open the boot, pull up the carpet, pull out the triangular piece of floor, take off a piece of trim on the side of the boot behind where the cap would sit, and reach in to the darkness to manually release the switch. It's a hoot. Especially at 8 am with a queue of cars behind you... Mine is an earlier model btw. I have been told it's the solenoid too but the problem is intermittent so I haven't had it replaced yet.

These cars are the biggest pieces of crap ever. Countless aggravating problems including this exact issue .Various breakdowns on the highway ( while still under warranty ) .Front brake pads and rotors needing replacing at 35 K ! Long story short ......over priced POS . Ours is a 2008 XC 90 D5 and we have just spent the GDP of a small nation getting front suspension, broken engine mounts and and cabin heater issues sorted ( over $10 ,000 ) on a car we bought new and had serviced as required at Volvo dealerships. Countless smaller issues too tedious to mention. We will never EVER EVER buy one of these again AND will warn whoever we can , whenever we can ! Be warned !! GARBAGE POS ......Rant Over

Thank you so much!! I was on empty and couldn't fill the car because the gas tank door opened but the hole for the gas was plugged with silver metal that wouldn't budge. I called my husband in Toronto (I'm in Orillia) as I was panicking. He called the dealership in Toronto and I googled and got you and solved the problem using the fob BEFORE he could get an answer from Volvo.

Amen for your tip!! Totally saved me! 2 hours from home at highway rest area. Gas door would not open. Read your post & worked like a charm. THANK YOU!!!

I had the same issue. Key fob locking and unlocking did not work. So I manually unlocked it by opening the fabric panel and pushing the lock to open the fuel door

I just had the same issue with my XC90. The remote worked—glad I found this thread!

This also works on a 2018 S90. My blood pressure and wallet thank you!!! Two clicks of the key fob and its golden!!!

Wasn't too lucky with remote but had to access manually by removing the pads in the boot at tank side. Use a torch to access the solenoid and pull back the lever to unlock... You will have to do this every time if don't have a safe parking............ These cars are bull shoots.... one after another issues keep turning up and the parts are at a thug price. Will get rid soon and forget about this shoot

Had our 2016 XC90 since late 2015. No major issues thus far. Few recalls, but that can be expected when a vehicle is completely reworked. Had the fuel door issue recently in subzero temps. I thought it was due to being frozen shut, but when temps warmed up, still wouldn't open. Thank you Sharon for posting the lock your doors then unlock using remote. Problem solved! Thanks again!

Thank goodness for this post! 2016 xc90 and gas tank wouldnt open. 20 miles to empty and i was panicking.

Thank you very much, this worked for 2020 XC90 as well, gas tank was almost empty in the middle of a national park and we were panicking

We were going to refuel and found the fuel tank door would not open. Thank you so much ! It worked on 2016 XC90.

We slid a credit card between the car body and the fuel door and easily lifted the door open for refueling.