This Volvo XC90 came in vibrating, leaking oil and feeling rough over bumps. Here is how we found four separate faults and sorted them all in one go.
Job completed: July 2026
| Car | Volvo XC90 (2.0L turbo petrol) |
|---|---|
| Symptom | Vibration through the car, oil leak from underneath, rough handling over bumps |
| Fault found | Cracked engine mounts letting the engine rock, worn and cracked undercarriage control arms affecting handling, a propeller shaft oil leak, and worn brakes |
| Repair done | Replaced both engine mounts, all worn control arms, replaced the propeller shaft seal, serviced the brakes with new discs and pads |
| Parts | Volvo OEM and OEM-grade parts throughout |
| Time taken | Timeline confirmed after strip-down |
| Cost | Quoted item by item after inspection |
| Warranty | Contact us for warranty details on the specific parts replaced |
The owner brought in the Volvo XC90 with two clear symptoms: a vibration through the cabin at certain speeds and at idle, and an oil stain appearing under the car on the driveway. The car also felt less settled over bumps than it used to.
The owner wanted us to lift the car, do a proper inspection underneath, and tell them honestly what was wrong and what it would cost, rather than guess from the outside. That is exactly what we did.
The Volvo XC90 is a large petrol SUV. Underneath it has a sophisticated multi-link suspension at the rear, with multiple control arms on each side linking the wheel to the body. Engine mounts hold the engine and gearbox in position and absorb the engine's vibration before it reaches the cabin.
A propeller shaft runs from the gearbox to the rear differential on four-wheel-drive models, sealed by rubber shaft seals. When the rubber in the mounts and the bushings in the arms gets old, the vibration starts coming through to the cabin and the handling becomes less sharp. A leaking shaft seal lets oil drip underneath the car.
We lifted the car and inspected the undercarriage. We found four separate problems that were all contributing to what the owner felt.
The engine mounts had sunk and one had a visible crack. A cracked engine mount lets the engine rock in its bay, which sends vibration through the car and can cause a knock at idle.
The undercarriage control arms were worn, with cracked rubber bushings and visible wear. These arms were no longer holding the wheel geometry correctly, which is why the car felt less planted and rough over bumps.
The propeller shaft had oil staining from a leaking seal at one end. Left alone, the seal leak would get worse and eventually leave the shaft running dry.
The brakes were also due. We showed the owner each worn part before quoting.
Engine mounts, control arm bushings, shaft seals and brakes are all rubber and friction-based wear items. On a car of this age and mileage, they tend to reach the end of their life around the same time.
Singapore's heat and humidity accelerate the ageing of rubber parts in particular. Engine mounts and suspension bushings that might last longer in a cooler climate harden, crack and fail faster here. The vibration and rough handling that follows is the first sign, but by the time the symptoms are obvious, the wear is usually already well advanced.
We replaced all four faults in one workshop visit.
We showed the owner the worn parts that were removed so they could see exactly what was replaced and why.
What a job covering engine mounts, control arms, a shaft seal and brakes costs depends on how many arms need replacing and the extent of the brake work, so we quote item by item after inspection.
We lift and inspect the car first, identify exactly what is worn, and give you a clear quote before any work begins. We do not guess from outside the car.
A vibration that was not there before, especially at idle or at a specific speed, is often the first sign of a failing engine mount. A rough or unsettled feel over bumps, or any clunking from the front or rear suspension, points to worn control arm bushings.
Any oil stain under the car is worth investigating promptly. A small seal leak stays small if caught early but can become a bigger job if left to spread. Getting the undercarriage inspected every year or two on a high-mileage Volvo is a good way to find these faults before they get expensive.
This Volvo XC90 (Suspension control arms, engine mounts, propeller shaft seal and brake service) was handled at 1 Car Service, an independent workshop in Sin Ming AutoCity, Singapore. For Volvo, we use dealer-level VIDA diagnostics. We hold a 4.9★ rating from 1,775+ Google reviews.
WhatsApp us your car model, year and what it is doing. We will check the suspension, mounts and undercarriage and tell you what needs doing before any work begins. We use Volvo VIDA diagnostic tools to read the car properly.
It depends on how many arms need replacing and the extent of the brake work. We lift the car, inspect everything and give you a clear quote before any work begins.
Vibration on a Volvo XC90 commonly comes from worn engine mounts letting the engine rock, or from worn suspension control arm bushings. Sometimes it is both. On this XC90 we found cracked engine mounts and worn control arms together. Lifting the car and checking the undercarriage properly is the only way to be sure.
It depends on where the leak is coming from. A propeller shaft seal, as we found on this car, is a small repair when caught early but can become a bigger problem if the shaft runs dry. Any oil stain under the car is worth having checked promptly rather than leaving it.
Yes. We use Volvo VIDA diagnostic tools to read the car's systems, check for stored faults, and confirm the repair is complete. We scan the car after all work is done before handing it back.
On this job, which covered engine mounts, control arms, a shaft seal and brakes, we took the time each component needed. We do not rush jobs that involve multiple components, because each needs to be checked after fitting before the next one goes in.
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