dash lights intermittently go off/ Passenger Airbag Off Service Urgent message now on

[20yearsandcounting]

I recently purchased a 2011 XC90 I6 Has just shy of 90K miles, 2nd owner and it's been regularly maintained. The Check Engine light has been on since I bought it - a known issue with the Catalytic Converter, this was the only code on. I've had it just over a month.

Yesterday, the dash lights went out a minute or two after I started the car. I turned the car off and then back on - dash lights on , but they went out again in seconds. No power to the instrument cluster or the radio, lights out on the central console except for the 12v power. After 5 minutes of driving, I hit a bump and the lights came back on, and stayed on for a few minutes - then off again. Trip was about 20 miles and 30-40 minutes. Lights on and off intermittently.

When the lights did come back on, also had the warning "Passenger Airbag off - Service Urgent". No one in the passenger seat, and only a small package on the seat. No other problems noted, it runs great and checked out really well when I had a pre-purchase inspection done. Battery seems to stay fully charged, it always starts right away.

I read the forums pretty thoroughly before I bought this car (thank you! I avoided a lot of problems) and I've been reading them tonight looking for information.

I will take it to my local Volvo repair to have the codes read but it sounds like it could be several different but related problems. There was a post about heat building up under the dash and I did have the heat and the seat heater on. Also saw a reference to a possible fuse issue. And possibly needing to replace the DIM (?) circuit board/module.

So my question is: which of these is most likely for this year/model/mileage/symptoms? Where should I start? The local repair shop has been known to go for the most obvious (and expensive) option without looking at all the other possibilities first.

Having been the fond and doting owner of an 85 240 for the last 20 years, I bought Mechanical Breakdown Insurance for this one.

Any advice appreciated -

[GregAivaliotis]

Wish I could help, I have the same issue here , dash lights go off and SRS light comes on

Luckily I have VIDA and can get rid of the triangle

Did you find the problem , as I’d like to solve it myself

[20yearsandcounting]

It seems to be common for the "DIM" module to go out, and when it does the Airbag light comes on. These folks "xemodex.com" seem to be the place to get the DIM repaired. (2 different shops recommended- about $400 to repair) You can drive it without the DIM in, it's only held in with 4 screws. However, on further checking I found I didn't have any brake lights. If it is the DIM all your lights should work. It's been at the shop for 6 weeks now. They have been bypassing each module and then resetting, they now think it is the audio module. I read on one of the other forums that it can be a wire shorting out in the door module. The shop tried that and the power seat first. Good thing I didn't sell my old girl. Ellie's a champ but she has no heat or AC, the heater fan is out. Don't know if I like this car or not, I've owned it for six months and it's been in the shop for two of them! Good luck with yours.