repaired · 2025 Q4
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk. An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
2016 Volvo XC90Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 197 owner complaints about the 2016 Volvo XC90, most often about the engine. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-827 the manufacturer reports only 78% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 17, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Volvo XC90 has problems
197 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
86Engine8 crash/fire/injury
56Electrical system5 crash/fire/injury
23Structure2 crash/fire/injury
14Service brakes
12Fuel/propulsion system
11Vehicle speed control
10Power train
8Air bags
7Steering
4617 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 86 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 56 | 5 |
| Structure | 23 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2 |
| Power train | 10 | 1 |
| Air bags | 8 | 1 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 46 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2016 Volvo XC90 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Electrical system: software
Risk. The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Risk. If the coolant leak goes unnoticed, coolant may accumulate in the catalytic converter heat shield insulation and catch fire when the vehicle is stationary,…
repaired · 2018 Q1
Front: buckle assembly
Risk. If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of…
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q1
Air bags
Risk. Significant water drainage into the passenger compartment may adversely affect air bag deployment in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant…
repaired · 2017 Q3
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk. If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
repaired · 2016 Q4
Air bags: side/window
Risk. Underinflated air bags may not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Air bags: side/window
Risk. If the wiring harness is routed incorrectly, the wiring may be damaged, disabling the front seat side impact air bag, and increasing the risk of injury to the…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Volvo.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
16kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 32 engine complaints. 94% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 45% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
21under 30k miles30under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other XC90 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the XC90 median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Volvo XC90, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What XC90 owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I discovered an engine coolant leak from a crack near the end of the Plastic Coolant Bypass Pipe (part #31368673/32382362) after noticing coolant puddling on my garage floor. There are numerous comments with pictures on-line about how common this part fails on this model Volvo. What's also…
Piston rings inside the engine failed due to a known oil consumption issue with this model vehicle. The engine failed while the car was driving 85 mph and consequently slowed down to 15mph on the highway, leaving the owner of the car stranded alone on the highway. Volvo has a known fix for this…
My 2016 Volvo XC90 suddenly lost power while I was driving, requiring me to pull over and have the vehicle towed. This is a documented safety issue associated with a known piston ring defect in 2013-2016 Volvo vehicles equipped with 2.0L and 2.5L engines, which was the subject of a federal class…
Own a 2016 XC90?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.