KnownCarProblems2016 Volvo XC90 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 197 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC90, most often about the engine (45% of complaints, typically around 19,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about XC90 model year since 2000 and has 8 recalls.
Most common 2016 Volvo XC90 problems
Engine
88 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. While driving at an unknown speed, the engine harness wires snapped after being chewed through by rats. The check engine warning indicator began flashing after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to 128 Volvo cars (614 north ave, wakefield, ma 01880, ([phone]) where it was…
Volvo recently had a "service campaign" for the coolant expansion tank bleeder hose. We made an appointment for the repair, but the day prior to our repair, Volvo USA cancelled the service campaign. This hose then failed 1-2 months later, spilling toxic coolant all over our driveway and down the street, which of…
Electrical
56 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: software.
While driving between cincinnati, oh and nashville, tn, we stopped in carollton, ky to refuel at a local gas station. Upon attempting to open the fuel door, the door would not unlock. There is no button or switch to use to open the fuel door on this vehicle. Despite several attempts to turn the lock and unlock the…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. While driving approximately 4 MPH, the entire instrument panel and odometer gauge failed to function and the vehicle did not accelerate over 10 MPH. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the computer software was updated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
Other or unspecified
36 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 29,500 miles.
Vehicle software update removed safety items. I.e., when vehicle is in motion and is in pilot assist mode lane avoidance audio warning sound and steering wheel pull back, crash avoidance audio warning sound (when not in cruise control). Pilot assist no longer works at all. Volvo states software updates removed these…
Inside and outside handle cease to work effectively resulting in door not opening. Has happened a handful of times with repair required. Occupants are not able to exit the vehicle.
Body and structure
23 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 30,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
When parked in a school car park in nj in a rainstorm the tailgate opened on its own when an electrical storm was on. I was sitting in the car at the tie sheltering from the rain. I closed the door from the inside and locked the car. The tailgate opened again. And repeatedly did it four times in all specifically…
Rear left door spontaneously unlatched and opened while driving with 6-year-old daughter in adjacent seat. Door will subsequently not latch.
Brakes
15 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 2,500 miles. Parts named most often: electrical.
I purchased a 2016 XC90 in july15. Shortly after the purchase, I started to notice issues with the brakes and various other issues. I have taken the car into service 14 times since purchase with on a few for regular maintenance. Brake pads and both front and rear roters have been replaced, but the brake issue has not…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the brakes independently engaged without warning and slowed the vehicle down to approximately 5 MPH. The city safety warning indicator illuminated after the brakes independently engaged. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer…
Fuel system
13 complaints · 7%While driving between cincinnati, oh and nashville, tn, we stopped in carollton, ky to refuel at a local gas station. Upon attempting to open the fuel door, the door would not unlock. There is no button or switch to use to open the fuel door on this vehicle. Despite several attempts to turn the lock and unlock the…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle decelerated independently. The contact mentioned that the instrument panel failed to illuminate and provided reading levels for the vehicles functions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the failure was…
Speed control
11 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 4,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Car was having issues with speedometer screen and center console screens. Screen would blank out when navigation system was in use and vehicle was moving. This would happen twice and system would normalize. Several weeks ago this happened and my husband and I smelled a weird odor and then smoke began bellowing out…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle began to reduce in speed to 5 MPH. The contact stated that an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the software was reprogrammed. The contact stated that the failure…
Transmission
10 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles.
Around 10.30 am on sunday, 26th june 2016, I was driving on I-95 (near stamford ct) with my family when the car suddenly lost power, slowed down dramatically in the middle of I-95 and started to crawl at 10 miles/hour. We were in danger of being hit by a number of vehicles while I negotiated to exit the highway on…
The dashboard instrument panel suddenly went blank on a city street and the car could not accelerate more than about 5-10 miles per hour. It's frightening to imaging what would have happened if this occurred on a highway. Volvo's towing company put rear wheels on ground and damage all wheel drive system during towing.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Volvo XC90 recalls
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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed january 19, 2024. Owners may contact volvo car customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo car's number for this recall is r10259.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA, llc (volvo car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 xc90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
Electrical: 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.
Fix: Volvo car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 14, 2021. Owners may contact volvo car customer service at 1-888-458-1552. Volvo car's number for this recall is r10093.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA, llc (volvo car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 xc90 excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Engine: 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, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volvo cars will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine side coolant bleeder hose, free of charge. The recall began june 12, 2019. Owners may contact volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is r29936.
Full defect summary
Volvo cars of n.a., llc (volvo cars) is recalling certain 2016 xc90 vehicles. Exposure to heat and humidity may cause the engine coolant bleeder hose to crack, resulting in a coolant leak.
Seat belts: 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 injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began january 2017. Owners may contact volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is r89708.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA llc (volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 xc90, s90, xc60, v60 cross country, v60, s60 cross country, s60, and s60 inscription vehicles manufactured february 16, 2015, to august 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages" and number 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Equipment: air conditioner
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 injury.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain hose for proper installation, replacing the hose as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on november the 14, 2016. Owners may contact volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is r89707.
Full defect summary
Volvo cars of north america, llc (volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 volvo xc90 and s90 vehicles manufactured april 15, 2015 through september 19, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the drain hose for the air conditioning may leak into the passenger compartment due to a drain hose installation error during manufacturing.
Visibility and wipers: sun/moon roof assembly
Risk: If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software upgrade that disables the auto-close function, free of charge. The recall began june 24, 2016. Owners may contact volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visiting http://volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is r89702.
Full defect summary
Volvo car USA llc (volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 xc90 vehicles manufactured january 27, 2015, to april 23, 2016. The sunroofs on the affected vehicles have a switch on the overhead console that may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from being unintentionally pressed. When pressed, the sunroof may fully close. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 118, "power-operated window, partition, and roof panel systems."
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.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will modify the d-pillar interior panels to allow full inflation of the third row airbags, free of charge. The recall began on september 21, 2015. Owners may contact volvo customer care at 1-800-458-1552.
Full defect summary
Volvo cars of n.a., llc (volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 volvo xc90 vehicles manufactured january 27, 2015, to july 10, 2015. The third row seating side curtain air bags may not fully inflate.
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 seat occupant in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front seat side impact air bag.
Fix: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the sips wiring, correcting the routing and installing a protective sleeve as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on june 30, 2015. Owners may contact volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is r89571.
Full defect summary
Volvo cars of n.a., llc (volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 volvo xc90 vehicles manufactured january 27, 2015, to may 19, 2015. The affected vehicles have front seats whose wiring harness for the side impact protection system (sips) may have been routed incorrectly.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2016 Volvo XC90
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volvo XC90?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (88 complaints, typically around 19,500 miles); electrical (56 complaints, typically around 10,000 miles); other or unspecified (36 complaints, typically around 29,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 7, 2023 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Volvo XC90?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about XC90 model year since 2000, with 197 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.