2016 Volvo Xc90 Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2016 Volvo Xc90.

20142017
Complaints
298
per 10K Sold
91.9
US Sales
32,428
Crashes
10
Fires
14
Injuries
12
Fatalities
Recalls
8

Worst 2016 Volvo Xc90 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#180 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:34,327 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:6
#255 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:24,012 mi
Crash-related:3
Fires:2
#321 complaints

Body Structure

Avg mileage:41,459 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Volvo Xc90.

Engine Problems
80
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Avg Miles
34,327
Electrical Faults
55
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Avg Miles
24,012
Body Structure
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
41,459
Brakes
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
20,250
Fuel System
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
34,000
Unintended Acceleration
10
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
10,345
Transmission / Drivetrain
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
15,980
Airbags
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
10,000
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
25,333
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
14,787
Seat Belt Issues
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
690
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Backup Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Software
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2016 Volvo Xc90. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2016 Volvo Xc90

8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~189,581 vehicles.

23V827000Seat Belts:critical Fasteners
~2,911 affected

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.

21V273000Electrical System:software
~162 affected

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.

19V308000Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
~34,006 affected

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.

16V798000Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
~74,027 affected

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."

16V690000Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner · Airbags
~43,766 affected

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.

16V268000Sunroof/Moonroof
~30,214 affected

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."

15V497000Air Bags:side/window
~3,911 affected

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.

15V342000Air Bags:side/window
~584 affected

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.

Other Volvo Xc90 Years

2016 Volvo Xc90 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2016 Volvo Xc90 reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2016 Volvo Xc90 has 298 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash-related, and 8 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 80 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2016 Volvo Xc90?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (80 complaints, avg 34,327 mi); Electrical Faults (55 complaints, avg 24,012 mi); Body Structure (21 complaints, avg 41,459 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2016 Volvo Xc90?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 27,502 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2016 Volvo Xc90?
NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Volvo Xc90 include 10 crash-related reports, 14 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2016 Volvo Xc90 have any recalls?
Yes — 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 189,581 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2016 Volvo Xc90?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2016 Volvo Xc90 shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Volvo Xc90 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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