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2016 Volvo XC90 problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2016 Volvo XC90 has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 198owner complaints
- 5crash reports
- 11fire reports
- 20%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Volvo XC90 year on file: 198 complaints, against an average of 30 for the other 13 model years.
Every Volvo XC90 model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2016 Volvo XC90?
The components named most often in the 198 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2016 Volvo XC90 owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 198 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is my 2016 Volvo XC90 burning or losing oil?30 owners · 15.2%
- Why does my 2016 Volvo XC90 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?16 owners · 8.1%
- Why does water leak into my 2016 Volvo XC90?12 owners · 6.1%
- Has the 2016 Volvo XC90 had engine failures?10 owners · 5.1%
- Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2016 Volvo XC90?10 owners · 5.1%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Volvo XC90?9 owners · 4.5%
- Why does my 2016 Volvo XC90 overheat?9 owners · 4.5%
- Have any 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles caught fire?8 owners · 4%
- Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2016 Volvo XC90?6 owners · 3%
Fault codes 2016 Volvo XC90 owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2016 Volvo XC90 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2016 Volvo XC90 as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAFront seat belts
Risk: On affected vehicles the front left seat bolts may not have been torqued according to specification which could reduce the occupant protection in an impact.
Fix: Re-torque front seat bolts.
UK DVSAThe anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured.The anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured. In a worst-case scenario this may not provide sufficient protection in the event of a collision.
Risk: The anchorage bolts for the second-row seat belts and seat belt buckles may not have been correctly secured. In a worst-case scenario this may not provide sufficient protection in the event of a collision
Fix: Inspect and re-install.
UK DVSAThe engine's plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Risk: The engines plastic inlet manifold may melt and deform
Fix: Update vehicles with improved soot reducing software cleaning of TMAP and EMAP. Fit additional hoses where necessary.
UK DVSAAn engine cooling system hose may break
Risk: An engine cooling system hose may break and could cause a coolant leak.
Fix: Replace the hose on affected vehicles.
UK DVSASmall cracks on the inside of a rubber fuel hose
Risk: Small cracks on the inside of a rubber fuel hose.
Fix: Replacement of affected fuel hoses.
UK DVSAPossible software issue in the vehicle connectivity module (vcm)
Risk: There may be a software issue in the Vehicle Connectivity Module.
Fix: Upgrade software in the Vehicle Connectivity Module.
UK DVSARear passenger seat belt pre tensioner may not be to specification
Risk: The pre-tensioner in the driver's side third row passenger seat belt may not have been produced according to the correct specification In the event of a collision the pre tensioner and seat belt will still operate as intended but a very small part could enter the passenger compartment. As a temporary measure until the seat belt has been replaced it is recommended that the seat belt is not used.
Fix: On affected vehicles replace the seat belt.
UK DVSARetaining bolt for inflatable curtain may be broken
Risk: The retaining bolts used to assemble the Inflatable Curtain may be broken and offer less protection in the event of an incident.
Fix: On affected vehicles replace all retaining bolts.
UK DVSAOne or more airbags may fail to deploy in the event of a collision
Risk: It has been identified by the manufacturer that the air-bag initiator does not meet specification. This can therefore result in the initiator not functioning correctly which can lead to none deployment of the air-bag. Should a collision occur then there is an increased risk of injury to the occupants of the vehicle.
Fix: Recall all affected vehicles to replace the air-bags with a new quality assured component.
UK DVSASeatbelt may separate from the buckle
Risk: It has been identified there is a possibility the front seatbelt buckle stud may not have been punched correctly during production. This may result in a separation between the buckle and seatbelt bracket if the vehicle is involved in a collision.
Fix: Recall all affected vehicles to inspect the seatbelt buckle and if required to replace the seatbelt buckle.
UK DVSAEngine may fail
Risk: Affected vehicles may have a crankshaft that has been insufficiently hardened which may fail and nay cause engine failure.
Fix: Check identity of crankshaft. If the relevant marking is not present then replace engine.
UK DVSAThird row passenger airbags may fail to deploy as intended
Risk: Affected vehicles have interior panels that may prevent the inflatable curtain airbags from deploying as intended. This could reduce the level of protection offered to third row passengers in the event of an accident.
Fix: Modify affected interior panels to allow the inflatable curtains to deploy as intended.
EU Safety GateThe second row seat belt buckle may have not been tightened to the correct torque.As a result, the seat belt may not provide sufficient protection for the second row passengers in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 07/12/2023
EU Safety GateWhen liquid/droplets are present on the rear seat control display, there´s a risk that the signal to the display is maintained and…When liquid/droplets are present on the rear seat control display, there´s a risk that the signal to the display is maintained and perceived by the system as a “constant” touch. As a result, the front seat could be inadvertently moved until its end position, increasing the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 29/04/2021
EU Safety GateDue to an excessive build-up of carbon deposits in the intake system, the plastic engine intake manifold may melt and deform.As a result, a localized engine bay fire may occur.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA defective ventilation hose may cause leakage of coolant liquid.This can increase the risk of the vehicle catching fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA software problem has been detected in the communication module of the emergency call system.As a consequence, incorrect location information might be sent to the emergency services in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateFaulty crimping of the micro-gas generator for the seat belt tensioner in the third row of seats means that, in the event of deployment of…Faulty crimping of the micro-gas generator for the seat belt tensioner in the third row of seats means that, in the event of deployment of the seat belt tensioner, parts of the gas generator could detach causing injuries to the occupants of the car.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe front passenger seat belt buckle can be incorrectly fastened, with the consequence that the buckle can separate from the seat belt…The front passenger seat belt buckle can be incorrectly fastened, with the consequence that the buckle can separate from the seat belt clasp in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDue to a problem with the airbag inflators, the airbags may fail to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the…Years estimatedDue to a problem with the airbag inflators, the airbags may fail to deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Distributor; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateOwing to a cavity behind the inside panels of the D pillar of the car body, the head/shoulder airbag, intended for passengers in the third…Owing to a cavity behind the inside panels of the D pillar of the car body, the head/shoulder airbag, intended for passengers in the third row of seats, may not be properly deployed.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
How often does the 2016 Volvo XC90 fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2016, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2016 Volvo XC90 owners report?
12 of the 198 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 interesting is that the "pipe" fails in exactly the same location (on top and near the end). Seems to me if this is a known defect and the part is not performing with reasonable reliability, Volvo should provide an allowance to car owners when the part fails.
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 issue and there was a class action lawsuit for it, but since it was settled, there was no recall. This is, in fact, a dangerous issue that is preventable. Additionally, the sunroof drains also leak. Water frequently leaks down the A-pillar directly onto the Central Electronic Module (CEM) causing unsafe…
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 action lawsuit ([XXX] et al. v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Case No. XXX, filed XXX. No there we NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I purchased this vehicle as a second owner from Carvana [XXX] — one month after the class action was filed. I was never notified of…
The eRAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) on my 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV failed completely. The warning light appeared approximately 11/3/2025, within one week of purchasing the vehicle at 88,000 miles. The failure was confirmed by a Volvo dealership. The eRAD is the component that powers the rear electric motor and provides AWD and hybrid function — its failure results in complete loss of rear wheel drive and hybrid system operation. Safety risk includes unexpected loss of AWD traction control in adverse weather conditions. This is a known systemic defect acknowledged in Volvo’s own Technical…
The contact owns a 2016 VOLVO XC90. The contact stated that while coming off a red light at 10 MPH, the contact was involved in a vehicle accident. The front end of the vehicle impacted the vehicle on the passenger side, which impacted more of the contact's front side on the passenger side. The vehicle came to a full stop in the middle of an intersection. No air bags were deployed in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. A police report was filed. The contact stated there were 2 subjects injured. The passenger in the contact vehicle was injured, and the driver of the…
SRS warning light and was told that is is due to a faulty misassembled wiring in the seat harness. Possibility of the airbags not deploying correctly in case of a crash. The dealer has confirmed that it is the seat harness that needs to be replaced. Due to the Month/Year of the vehicle it does not fall under the original recall which was only for vehicles that were manufactured between Jan/May 2015.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a failed rear door latch actuator in my 2016 Volvo XC90. This is a known issue among Volvo owners, yet there appears to be no recall or corrective action. The defect causes the door latch actuator to seize, rendering the affected rear door completely inoperable from both the inside and outside. This means passengers seated in the rear are unable to open the door to exit the vehicle. This is an extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening hazard. In the event of an emergency—such as a fire, collision, or submersion—rear seat passengers would be…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water had been leaking into the vehicle on rainy days. The contact stated that the water intrusion was causing several warning lights to illuminate and unknown vehicle safety equipment failures. The contact stated that the front and rear carpets and the spare tire were saturated with water. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was determined that water was leaking into the vehicle, but the dealer was unable to determine the point of intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. There was an abnormal odor of mold inside the vehicle. The carpet was not wet. There was an abnormal swishing sound detected inside the vehicle. After it rained, the contact noticed that the passenger side front floorboard had an accumulation of water a quarter inch deep. The contact noticed the water was leaking on the airbag from the exterior A-pillar. The contact moved the headliner, and the rubber boot was intact. The call/SOS warning light was illuminated. The contact called the…
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V308000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that an oil change was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was consuming oil and informed the contact about an oil consumption test. The contact was informed that a spark plug had exploded in the engine. The…
Previous issues with brakes, suspension, leaking sunroof, electrical and gauges. Vehicle became disabled due to defect with coolant system, smoke from engine compartment, towed to Monterery Volvo (dealership/service center identified issues with coolant leak present turbo & cooling Plastic pipe. Cruise control-Vacuum Pump: Found vacuum pump leaking oil. Estimated repair $5,414.38
THE CONTROLS ON STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DISABLED. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT WAS FIXED FOR WHILE, BUT IT REAPPEARED AGAIN! MANY VOLVO OWNERS HAS THE SIMILAR ISSUES MOST OF THEM ENDED UP REPLACING THE CONTROL MODULE PART ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SYMPTOM SINCE MOST DRIVERS LIKE ME RELY HEAVILY ON THESE CONTROLS TO SELECT VEHICLE SYSTEM OPTIONS AND CRUISE CONTROL. ALSO DEALER ASKING ME TO CHANGE THE BREAK COMPONENTS VERY FREQUENTLY SOMETIMES JUST 20000 MILES. I AM ENDED PAYING HEFTY PRICE OF THESE PARTS TO KEEP THE BREAKS SAFE.
2016 Volvo XC90: questions owners ask
Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 198 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC90; the most common categories were engine (87, 43.9%), electrical system (57, 28.8%), structure (23, 11.6%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 5 complaints mention a crash, 11 mention a fire, 8 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volvo XC90?
Across 198 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (43.9% of complaints), electrical system (28.8% of complaints), structure (11.6% of complaints), service brakes (7.1% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (6.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2016 Volvo XC90. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is my 2016 Volvo XC90 burning or losing oil?
30 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (15.2%) describe excessive oil consumption or oil leaks. One owner wrote: "Vehicle start shaking Violently out of control. AAA picked up the vehicle and took it to their European shop and discovered it’s the piston rings ." (NHTSA complaint 11734718, April 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 Volvo XC90 stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
16 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (8.1%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "The engine is burning oil due to a factory design defect in the piston ring design, as verified by Volvo through a technical bulletin. In the bulletin, Volvo states that there is a free oil consumption test available for up to 100k miles." (NHTSA complaint 11578826, March 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does water leak into my 2016 Volvo XC90?
12 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (6.1%) describe water leaks into the cabin, sunroof or trunk. One owner wrote: "First, the rear passenger side door latch failed at 57k miles, allegedly due to water intrusion. They replaced with a revised part - p/n 32310869. Now at 63k miles, the driver side rear door latch failed in the same way." (NHTSA complaint 11502287, January 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2016 Volvo XC90 had engine failures?
10 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (5.1%) describe complete engine failure or a replaced engine. One owner wrote: "The car was driving about 35 mph when this happen. engine started to have multiple miss fire. took it to a professional shop and cylinder 1, 2 and 3 have a wet spark plug. they did more testing and found that the cylinder oil ring has failed." (NHTSA complaint 11398852, March 2021). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the doors lock or unlock by themselves on my 2016 Volvo XC90?
10 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (5.1%) describe door locks or door latches failing. One owner wrote: "Loaded children into second row of vehicle, confirmed all doors closed. Began driving, passenger rear door swung open. Child DID NOT engage door handle. Pulled over to attempt to close door. Door latch would not engage, could not close or lock door." (NHTSA complaint 11640401, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2016 Volvo XC90?
9 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (4.5%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Car had a known issue regarding inappropriate oil consumption and was awaiting repair by Volvo dealership. While merging onto highway and accelerating, car lurched, check engine light came on, and shortly after there was a warning regarding reduced…" (NHTSA complaint 11554683, November 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2016 Volvo XC90 overheat?
9 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (4.5%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11757537, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Have any 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles caught fire?
8 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (4%) describe the car catching fire or melting wiring. One owner wrote: "About a month ago I received an Engine Coolant Low warning from the vehicle so the fluid was topped off. This past Friday, April 17th as I was driving home around midnight, I received an Engine Temperature is High, please pull over notice so I stopped the…" (NHTSA complaint 11732429, April 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the auto start-stop system act up on my 2016 Volvo XC90?
6 of the 198 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (3%) describe problems with the automatic start-stop system. One owner wrote: "The start-stop function malfunctioned on my vehicle at a busy stop light/intersection. my wife and i felt we needed to push the car to side to keep from getting hit, despite flashers on. we had it towed to a volvo dealer who was very helpful." (NHTSA complaint 11317984, March 2020). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own XC90
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2016 only; combines NHTSA's entries for XC90 T5, XC90 T6, XC90 T8 and XC90H. How these reports are made.