What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Volvo XC90

No clear pattern

14.9% of complaints about the 2016 Volvo XC90 arrived in its first year of service. That is an unusual figure for a 2016 vehicle, but with only 308 complaints on record the sample is too small to call it a pattern — the margin of error covers the range where ordinary vehicles sit. The figures below are reported without a verdict. The most-reported system is engine (86 complaints), typically at 6.9 yr or about 19,000 miles.

Complaints
308
Median age at failure
6.0 yr
Median mileage
13,000 n=151
Crash / fire / tow
11.7% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
86 reports · 19,000 mi
6.9 yr
10.5%
Electrical system
56 reports · 10,000 mi
2.5 yr
14.3%
Other
36 reports · 30,000 mi
7.4 yr
19.4%
Structure
23 reports · 48,000 mi
5.6 yr
8.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

23V827000 2023-12-07
Seat belts:critical fasteners

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.

An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.

21V273000 2021-04-21
Electrical system:software

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.

The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.

19V308000 2019-04-17
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings

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.

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.

16V798000 2016-11-02
Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

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."

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.

16V690000 2016-09-26
Equipment:appliance:air conditioner

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.

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.

16V268000 2016-05-04
Visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

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."

If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.

15V497000 2015-08-06
Air bags:side/window

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.

Underinflated air bags may not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

15V342000 2015-06-03
Air bags:side/window

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Engine 400 mi 2 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Engine 3,000 mi 7 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Engine 13,500 mi 1.1 yr in service
DURING DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD AT APPROX. 45 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC DASHBOARD DISAPPEARED (SO YOU HAVE NO VISIBILITY TO SPEED, FUEL, WARNINGS), THE CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED TO 10 MPH AND WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER AND ALL NON-STEERING CONTROLS (RADIO, AC, NAVIGATION, ETC.) FROZE. IT HAS REMAINED THAT WAY SINCE EVEN AFTER POWER CYCLING. APPARENTLY THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY FIXED BY DISCONNECTING THE 2 BATTERIES. BUT IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN WITH NO WARNING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS I KNOW. *TR
Electrical system 3,000 mi 7 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLVO XC90. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Other XC90 model years

202420232018201720162006200520042003

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