2016 Volvo S60 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 25 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light | 1 |
Engine: 8; Electrical System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Seat Belts: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Wheels: 2; Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 10; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10811942 · 2015-12-23 (December 23, 2015)
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2016 VOLVO S60 - THE CAR AT INCIDENT DATE HAD 200 MILES ON IT. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY - THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, STEERING, LIGHTS, ETC WHILE IN THE NUMBER 4 OF 7 LANE FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS BLACKED OUT, NO LIGHTS, NO POWER, NO ENGINE, STALLED WITHOUT POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. - WE WERE ALMOST KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NUMEROUS COLLISIONS THAT OCCURRED BEHIND AND AROUND US AS A RESULT OF THIS CAR BEING DEAD IN THE WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT.…
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11010345 · 2017-07-24 (July 24, 2017)
CAR WAS PURCHASED ON 5/31/2016, IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS I EXPERIENCED REPEATED STALLS WHILE ACCELERATING. THE CAR WOULD REV HIGH AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE. DURING THIS TIME THE CAR WAS IMMOBILIZED. THIS OCCURRED MID-FLIGHT WHILE ACCELERATING. ON SEPTEMBER 23, I TOOK THE CAR TO NORTHPOINT VOLVO TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. I WAS TOLD NOTHING SHOWED UP IN THE VEHICLE COMPUTER AND THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE SOFTWARE. OK. I HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF MY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT 10K AND 20K MILES, WITH THE LAST ONE BEING PERFORMED JUNE 14, 2017. OVER THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,069 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131716 · 2018-09-26 (September 26, 2018)
AS FAR BACK AS 2011, THERE WERE COMPLAINTS THAT VOLVOS EQUIPPED WITH THE CITY SAFETY SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY STOP OR SLOW DOWN FOR NO REASON. THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED TO ME IN SEPTEMBER 2018. AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION, MY VOLVO S60 SUDDENLY CAME TO A HALT. THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS NOT SURE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, I NOTICED A WARNING ON THE DASH THAT THE CITY SAFETY HAD GONE OFF. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, MY VOLVO …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361642 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
THE BRAKE SUDDENLY LOST BRAKING POWER AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT A RED LIGHT ON A LOCAL STREET. EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE INCIDENT, I COULD HEAR A SOUND OF AIR LEAKING SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE PEDAL. OTHER SYSTEMS SEEM FINE AND I MANAGED TO ROLL THE CAR BACK TO OUR PARKING LOT ABOUT HALF A MILE AWAY, AND HAD THE CAR TOLLED TO A LOCAL DEALER THE NEXT DAY. I WAS TOLD LATER BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S CAUSED BY MALFUNCTION OF BRAKE "BOOSTER" OR VACUUM PUMP(?) AND REPAIRED IT AT A COST OF ~$2500.00
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11326514 · 2020-05-29 (May 29, 2020)
2016 VOLVO S60 AUDIO MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THIS CONTROLS THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, TELEPHONE, RADIO, CAR OPTIONS, AUDIO FOR SAFETY ALERTS, ETC. STOP WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. ALSO DRAINED BATTERY AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TOO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11326514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11524899 · 2023-06-01 (June 1, 2023)
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V378000 (Seat Belts) and 16V798000 (Seat Belts). The dealer also repaired an unstated electrical failure. The contact stated that the cells in the battery were faulty. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact stated that after several weeks, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was take…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,859 miles reported. Look up ODI 11524899 at NHTSA ↗