2016 Volvo XC90 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
197 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 89 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 86 of 197 complaints (43.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 25 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 12.2% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 4.6% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.0% |
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 | 86 |
| Electrical System | 55 |
| Unknown Or Other | 36 |
| Structure:Body | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
Engine: 86; Electrical System: 55; Unknown Or Other: 36; Structure:Body: 21; Service Brakes: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Power Train: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 48 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 48; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (48). 108 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 | 5 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 26 |
| 2023 | 25 |
| 2024 | 33 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2015: 5; 2016: 24; 2017: 14; 2018: 7; 2019: 11; 2020: 12; 2021: 14; 2022: 26; 2023: 25; 2024: 33; 2025: 13; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 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 10778004 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)
TL* 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 WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. ...UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 4/9/18 *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861446 · 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I PUT THE CAR IN ECO MODE. THE CAR WAS MOVING AT THE TIME. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO BE DRIVING LOUDLY. AS I TURNED LEFT, I SAW THE CAR WAS IN MANUAL MODE AND WAS IN FIRST GEAR. SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND TRY TO PUT IT INTO DRIVE. AS I TRIED TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER, THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE, SUDDEN STOP. IT FELT LIKE ALL FOUR WHEELS WERE SUDDENLY AND IMMEDIATELY LOCKED. I COULD NOT MOVE THEM, EVEN AS I HIT THE GAS. I DID NOT SEE ANY INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD THAT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10861446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10808864 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
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 CENTER CONSOLE. UNIT WAS TURNED OFF AND DEALER CONTACTED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN BUT AFTER THREE WEEKS STILL HAS ISSUES. WENT TO PICK UP CAR ON 12/5 ONLY TO FIND VEHICLE WAS HAVING ISSUE WITH RETAINING A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY. WE WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10884322 · 2016-07-12 (July 12, 2016)
ELECTRICAL FAILURE, SUSPENSION FAILURE, LEAKAGE TO AIR BAG SENSOR, SOFTWARE PROBLEMS
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10807990 · 2015-12-02 (December 2, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10807990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10881781 · 2016-06-30 (June 30, 2016)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10881781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916434 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10913901 · 2016-10-05 (October 5, 2016)
TL* 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 UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN OCTOBER 2016. …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10913901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230010 · 2019-07-08 (July 8, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLVO XC90. EACH TIME THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FUEL THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL TANK DOOR DID NOT OPEN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE FUEL TANK DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB AND MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11230010 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10918891 · 2016-10-25 (October 25, 2016)
OWNED THIS NEW 2016 XC 90 T8 FOR ABOUT 30 DAYS. CHARGED CAR OVERNIGHT AS USUAL. DROVE IT ABOUT 3 MILES THE NEXT MORNING AND SUDDENLY CAR SPEED SLOWED DRAMATICALLY TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND A "CAR WILL NOT RESTART, DRIVE TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP" UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT IN THE POSITION TO DO SO, SO I PULLED INTO A STRIP MALL TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR AND WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. BATTERY WORKING FINE, AS RADIO, AND LIGHTS WORKED , BUT CAR WOULD NOT POWER ON. WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP, THIS WAS AN ISSUE THEY HAD JUST SEEN THE WEEK BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417805 · 2021-05-19 (May 19, 2021)
The attached file outlines details - 1.After a recent car wash at a Shell Service Station…..April 5,2021, upon starting the vehicle – the computerized dashboard displayed erratic and incomplete information. It attempted to indicate multiple system failures – eg brakes, suspension, and others too garbled to understand. The entire driver’s console and information center display which were designed to show all of the vehicle operating modes and driver information were compromised and not functioning correctly. The Start/Stop Switch would no lo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417805 at NHTSA ↗