2016 Volvo XC90

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volvo XC90 has 304 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: 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 . ⚠️ 15 fire reports filed.

15 fire reports 10 crash reports 9 injuries

304

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

85 complaints

28%

• 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
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN ECO DRIVE MODE WITH THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION ENABLED. THE AUTO STOP KICKED IN AND STOPPED MY ENGINE, BUT WHEN I WENT TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE AUTO START DID NOT RESTART MY ENGINE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. NO ALERTS OR WARNINGS
• AROUND 10.30 AM ON SUNDAY, 26TH JUNE 2016, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 (NEAR STAMFORD CT) WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, SLOWED DOWN DRAMATICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF I-95 AND STARTED TO CRAWL AT 10 MILES/HOUR. WE WERE IN DANGER OF BEING HIT BY A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHILE I NEGOTIATED TO EXIT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

56 complaints

18%

• 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 BEGA
• AROUND 10.30 AM ON SUNDAY, 26TH JUNE 2016, I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 (NEAR STAMFORD CT) WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER, SLOWED DOWN DRAMATICALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF I-95 AND STARTED TO CRAWL AT 10 MILES/HOUR. WE WERE IN DANGER OF BEING HIT BY A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHILE I NEGOTIATED TO EXIT
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“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 BEGA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH NO CAR WITHIN 200 YARDS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, NO OBJECT ON THE ROAD, AND NO COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST 5 MPH FROM ABOUT 60 MPH FOR NO REASON. THE SEAT BELTS PRETENSIONED, THE GAS PEDAL DROPPED OUT FRO
• 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 BEGA
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN ECO DRIVE MODE WITH THE AUTO START/STOP FUNCTION ENABLED. THE AUTO STOP KICKED IN AND STOPPED MY ENGINE, BUT WHEN I WENT TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE AUTO START DID NOT RESTART MY ENGINE AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. NO ALERTS OR WARNINGS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH NO CAR WITHIN 200 YARDS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, NO OBJECT ON THE ROAD, AND NO COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST 5 MPH FROM ABOUT 60 MPH FOR NO REASON. THE SEAT BELTS PRETENSIONED, THE GAS PEDAL DROPPED OUT FRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

23 complaints

• 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 DRIV
• WHILE THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN MY GARAGE AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSED, I BELIEVE I PUT IT IN REVERSE THEN WENT TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR TO SEE IF MY DAUGHTER WAS TIGHTENED IN HER CAR SEAT, THE CAR DIDN'T MOVE. I AM NOT SURE IF I PUT IT BACK IN PARK BUT AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, IT DI
• WHEN PARKED IN A SCHOOL CAR PARK IN NJ IN A RAINSTORM THE TAILGATE OPENED ON ITS OWN WHEN AN ELECTRICAL STORM WAS ON. I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR AT THE TIE SHELTERING FROM THE RAIN. I CLOSED THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE AND LOCKED THE CAR. THE TAILGATE OPENED AGAIN. AND REPEATEDLY DID IT FOUR TIMES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 DRIV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

14 complaints

• 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 DEAL
• 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 DRIV
• THE "AUTO BRAKING" FUNCTION RELATED TO THE PASSIVE COLLISION AVOIDANCE ACTIVATES WITH NO OTHER OBJECT IN THE AUTOMOBILES PATH. IT HAS ACTIVATED 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 4 MONTHS. THE CAR WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN SEPTEMBER 2016 AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE INCIDENT (NOT SURPRISING AS IT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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 DEAL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 304 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: 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 BEGA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH NO CAR WITHIN 200 YARDS IN FRONT OF VEHICLE, NO OBJECT ON THE ROAD, AND NO COLLISION WAS IMMINENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY SLOWED DOWN TO ALMOST 5 MPH FROM ABOUT 60 MPH FOR NO REASON. THE SEAT BELTS PRETENSIONED, THE GAS PEDAL DROPPED OUT FRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 DRIV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)