2016 Volvo XC90 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 8 NHTSA recalls and 198 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
25/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Volvo XC90
The 2016 Volvo XC90 shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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8
NHTSA Recalls
8 recalls on record
198
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
5
Crash Reports
11 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Volvo XC90 (8)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Volvo dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Cooling System: Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
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.
Remedy: Volvo Cars will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine side coolant bleeder hose, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2019. Owners may contact Volvo customer service…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volvo Car will notify owners, and dealers will update the rear seat control display software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2021. Owners may contact Volvo…
🔧 Equipment: Appliance: Air Conditioner
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.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air conditioning drain hose for proper installation, replacing the hose as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin…
🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Buckle Assembly
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.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017….
🔧 Visibility: Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will perform a software upgrade that disables the auto-close function, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Volvo customer…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window
Underinflated air bags may not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will modify the D-pillar interior panels to allow full inflation of the third row airbags, free of charge. The recall began on September 21,…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window
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…
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the routing of the SIPS wiring, correcting the routing and installing a protective sleeve as necessary, free of charge. The recall began…
🔧 Seat Belts: Critical Fasteners
An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the second-row seat belt buckle anchorage bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Volvo Car…
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Volvo XC90
Based on 198 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Volvo XC90 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Volvo XC90 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2010, 2011, 2012 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Volvo XC90
Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Volvo XC90 has 8 recall campaigns and 198 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have?
The 2016 Volvo XC90 has 8 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volvo XC90?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Volvo XC90 are: Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Structure. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 safe to buy?
The 2016 Volvo XC90 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 8 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Volvo XC90 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Volvo XC90 are: 2010, 2011, 2012. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016, 2017.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.