2016 Volvo XC90: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Volvo XC90: 8 recalls, 197 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V342000 · 2015 · 584 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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 on June 30, 2015.
Airbags Vehicle recall #15V497000 · 2015 · 3,911 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Underinflated air bags May not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: 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, 2015.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #16V268000 · 2016 · 30,214 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
The fix: 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.
Equipment, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V690000 · 2016 · 43,766 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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 on November the 14, 2016.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #16V798000 · 2016 · 74,027 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #19V308000 · 2019 · 34,006 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Volvo cars will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine side coolant bleeder hose, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2019.
Electrical Vehicle recall #21V273000 · 2021 · 162 vehicles
What's wrong: Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display May cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
Why it matters: The rear passenger May become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #23V827000 · 2023 · 2,911 vehicles
What's wrong: The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts May not be tightened properly.
Why it matters: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle May not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 10 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (86): the most common themes are excess oil use (28), leaks (22), fire / smoke (20).
- Electrical (56): the most common themes are electrical failure (17), door / lock issues (9), warning light on (9).
- Other / unknown (36): the most common themes are fire / smoke (8), leaks (5).
- Body & structure (23): the most common themes are door / lock issues (16), leaks (4).
The 2016 Volvo XC90 has 197 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 23 XC90 model years for complaints (3.0× the average XC90 year). Complaints peaked in 2024 (33 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 20,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (0 complaints, 1 recalls), 2017 (80 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 26 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 | 25 | 23 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Volvo XC90.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Volvo XC90. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Volvo XC90 problems?
Owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (86), electrical (56), other / unknown (36).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Volvo XC90 get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 3 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Volvo XC90 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.