Home › Cars › Volvo › XC60 › 2016
2016 Volvo XC60 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
64% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Volvo XC60 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 10 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 47%).
Does the 2016 Volvo XC60 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 18 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (64%), and the largest group is filed under engine (15). For comparison, the 2015 scores 33%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Volvo XC60 years
Of the 11 Volvo XC60 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (64%). The best is the 2013 (9%). By volume, the 2016 drew 38 complaints (18 drivetrain), against 47 for the 2015 and 16 for the 2017.
Volvo XC60 years to avoid and best years →
2010 XC60 problems · 2011 XC60 problems · 2012 XC60 problems · 2013 XC60 problems · 2015 XC60 problems · 2016 · 2018 XC60 problems · 2019 XC60 problems · 2021 XC60 problems · 2022 XC60 problems · 2023 XC60 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Volvo XC60
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 18 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Volvo XC60 engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volvo XC60, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Volvo XC60? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Volvo XC60
Does the 2016 Volvo XC60 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 18 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC60 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (64%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volvo XC60?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Volvo XC60 is engine: 15 of 38 complaints (39%) name it, followed by seat belts (6) and electrical system (3). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Volvo XC60 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 64% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 11 Volvo XC60 years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Volvo XC60?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2016 Volvo XC60, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Volvo XC60 years are better?
Among the Volvo XC60 years we track, the 2012 (9%), the 2013 (9%) and the 2018 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (64%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/volvo-xc60
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.