Home › Cars › Volvo › XC90 › 2016
2016 Volvo XC90 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
52% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Volvo XC90 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 48%).
Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 96 of 185 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%), and the largest group is filed under engine (87). For comparison, the 2017 scores 41%. 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 XC90 years
Of the 7 Volvo XC90 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the worst on engine and transmission share (52%). The best is the 2023 (16%). By volume, the 2016 drew 198 complaints (96 drivetrain), against 80 for the 2017.
Volvo XC90 years to avoid and best years →
2016 · 2017 XC90 problems · 2018 XC90 problems · 2019 XC90 problems · 2020 XC90 problems · 2022 XC90 problems · 2023 XC90 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Volvo XC90
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Volvo XC90 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- 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 96 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Volvo XC90 engine recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Volvo XC90 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total. 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.
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.
Risk: 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.
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. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's…
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Volvo XC90? 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 XC90
Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 96 of 185 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Volvo XC90 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (52%). 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 XC90?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Volvo XC90 is engine: 87 of 198 complaints (44%) name it, followed by electrical system (57) and structure (23). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2016 Volvo XC90 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 52% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 68% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 7 Volvo XC90 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 XC90?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Volvo XC90 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 19V308000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Volvo XC90 years are better?
Among the Volvo XC90 years we track, the 2023 (16%), the 2018 (30%) and the 2020 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (52%). 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-xc90
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. Combined across 4 body styles NHTSA files separately.