2016 Volvo XC90 Problems

Piston rings inside the engine failed due to a known oil consumption issue with this model vehicle. The engine failed while the car was driving 85 mph and consequently slowed down to 15mph on the highway, leaving the owner of the car stranded alone on the highway. Volvo has a known fix for this issue and there was a class action lawsuit for it, but since it was settled, there was no recall. This is, in fact, a dangerous issue that is preventable. Additionally, the sunroof drains also leak. Water frequently leaks down the A-pillar directly onto the Central Electronic Module (CEM) causing unsafe electrical issues and potential engine failure. This was a known issue on other models, but it is also present in this model vehicle. When I tried to fix this under a warranty contract, I was denied by the certified repair shops.

My 2016 Volvo XC90 suddenly lost power while I was driving, requiring me to pull over and have the vehicle towed. This is a documented safety issue associated with a known piston ring defect in 2013-2016 Volvo vehicles equipped with 2.0L and 2.5L engines, which was the subject of a federal class action lawsuit ([XXX] et al. v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Case No. XXX, filed XXX. No there we NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I purchased this vehicle as a second owner from Carvana [XXX] — one month after the class action was filed. I was never notified of the defect, the litigation, or any service campaign or extended warranty coverage associated with this VIN, through Carvana nor Volvo. Since the power loss, I have spent $11,543.75 in out-of-pocket repairs (replacement engine, labor, towing). Despite a new engine being installed, the vehicle enters limp mode within one mile of driving. A Volvo-authorized dealer has quoted an additional $19,959.65 in repairs without certifying that the work will resolve the safety issue. Volvo Customer Care has declined to assist, stating their internal service campaign has concluded. I am submitting this safety complaint because sudden, unexplained power loss in a moving vehicle is a significant safety hazard, and because second owners of affected vehicles were never properly notified of the defect. I never knew nor was this disclosed to me before purchase from Carvana nor told to me by Volvo. I was in the middle of nowhere and I was not sure what to do and being a single woman, I was unsafe and scared. What ever this issue is Volvo and the dealer in South Dakota (where it is parked right now) as I had it towed on June 5th, and they don't want to help nor fix my vehicle. I need my catering business vehicle as this is a very concerning for my loss of use for over a year now for my catering part of my business. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SRS warning light and was told that is is due to a faulty misassembled wiring in the seat harness. Possibility of the airbags not deploying correctly in case of a crash. The dealer has confirmed that it is the seat harness that needs to be replaced. Due to the Month/Year of the vehicle it does not fall under the original recall which was only for vehicles that were manufactured between Jan/May 2015.

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water had been leaking into the vehicle on rainy days. The contact stated that the water intrusion was causing several warning lights to illuminate and unknown vehicle safety equipment failures. The contact stated that the front and rear carpets and the spare tire were saturated with water. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was determined that water was leaking into the vehicle, but the dealer was unable to determine the point of intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding a failed rear door latch actuator in my 2016 Volvo XC90. This is a known issue among Volvo owners, yet there appears to be no recall or corrective action. The defect causes the door latch actuator to seize, rendering the affected rear door completely inoperable from both the inside and outside. This means passengers seated in the rear are unable to open the door to exit the vehicle. This is an extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening hazard. In the event of an emergency—such as a fire, collision, or submersion—rear seat passengers would be trapped inside the vehicle with no way to escape. This failure compromises basic vehicle safety standards, as all doors should be fully functional to allow for emergency egress. I strongly urge the NHTSA to investigate this recurring defect in Volvo vehicles and require Volvo to address it promptly before it results in serious injury or death.

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water had been leaking into the vehicle on rainy days. The contact stated that the water intrusion was causing several warning lights to illuminate and unknown vehicle safety equipment failures. The contact stated that the front and rear carpets and the spare tire were saturated with water. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was determined that water was leaking into the vehicle, but the dealer was unable to determine the point of intrusion. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 168,000.

Backup camera not activating when in reverse sporadically. My recorded video of this happening: [XXX] Issue has been brought to the Volvo dealership service department. Remedy from the Volvo service has been to update software but it has not corrected the issue. Multiple of owners have encountered the same issue which is widely documented online. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Same issue as complaint #11416043. Leak in sunroof has caused several electrical issues with the car. I had noticed occasional drips from the rear view mirror but had no idea that water was pooling under the spare tire in the trunk where several electrical components are located. When I originally brought it to the dealer (when I noticed the occasional drips) they said I needed to replace a major part of the sunroof which would have cost around $2,000. They did not mention that the water could/would reach the under carriage (not sure if that is the correct term) and could cause major electrical issues. I've since noticed that many others with this vehicle have had issues with the sunroof. I also had multiple times when my battery had to be replaced in the rear of the car when it should have been fine (was relatively new) which looking back could have been a result of the sunroof leak.

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V308000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that an oil change was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was consuming oil and informed the contact about an oil consumption test. The contact was informed that a spark plug had exploded in the engine. The engine was replaced. The contact noticed that water was entering inside the vehicle. There was water dripping on the entertainment center, and the pixels were half out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the infotainment screen needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While driving at unknown speeds, the brakes became inoperable. While at a car wash, the fenders detached. After driving for several hours, the turn off engine message was displayed. The contact added additional coolant, but the coolant depleted quickly. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine line had split open. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and opened a case but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that upon start of her vehicle, the parking brake message and a yellow flashing brake light appeared on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where they informed her that a wire connected to the parking brake was detached and need to be replaced. The contact was given an estimate for the repair and the wire was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered no assistance; the manufacturer referred her to NHTSA to file a complaint. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

My 2016 Volvo XC90 suddenly lost power while I was driving, requiring me to pull over and have the vehicle towed. This is a documented safety issue associated with a known piston ring defect in 2013-2016 Volvo vehicles equipped with 2.0L and 2.5L engines, which was the subject of a federal class action lawsuit ([XXX] et al. v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Case No. XXX, filed XXX. No there we NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I purchased this vehicle as a second owner from Carvana [XXX] — one month after the class action was filed. I was never notified of the defect, the litigation, or any service campaign or extended warranty coverage associated with this VIN, through Carvana nor Volvo. Since the power loss, I have spent $11,543.75 in out-of-pocket repairs (replacement engine, labor, towing). Despite a new engine being installed, the vehicle enters limp mode within one mile of driving. A Volvo-authorized dealer has quoted an additional $19,959.65 in repairs without certifying that the work will resolve the safety issue. Volvo Customer Care has declined to assist, stating their internal service campaign has concluded. I am submitting this safety complaint because sudden, unexplained power loss in a moving vehicle is a significant safety hazard, and because second owners of affected vehicles were never properly notified of the defect. I never knew nor was this disclosed to me before purchase from Carvana nor told to me by Volvo. I was in the middle of nowhere and I was not sure what to do and being a single woman, I was unsafe and scared. What ever this issue is Volvo and the dealer in South Dakota (where it is parked right now) as I had it towed on June 5th, and they don't want to help nor fix my vehicle. I need my catering business vehicle as this is a very concerning for my loss of use for over a year now for my catering part of my business. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Since moving here to Nevada in 2023, I’ve had several oil changes. After about 1200 I have to add mother oil to the car. I’ve gone back three times to 5 min oil change to get free refills since they offer free top offs after your initial oil change. I than took a deep dive on the internet and discovered that the Volvo XC90, 2016 had issues with oil consumption, but never informed me of this issue. I’ve been to the dealership several times and not once did the inform me either. I mentioned to Bailey Anderson at Findlay Volvo in Las Vegas that this car consumes a lot of oil. He said no it didn’t without even checking for facts. I read that Volvo knew about this issue and we’re fixing the issue, however when I inquired they wanted me to pay for their mistake. How is that so when they knew there is and was an oil consumption matter and did not inform me of the matter. I’m furious with Volvo for hiding or concealing this issue. How can I get them to correct the matter, at this point?

The eRAD (Electric Rear Axle Drive) on my 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV failed completely. The warning light appeared approximately 11/3/2025, within one week of purchasing the vehicle at 88,000 miles. The failure was confirmed by a Volvo dealership. The eRAD is the component that powers the rear electric motor and provides AWD and hybrid function — its failure results in complete loss of rear wheel drive and hybrid system operation. Safety risk includes unexpected loss of AWD traction control in adverse weather conditions. This is a known systemic defect acknowledged in Volvo’s own Technical Journals (TJ33358). I contacted Volvo Cars USA customer service to invoke the SULEV emissions warranty and they were unable to locate my claim or explain the warranty coverage. Volvo has not addressed this through a recall despite this being a widespread known failure mode affecting XC90 T8 models. The vehicle is available for inspection.

On September 30, 2025, a 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 experienced sudden engine failure while driving westbound on I-75 (Alligator Alley) at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly went into reduced power mode (“turtle mode”) without warning. This forced the driver to stop on the roadside, creating a serious safety hazard in fast-moving traffic. Component/system that failed: Engine / Power Train. An independent repair facility performed diagnostics on October 6, 2025, including a compression test. Results confirmed that one cylinder had lost compression due to a failed cylinder head. The mechanic attributed this to excessive oil consumption from defective piston rings, a condition documented in Volvo technical bulletins. Inspection: The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center. Photos and test results are available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer was contacted and denied assistance, citing mileage, despite known oil consumption defects in this engine family. Safety risk: The sudden loss of power at highway speed put the driver and other motorists at risk of collision. With no advance warning, the driver was left stranded on a dangerous stretch of interstate. Reproduction: The failure has been confirmed through diagnostic testing and inspection by the independent service center. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: The manufacturer has been notified, but no inspection by Volvo has occurred to date. No police or insurance inspection was performed. Warning messages or lamps: Prior to the breakdown, no warning lamps or messages indicated impending failure. The first and only symptom was the sudden loss of power on the highway. Incident cause assessment: Based on mechanic’s findings, the underlying cause is piston ring/oil consumption defect leading to cylinder head failure. This defect is widely reported in Volvo vehicles with this engine and represents a safety-related condition.

Loaded children into second row of vehicle, confirmed all doors closed. Began driving, passenger rear door swung open. Child DID NOT engage door handle. Pulled over to attempt to close door. Door latch would not engage, could not close or lock door. Still unable to close and lock door.

The rear doors get stuck closed. No unlocking or releasing child lock solves this issue. Had the passenger rear door unavailable for over 6 months and then it opened again only for the other side to quit working now. Volvo does not cover this issue despite clear danger to riders in accident or emergency in need to exit vehicle.

The contact owns a 2016 VOLVO XC90. The contact stated that while coming off a red light at 10 MPH, the contact was involved in a vehicle accident. The front end of the vehicle impacted the vehicle on the passenger side, which impacted more of the contact's front side on the passenger side. The vehicle came to a full stop in the middle of an intersection. No air bags were deployed in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed back to the residence. A police report was filed. The contact stated there were 2 subjects injured. The passenger in the contact vehicle was injured, and the driver of the vehicle that was impacted was also injured. The passenger injuries had been medically treated. The passenger was hurt in the knees, back, neck, and head; no severe injuries were reported. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V342000 (AIR BAGS) as the cause of the failure; the VIN was never included in the recall repair. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 90,000.

SRS warning light and was told that is is due to a faulty misassembled wiring in the seat harness. Possibility of the airbags not deploying correctly in case of a crash. The dealer has confirmed that it is the seat harness that needs to be replaced. Due to the Month/Year of the vehicle it does not fall under the original recall which was only for vehicles that were manufactured between Jan/May 2015.

Hi, I had a 2016 XC90 which has serious safety problems. The sunroof has a factory defect, leaking water into the car and causing failures in electronic systems and airbags. Many other owners have sued Volvo and won their cases. Additionally, the issue has been certified by the court, and there are technical bulletins published by Volvo addressing the problem. Yes. The water leak can damage entire electronic systems, such as airbags, the start-stop system, braking system, and lidar system. Once water enters any of these systems, it can lead to accidents and fires due to short circuits, posing a deadly risk. This issue can cause accidents or fires. No, but Volvo has published a bulletin, and there have been many court cases filed against Volvo since 2016. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. It's causing numerous random errors on the dashboard. This issue occurred approximately two weeks after I purchased the vehicle. link for class action [XXX] .) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

When driving slowly to enter a parking garage, the steering wheel on the car started to feel stiff, and as I completed the turn, there was a loud snapping sound. The dashboard showed an urgent fault saying “SRS Airbag Urgent - Drive To Workshop”. I drove it to the Volvo dealer. The steering wheel was having problems turning left. When the dealer attempted to move the car, it was then unable to turn left at all. So, the steering wheel completely failed.

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof. There was an abnormal odor of mold inside the vehicle. The carpet was not wet. There was an abnormal swishing sound detected inside the vehicle. After it rained, the contact noticed that the passenger side front floorboard had an accumulation of water a quarter inch deep. The contact noticed the water was leaking on the airbag from the exterior A-pillar. The contact moved the headliner, and the rubber boot was intact. The call/SOS warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, who informed about diagnostic testing and scheduled an appointment. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

The car has a factory fault with the Windshield Wiper or Turn Signal contact switch, which is causing the inability to use the left/right signal and the wipers. The entire part is factory faulty, rendering the vehicle unable to operate safely. This affects visibility during wet conditions because the wipers cannot be activated due to the malfunctioning switch, which can lead to serious accidents. Additionally, malfunctioning left/right turning signals can also cause serious accidents, as it is a crucial function. Yes, the vehicle is available upon request. I contacted Volvo, but they declined to fix the issue. They have published a technical bulletin regarding the problem but are not recalling the vehicles. Many other Volvo models have the same factory defect, as can be found on the internet. The technical bulletin confirms their fault. I have attached the file. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. Yes, the vehicle shows a "turn indicator malfunction" message on the main screen. This issue started around 89k miles.

Safety belt will not retract in pillar when unbuckled.

Every 1500 miles or less, engine looses oil. Adding a quart of oil each week once it passes the 1500 trip mile. Also SRS warning light has come on, was told it was the seat harness that has a airbag module in which the airbag possibly won’t deploy in an accident. Dealer indicated it is not covered nor will the manufacturer repair it. These two issues can cause the engine to get on fire and the airbags not deploy in an accident which I believe are safety related.

The car has a factory fault with the Windshield Wiper or Turn Signal contact switch, which is causing the inability to use the left/right signal and the wipers. The entire part is factory faulty, rendering the vehicle unable to operate safely. This affects visibility during wet conditions because the wipers cannot be activated due to the malfunctioning switch, which can lead to serious accidents. Additionally, malfunctioning left/right turning signals can also cause serious accidents, as it is a crucial function. Yes, the vehicle is available upon request. I contacted Volvo, but they declined to fix the issue. They have published a technical bulletin regarding the problem but are not recalling the vehicles. Many other Volvo models have the same factory defect, as can be found on the internet. The technical bulletin confirms their fault. I have attached the file. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. Yes, the vehicle shows a "turn indicator malfunction" message on the main screen. This issue started around 89k miles.

I UPDATED THE MAPS IN THE CAR'S NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON 8/3/2016. AT THAT TIME, VOLVO'S SERVER IN SWEDEN WERE DOWN. THEY HAD BEEN DOWN FOR DAYS. NEXT MORNING, WHEN I STARTED DRIVING TO WORK, I NOTICED THAT THE SENSUS SYSTEM STARTED REBOOTING EVERY COUPLE OF MINUTES. AS I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE SENSUS SYSTEM REBOOTED, IF MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL WAS ON, IT WOULD GO OFF FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS AND THEN COME BACK ON. IF THE SENSUS SYSTEM WAS REBOOTING AND I TRIED TO TURN ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, IT WOULD NOT COME ON. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS SENSUS SYSTEM IS JUST A CENTRAL CONSOLE AND IT'S REBOOT SHOULD NOT IMPACT CAR'S BASIC FUNCTIONS. BY THE TIME I LEFT WORK IN THE EVENING, THE SERVER IN SWEDEN WAS BACK ONLINE AND THE SENSUS CONSOLE STOPPED REBOOTING AND ISSUE NEVER HAPPENED.

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 FROM DRIVER'S FEET. CITY SAFETY ACTIVATED. ALL OCCUPANTS DEVELOPED MILD WHIPLASH. IT TOOK SEVERAL SECOND TO GET CAR TO RETURN TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS DUE TO A TOLL TAG THAT WAS PLACED TO CLOSELY TO THE CITY SAFETY SYSTEM NEAR THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. ...UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF *CN

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front air strut needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 65,000.

I just recently bought this car. And there was a vibration and a pull to the right so I brought it back to the dealer which is echo Park of Tampa. I said they needed to do the alignment and balance and they did that and it still is doing all the same things and the shaking is progressively becoming quickly I experienced this exact same thing in my Mazda that also had Continentals on it. And brought it back to the dealer four times in 9 months and they put brand new set of Continentals on every time and the same shaking would quickly reoccur. And shortly after I traded that Mazda in the tires were recalled. Experiencing the same exact symptoms with my Volvo with these Continental tires these are eco technology cross contact 235 55 R19 (105v) There's no specific incident nor a specific tire. This is every time (all tires) you get in the car from every mile per hour from the second you start moving to 70 or 80 and the shaking is getting progressively worse. I will be contacting Continental cuz I'm not sure if these are even added on the recall list but they need to be. It's scary driving especially since i nearly died in an auto accident because of a tire blow out.