2016 Volvo XC90 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
8 safety recalls list the 2016 Volvo XC90, and owners have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
8 safety recalls for the 2016 Volvo XC90
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Critical fasteners (seat belts)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2015-2024 XC90 vehicles. The second-row seat belt buckle and lower belt anchor bolts may not be tightened properly.
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 customer service at…
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Software (electrical system)
Volvo Car USA, LLC (Volvo Car) is recalling certain 2016-2020 XC90 Excellence vehicles. Liquid or condensation on the rear seat control display may cause the front passenger seat to move back as far as possible.
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 Car customer service at…
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Hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)
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.
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 at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number…
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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate…
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. Owners may contact Volvo customer…
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Air conditioner (equipment) and air bags
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Volvo XC90 and S90 vehicles manufactured April 15, 2015 through September 19, 2016. 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.
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 on November the 14, 2016.…
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Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)
Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 XC90 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2015, to April 23, 2016. 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…
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 service at 1-800-458-1552…
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Air bags: side/window
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.
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, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo Customer…
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Air bags: side/window
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.
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 on June 30, 2015. Owners may…
197 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2016 Volvo XC90 have filed 197 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 10 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 37,517 miles. Complaints peaked in 2024 with 33 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I discovered an engine coolant leak from a crack near the end of the Plastic Coolant Bypass Pipe (part #31368673/32382362) after noticing coolant puddling on my garage floor. There are numerous commen”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 17, 2026 · Engine
“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 high”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 17, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (XC90 AWD, XC90 AWD PHEV, XC90 FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 22–25 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–24 / 25–27 |
| Fuel | Premium, Premium and Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
Compare Volvo XC90 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volvo XC90 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Volvo XC90 | 5 | 93 |
| 2004 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 462 |
| 2005 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 223 |
| 2006 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 53 |
| 2007 Volvo XC90 | 2 | 38 |
| 2008 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 29 |
| 2009 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 7 |
| 2010 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 12 |
| 2011 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 19 |
| 2012 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 11 |
| 2014 Volvo XC90 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 Volvo XC90 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 Volvo XC90 | 8 | 197 |
| 2017 Volvo XC90 | 7 | 80 |
| 2018 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 51 |
| 2019 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 42 |
| 2020 Volvo XC90 | 7 | 32 |
| 2021 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 38 |
| 2022 Volvo XC90 | 4 | 29 |
| 2023 Volvo XC90 | 6 | 40 |
| 2024 Volvo XC90 | 3 | 36 |
| 2025 Volvo XC90 | 2 | 29 |
Checking a specific 2016 Volvo XC90
How do I know if my 2016 Volvo XC90 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2016 Volvo XC90; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volvo dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V342000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volvo models
- S601,266 complaints
- S80954 complaints
- V70933 complaints
- XC60651 complaints
- S70593 complaints
- 850569 complaints
- S40491 complaints
- XC70417 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.