2016 Volvo XC90
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 88 of 197 complaints (45%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (5) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,300–3,450 | 3,100–3,500 | 3,100–3,500 | 2,850–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–19 | 22–25 | 22–25 | 23–27 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16 / 23–24 | 20–24 / 25–27 | 20–24 / 25–27 | 20–26 / 27–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 455–472 | 373–397 | 373–399 | 353–394 | |
| Complaints filed | 4 | 197 | 76 | 50 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 8 | 7 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 10 | 7 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 8 | 9 | 3 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have?
8 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Volvo XC90?
Engine: 88 of 197 NHTSA complaints (45%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Volvo XC90 get?
EPA rates it 22–25 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Volvo XC90?
EPA estimates $3,100–$3,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 20 mpg (low) | 25 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | $3,500 (high) | 397 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 22 mpg | 26 mpg | 24 mpg | $3,250 | 373 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg | 25 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | $3,350 | 384 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Premium and Electricity | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 24 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 25 mpg (high) | $3,100 (low) | 241 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 88 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 56 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 18 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 39 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (8)
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · Campaign 23V827000 · Dec 8, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An improperly tightened seat belt buckle may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing their risk of injury during a crash.
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 1-800-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10259.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · Campaign 21V273000 · Apr 22, 2021
Defect: 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.
Consequence: The rear passenger may become trapped by the front seat without the ability to cancel the seat's movement, increasing the risk of injury.
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 1-888-458-1552. Volvo Car's number for this recall is R10093.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS · Campaign 19V308000 · Apr 18, 2019
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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 for this recall is R29936.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY · Campaign 16V798000 · Nov 2, 2016
Defect: 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 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."
Consequence: 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.
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 service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.
AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER · Campaign 16V690000 · Sep 26, 2016
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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. Owners may contact Volvo at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this campaign is R89707.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY · Campaign 16V268000 · May 4, 2016
Defect: 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 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."
Consequence: If the switch is unintentionally pressed and the sunroof panel closes, there is an increased risk of occupant injury.
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 or by visiting http://Volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is R89702.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 15V497000 · Aug 6, 2015
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Underinflated air bags may not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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 Care at 1-800-458-1552.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 15V342000 · Jun 3, 2015
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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 contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89571.