2016 Volvo XC90 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 86 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2016 Volvo XC90, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 16,250 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (28% of reports).
- 86engine complaints
- 16,250median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $10,900typical repair cost reported by owners
- 44%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 24 of 86 complaints (28%)
- Piston ring: mentioned in 5 of 86 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2016 Volvo XC90 at $10,900, and half of them between $2,750 and $13,750.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 32 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 86 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 7 a fire.
Volvo XC90 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 XC90 | 1 | 3% | 2,300 |
| 2024 XC90 | 4 | 11% | — |
| 2023 XC90 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2022 XC90 | 6 | 21% | — |
| 2021 XC90 | 8 | 21% | — |
| 2020 XC90 | 7 | 21% | — |
| 2019 XC90 | 10 | 24% | 40,250 |
| 2018 XC90 | 5 | 10% | 11,500 |
| 2017 XC90 | 24 | 30% | 19,500 |
| 2016 XC90 | 86 | 44% | 16,250 |
| 2014 XC90 | 1 | 25% | 5,200 |
| 2013 XC90 | 2 | 18% | 24,250 |
| 2011 XC90 | 5 | 26% | 128,000 |
| 2010 XC90 | 1 | 8% | 151,500 |
| 2009 XC90 | 1 | 14% | 58,640 |
| 2008 XC90 | 6 | 21% | 92,000 |
| 2007 XC90 | 4 | 11% | 164,000 |
| 2006 XC90 | 6 | 11% | 160,000 |
| 2005 XC90 | 29 | 13% | 99,400 |
| 2004 XC90 | 28 | 6% | 104,789 |
| 2003 XC90 | 2 | 2% | 172,344 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:cooling system:hoses/lines/piping/fittings
Problem: 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 number for this recall is R29936.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 comments with pictures on-line about how common this part fails on this model Volvo. What's also…
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…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Volvo XC90s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 86 owner complaints about engine for the 2016 Volvo XC90 (44% of the 197 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Volvo XC90 engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 16,250 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2016 Volvo XC90?
Owners report a typical cost of $10,900 (half paid between $2,750 and $13,750), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2016 Volvo XC90?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 24 of 86 complaints, followed by “piston ring” (5).
Other 2016 Volvo XC90 problems
See all 2016 Volvo XC90 problems or engine problems across all XC90 years.