Most common 2016 Volvo S60 problems
Share of the 26 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volvo S60 complaints by model year
Best S60 years: 2011, 2025, 2021. Years to avoid: 2012, 2024, 2013, 2015, 2001. Compare all years →
2016 Volvo S60 recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front
Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
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.
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.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting…
Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015.
What 2016 Volvo S60 owners say
Engine & cooling
At 86K miles can smell oil burning and add 1 quart light comes on. It's said Volvo is aware of a defect with the piston rings causing oil to consume and burn away. They aren't willing to address the issue outside warranty expiration. They did recently indicate how Volvo changed the requirement for using 5W30 oil to claim now Volvo changed there minds. How now only 0W20 full synthetic oil must be used. The label under the hood says use 5W30 only. It appears that Volvo is changing oil types because they know there's an issue with the piston rings and is trying to cover up a defect by doing so.
The alternator seized on the highway snapping the serpentine belt which got sucked into the timing and stopped the car in the left lane at highway speed. The timing guard failed allowing the belt to damage the timing. Volvo says it needs a head job I have possession of the vehicle and all maintenance records. Cars behind me dodged onto the shoulder to avoid hitting me. There was no warning. Furthermore this is a known problem a quick search of Volvo forums turned up over a dozen cars with insufficient timing guards
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V378000 (Seat Belts) and 16V798000 (Seat Belts). The dealer also repaired an unstated electrical failure. The contact stated that the cells in the battery were faulty. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The contact stated that after several weeks, the SRS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer who informed the contact that the vehicle had been in an accident previously and the wiring was faulty. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact of a fault with the rear of the battery. The auxiliary battery was draining, and the battery was leaking. …
The alternator seized on the highway snapping the serpentine belt which got sucked into the timing and stopped the car in the left lane at highway speed. The timing guard failed allowing the belt to damage the timing. Volvo says it needs a head job I have possession of the vehicle and all maintenance records. Cars behind me dodged onto the shoulder to avoid hitting me. There was no warning. Furthermore this is a known problem a quick search of Volvo forums turned up over a dozen cars with insufficient timing guards
Body & structure
The manufacturer has not corrected a known recall. Nor have I received an update. The recall notices state there is not yet parts available to correct it. But according to the NHTSA web site VIN look-up, the recall is listed as recall incomplete . When if there is no fix available it should be listed as recall incomplete. Remedy not yet available . We have received recall notifications, the first attachment. We have not received a follow-up notification for either recall notices. In the one for NHTSA recall 19V849 (recall r89978: door latches) states: "unfortunately at this time, replacement parts are not available for this repair. Please be assured that Volvo is working to secure the needed replacement door latches as soon as possible. We will send you a second notification letter as soon as the replacement door latches are available." my problem is that I am a U.S. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Volvo S60. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V849000 (latches/locks/linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact contacted an unknown dealer and was informed the part was not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced nay failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2016 Volvo S60 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 37 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 32 / 27 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo supercharged | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
| 2.5L 5-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Volvo S60 a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 S60 rates average: 25% fewer complaints than a typical year of the S60 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volvo S60?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (5) and body & structure (3).
How many recalls does the 2016 Volvo S60 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2016 Volvo S60, the most recent from June 30, 2020 (front). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volvo S60?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2025 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 2024, 2013, 2015 and 2001. See the full Volvo S60 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Volvo S60 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 59% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.