Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Volvo XC90 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2016 XC90 that was regularly serviced by the Volvo dealer we bought the car from. My son and I were in my car on 08/02/2023 and we were at a stop light and something smelt a little off so my son put his window down to get fresh air. Then, we accelerated when the light turned green. Within 100 yds of accelerating my check engine light when on and simultaneously I lost acceleration. It was clear that something was wrong. I told my son we needed to unbuckle our seat belts and jump out of the car when I could get us safely stopped. We coasted into a parking lot where I found a safe spot to stop. While coasting I looked at my car screen to see if there was oil or other fluid that was low, but there was no indicator of a problem other than the check engine light that had just gone on at the same time as I lost the ability to accelerate. …
The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced high oil consumption. After adding oil to the engine, the message "Oil Level Low" was display within three weeks. Additionally, while operating the vehicle the message "low engine function" had displayed and the vehicle would not properly accelerate and was jerking. The contact also discovered puddles of water inside the rear trunk of the vehicle with electrical wires and components submerged in the water. The vehicle had experienced various electrical failures with the back-up camera malfunctioning. In addition, there was mold inside the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted regarding the failures. The failure mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not included.
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.
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. …
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. …
Main Cooling system hose burst while driving down the road. Volvo Dealer said extremely rare for this to occur. Car overheated, all warning lights appeared and coolant exploded under hood all while driving.Had to have repaired $1000. Also a water leak inside 3rd row & leaks from rear view mirror area. Caused electrical damage to main system computer module, had to have replaced $2000+. All work done at volvo dealer. No frame damage,no missing parts, dealer stated unknown reason. Same thing is now happening a 2nd time and warranty will not cover water damage. Have spoken with others experiencing the same problem with roof leak. No alarms came on prior to combustion/main hose top engine area before break. Happend immediately, unexpectedly
The DIM (driver/driving instrument module), also known as the dashboard, on my vehicle suddenly stopped showing anything (speed, gas or battery charge level, etc.) recently, although there is still power (I could see the background lighting in the dark) and the vehicle can still be driven. This is certainly a severe safety issue. I had my vehicle checked at a Volvo Dealership shop; their diagnosis concluded that the entire DIM needs to be replaced; software update alone won't solve the issue. I shared this issue at a social media site (Volvo XC90 Owners Club at Facebook) and several others said to have had the same or similar issues with the DIM. I'd suggest Volvo to recall this safety issue.
The hybrid motor periodical will hesitate when accelerating from a stop, specifically it'll start accelerating then lose power for up to a couple of seconds before regaining power. This poses a safety risk if you start pulling out into traffic and suddenly and unpredictably lose power while there's oncoming vehicles. The problem just occurred for the first time about a week ago and coincidentally just a few days after taking the car in for its annual service, since then it has happened more frequently and I can't find any rhyme or reason as to why it happens. The vehicle will be going in to be checked out shortly. There have been no warning lights any time this has happened.
First, the rear passenger side door latch failed at 57k miles, allegedly due to water intrusion. They replaced with a revised part - p/n 32310869. Now at 63k miles, the driver side rear door latch failed in the same way. This compromises safety because it renders the rear seats completely inaccessible. I could not get my children out of the back seat through traditional means. The problem has been confirmed by a dealership and is well documented online. There was no warning or indication when the part had failed. The passenger door stopped working "regularly" (intermittently would not open) a few days before it failed entirely. The driver rear door gave no advanced notice.
My vehicle's SOS, On Call safety functions no longer work. In addition my navigation system no longer works properly. In the event of an accident These key safety features would not be able to alert emergency services or locate my position. This is a direct result in a flawed vehicle modem that uses the 3G network not supported by cellular carriers. Volvo has a solution that would cost me $850 to remedy this safety design flaw. Volvo should fix this key safety issue as it puts my family at risk if we are involved in an accident
Related recalls
Electrical system › Software
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.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other XC90 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2016 Volvo XC90?
NHTSA has 56 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Volvo XC90, 28% of the model year's 197 complaints. The component named most often is software (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-273 (software, Apr 21, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 70% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.