2016 Volvo XC90 engine problems

Related recalls

• Recall 19V308000Apr 17, 201934,006 vehicles
  ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

  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.

  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.

What owners say

1. Filed Aug 17, 2026AZEngine

   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 interesting is that the "pipe" fails in exactly the same location (on top and near the end). Seems to me if this is a known defect and the part is not performing with reasonable…

   NHTSA complaint #11757537 · source
2. Filed Jul 17, 2026NCEngineOther / Unknown

   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 issue and there was a class action lawsuit for it, but since it was settled, there was no recall. This is, in fact, a dangerous issue that is preventable. Additionally, the sunroof…

   NHTSA complaint #11751100 · source
3. Filed Jun 26, 2026NDEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionOther / Unknown

   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 action lawsuit ([XXX] et al. v. Volvo Car USA, LLC, Case No. XXX, filed XXX. No there we NO warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. I purchased…

   NHTSA complaint #11746768 · source
4. Filed Apr 29, 2026NVEngine

   Vehicle start shaking Violently out of control. AAA picked up the vehicle and took it to their European shop and discovered it’s the piston rings . I asked Volvo to do a goodwill repair and they rejected my claim on a well know issue that I was not brought aware while having the vehicle serviced at their facility Findley Volvo dealership. I’ve been taking this vehicle there for two years, with an oil problem. They never did an oil consumption test or correct the piston…

   NHTSA complaint #11734718 · source
5. Filed Apr 21, 2026NVEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   Since moving here to Nevada in 2023, I’ve had several oil changes. After about 1200 I have to add mother oil to the car. I’ve gone back three times to 5 min oil change to get free refills since they offer free top offs after your initial oil change. I than took a deep dive on the internet and discovered that the Volvo XC90, 2016 had issues with oil consumption, but never informed me of this issue. I’ve been to the dealership several times and not once did the inform me…

   NHTSA complaint #11732842 · source
6. Filed Apr 20, 2026TXFireEngine

   About a month ago I received an Engine Coolant Low warning from the vehicle so the fluid was topped off. This past Friday, April 17th as I was driving home around midnight, I received an Engine Temperature is High, please pull over notice so I stopped the vehicle and had it towed home. Saturday evening, as the car was sitting in my driveway, the vehicle caught fire. The entire engine bay ignited and basically melted.

   NHTSA complaint #11732429 · source
7. Filed Apr 16, 2026NCEngine

   Hey I purchased a Volvo xc90 2016 seven months ago and I currently still have this car. Also others with the same model, are having problems with oil consumption who is the problem that I’m sadly dealing with, My car burns so much oil and I’m only 19 I got this hoping for a reliable car but in stead in burns oil just has much as I burn fuel every 500 miles, if that probably less miles. it tells me to had a liter of oil because it says I’m out of oil. I just need some one to…

   NHTSA complaint #11731647 · source
8. Filed Jan 23, 2026MDEngine

   My vehicle was signaling me to add oil every 600 - 1000 miles around 85,000 miles. The dealership charged me for a chemical treatment to stop the oil burning around 90,000 miles. At about 95,000 miles, my engine failed while driving on the interstate. There was no warning light or degradation of power. Suddenly, the engine lost power, went into limp mode and I could not maintain highway speed. The display flashes "Engine Performance Reduced." My SUV is now parked in my yard.…

   NHTSA complaint #11713040 · source
9. Filed Jan 23, 2026NCEngine

   *the engine is the part that failed due to excessive oil consumption. *it became a safety risk once it started selecting its own driving speed after dropping driving speed to 31mph on [XXX in Raleigh. *the problem was confirmed by the dealer, Volvo of Cary *it has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others *upon a service visit our technician, Ray Rancell of Volvo of Cary advised that the engine was leaking oil and engine failure…

   NHTSA complaint #11712975 · source
10. Filed Oct 20, 2025INEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionTransmission & Drivetrain

    On September 30, 2025, a 2016 Volvo XC90 T6 experienced sudden engine failure while driving westbound on I-75 (Alligator Alley) at highway speed. The vehicle abruptly went into reduced power mode (“turtle mode”) without warning. This forced the driver to stop on the roadside, creating a serious safety hazard in fast-moving traffic. Component/system that failed: Engine / Power Train. An independent repair facility performed diagnostics on October 6, 2025, including a…

    NHTSA complaint #11694587 · source
11. Filed Jul 30, 2025MSEngine

    Piston ring failure, excessive oil consumption. There was an extended warranty regarding the issue, but it has since been closed. I know there have been multiple lawsuits regarding this issue.

    NHTSA complaint #11677323 · source
12. Filed Jan 30, 20251 miOHFireTowedEngine

    The contact owned a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, white smoke began to emit from the vehicle as fellow motorists alerted her daughter that a fire had started underneath the vehicle. The contact's daughter immediately pulled over as all occupants exited the vehicle. The contact called the authorities as the vehicle was quickly incinerated by the fire. The contact stated that her youngest grandson suffered…

    NHTSA complaint #11639662 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology