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2016 Volvo XC90 electrical problems

56 complaints (28% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 10,000. 3 crashes reported.

owner complaints
56
of this car's complaints
28%
typical mileage
10,000
crashes
3
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Software
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Volvo XC90 electrical problems in other years

2003200520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fire or smoke 8Start-stop 6Backup camera 5

Related recalls

Electrical system: softwareReported April 21, 2021 · 162 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 21V273000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency 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 under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

What 2016 Volvo XC90 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 26, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · IL

SRS warning light and was told that is is due to a faulty misassembled wiring in the seat harness. Possibility of the airbags not deploying correctly in case of a crash. The dealer has confirmed that it is the seat harness that needs to be replaced. Due to the Month/Year of the vehicle it does not fall under the original recall which was only for vehicles that were manufactured between Jan/May 2015.

Filed Apr 11, 2025 · Body, Electrical · 168,000 miles · MO

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.

Filed Aug 5, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · AK

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.

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · TN

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. This issue occurred approximately two weeks after I purchased the vehicle. link for class action [XXX] .) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · Electrical, Lights · TN

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. No, the vehicle has not been inspected. Yes, the vehicle shows a "turn indicator malfunction" message on the main screen. This issue started around 89k miles.

Filed Feb 8, 2024 · Airbags, Electrical · FL

When driving slowly to enter a parking garage, the steering wheel on the car started to feel stiff, and as I completed the turn, there was a loud snapping sound. The dashboard showed an urgent fault saying “SRS Airbag Urgent - Drive To Workshop”. I drove it to the Volvo dealer. The steering wheel was having problems turning left. When the dealer attempted to move the car, it was then unable to turn left at all. So, the steering wheel completely failed.

Filed Jan 11, 2024 · Electrical · NJ

When driving and stop in a traffic light, for example, the Volvo ignition going off and I have to re-start it. The problem is rooted probably in the fuse associated with Volvo's stop/start motor. I found that other models have had the same problem, like the recall#R39574 and the reference safety campaign #15V555000.If the fuse blows in traffic, it could increase the risk of an accident, especially a rear-end collision.

Filed Dec 30, 2023 · Electrical · WA

On a travel trip to Seattle, we stopped at few stop, and when my sons tried to exit the rear doors, both would not open. Neither from the inside or outside. Nothing worked. Upon searching, this is a very common issue with the 2016+ models. When inquiring with volvo, it will cost anywhere from 1000-2000 per door to fix the "locking" mechanism which they say can corrode. Ridiculous. This is a major safety issue if passengers can't exit. I've never had a car which a door can't be opened.

Filed Nov 11, 2023 · Electrical · TX

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.

Filed Sep 18, 2023 · Driver assistance, Electrical · VA

It came to my attention this summer that my 2016 Volvo XC90 has an extensive sunroof drainage problem that has resulted in major leaks in the interior of the car and that has destroyed the electrical system which impacts everything (airbags, speed control, back up camera, object alert warnings, etc. It was impossible to have knowledge of this problem until it was too late (like cancer). Many dashboard lights came on, the car was acting funning, back-up camera did not work, AC worked intermittently, standing water in trunk, headliner water damage, etc. Onboard diagnostic system also not working. I have attached the preliminary report but dealership saying they need to pull up carpets, seats and dash to get to a full diagnosis. Here's summary I put together(Volvo Corp won't really communicate w/consumer). I have photos if needed: I also spent time the last several days continuing to do my research. It takes little more than a google search to understand the widespread sunroom drainage/leak issue with many Volvos. There are too many articles to list, but here is one: [XXX] recalls 127K vehicles due to leak The recall covers 2016 and 2017 XC90 SUVs and S90 sedans Myriad Facebook complaints I also spoke to service managers at various other Volvo dealerships. They have seen and continue to see this sunroof drainage problem and according to them, it is not minor nor unique. They agreed that the first incomplete estimate (~$3,500) that dealership is just that: incomplete. They said there is no way to know extent of the damage until carpets, dash, etc., are removed to see what full damage is but that they often see the need for full body harness replacement. It is special order + requires time to get and considerable labor hours to replace. That can push estimate up to $8,000-$9,000, well above estimate thus far from dealer. And the car will never be the same. Undriveable now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Questions about the 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical

Does the 2016 Volvo XC90 have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 56 complaints about the electrical of the 2016 Volvo XC90, 28% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 10,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2016 Volvo XC90 electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 21V273000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Volvo XC90 have the most electrical problems?

The Volvo XC90 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2004 (158 complaints), 2016 (56 complaints) and 2005 (51 complaints).

Is there a class action lawsuit over the Volvo XC90?

Yes. New class action says Volvo's Google-based infotainment screens freeze and take climate and rearview camera with them (November 9, 2026).

Other 2016 Volvo XC90 problems

Engine 88Body 23Brakes 15Fuel system 13Driver assistance 12Acceleration 11Transmission 10Airbags 8Steering 7Locks 6Visibility 6Seat belts 5Seats 4Lights 2Suspension 1Tires 1

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