2016 Volvo XC90: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Engine · TX · fire

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.

Filed Feb 27, 2026 · CA · fire

My car started smoking on the road, I parked it. It smoked, Then it caught on fire.

Filed Aug 2, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MD · fire

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. When the car stopped, I grabbed my purse next to me and before we were to the sidewalk the car was engulfed in smoke and then flames. Our lives were at risk within two minutes of the check engine light coming on. This car was on fire in a parking lot of a pediatricians office around other cars with young families inside. It was scary and extremely unsafe for my son and I and many other people who were around the vehicle. Our car received each recall replacement/fix that was identified. This was extremely scary and unsafe, it put our lives and others' lives at risk within 2 minutes. We along with many others called 911, the situation was immediately out of control.

Filed Apr 4, 2023 · Engine · WA · fire

Vehicle caught fire after exiting freeway. Warning light turned on to check oil, immediately followed by smoke and flames from engine bay. Driver exited vehicle, call 911, fire was dispatched and extinguished fire. Vehicle suffered extensive fire/smoke damage and is a total loss.

Filed Aug 19, 2022 · Airbags, Engine · IL

Every 1500 miles or less, engine looses oil. Adding a quart of oil each week once it passes the 1500 trip mile. Also SRS warning light has come on, was told it was the seat harness that has a airbag module in which the airbag possibly won’t deploy in an accident. Dealer indicated it is not covered nor will the manufacturer repair it. These two issues can cause the engine to get on fire and the airbags not deploy in an accident which I believe are safety related.

Filed Aug 31, 2019 · Engine · 28,700 miles · FL · fire

Following recall service by dealership against the federal safety agency recall 19v308 the vehicle caught fire. The vehicle was picked up from the dealership and driven directly home, ~16 miles. At mile ~2 burning rubber was smelled while driving on the highway. At mile ~10 some smoke was seen when stopped at a traffic light. At mile~16 the engine died as the vehicle was being pulled into the driveway. Smoke started pouring our from under the hood and fire was shortly thereafter visible. The entire front end burned. I have plenty more pictures of the burning and burned car.

Filed Aug 12, 2019 · Engine · 20,000 miles · NY

I bought a brand new 2016, 1st generation volvo xc90 t6 on 10/13/2015. This car was sold to me with an engine defect from the manufacturer. It took more than two years of inconvenient, back and forth trips to the glen cove volvo dealer to find out the real problem. The engine oil warning light started saying to add 1 liter of engine oil in 2017. Since this is a new model of the car, I thought it's what this type of required, so initially I added engine oil a few times. However, the warning continues to come back every 5-6 months. I then suspected maybe something is wrong with the engine as it shouldn't have warned me to add engine oil as it's a brand new car. I finally drove the car to volvo glen cove dealer to request an engine check up on 02/22/2018. The first 2 times the dealer couldn't figure out the problem. Then, the 3rd time the engine light came on. Finally, my car was left with the dealer for 2 weeks and the dealer told me the engine has some manufacture defect. The oil was leaking from inside, not from outside. The engine had major repairs completed and a lot of crucial parts inside the engine were replaced. For example: gasket, piston kit, plug, sealing ring, castrol syntheti, o-ring, fuel pipe, stud, cap, anti-freeze. Only one week after getting the car back from the dealer, I was driving my whole family home. We suddenly started smelling a strong burning smell. Then smoke started billowing out from the front hood. Thank god we were off high way at that time. I was able to quickly turn off the engine. I can't imagine what will happen if this happened on highway. This time the car got towed back to dealer.

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 7,000 miles · CA · fire

My husband, mother-in-law, and three year old son were driving in the vehicle saturday, february 18th, 2017. As my husband turned down our road he stated he smelled smoke, but didn't realize it was coming from the vehicle. He pulled into our driveway and parked. They then saw smoke seeping out of the hood. My mother-in-law exited and my husband removed my son from the burning car. I came outside to greet them and witnessed this. He then opened the hood and there were significant flames on the driver side posterior area of the engine. He ran for our fire extinguisher while I called 911. He put out the fire with the extinguisher and the fire department arrived within five minutes. They inspected, opened the top cover of the battery and disconnected it. They reported to us that it appeared to be an electrical fire occurring at the area of the battery. After inspection by volvo and our insurance company, the damage was determined to be caused by rodents chewing on the electrical wiring inside the engine causing the shortage and subsequent fire. The damage was valued and paid at a cost of $11,000 (covered by insurance after deductible). There are multiple articles indicating attraction of rodents to the newer soy-based electrical wire insulation. Https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeldunne/2017/02/19/rats-new-cars-soy-coated-wires-give-rodents-plenty-to-chew-on/#2c8bcbd780ab http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-rodents-chewing-eating-car-wiring-393480601.html we are concerned for future use and for the safety of others.