2016 Volvo XC90: sudden loss of power

Filed Jun 26, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · ND

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 this vehicle as a second owner from Carvana [XXX] — one month after the class action was filed. I was never notified of the defect, the litigation, or any service campaign or extended warranty coverage associated with this VIN, through Carvana nor Volvo. Since the power loss, I have spent $11,543.75 in out-of-pocket repairs (replacement engine, labor, towing). Despite a new engine being installed, the vehicle enters limp mode within one mile of driving. A Volvo-authorized dealer has quoted an additional $19,959.65 in repairs without certifying that the work will resolve the safety issue. Volvo Customer Care has declined to assist, stating their internal service campaign has concluded. I am submitting this safety complaint because sudden, unexplained power loss in a moving vehicle is a significant safety hazard, and because second owners of affected vehicles were never properly notified of the defect. I never knew nor was this disclosed to me before purchase from Carvana nor told to me by Volvo. I was in the middle of nowhere and I was not sure what to do and being a single woman, I was unsafe and scared. What ever this issue is Volvo and the dealer in South Dakota (where it is parked right now) as I had it towed on June 5th, and they don't want to help nor fix my vehicle. I need my catering business vehicle as this is a very concerning for my loss of use for over a year now for my catering part of my business. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 23, 2026 · Engine · MD

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. I have paid two Volvo dealerships and a Volvo repair shop to inspect it. They reported oil burning, cylinder scoring and spark plug failure. There is scoring in the #3 cylinder and there is also no compression in the #3 cylinder. They further advised me that ALL engines that fit in my vehicle will experience this oil burning issue and the subsequent pathway to failure. I see evidence that this is a known issue with 2.0L and 2.5L Volvo engines between 2013-16. Of particular note is that several other owners have experienced failure in the #3 cylinder. There is an issue of clogged rings causing oil burning. Oil burning leads to damage to internal engine components like pistons, spark plugs, valves and etc..causing engine failure and ultimately engine fires. Oil burning extends into the exhaust system and also damages catalytic converters leading to failure of those components and even fires. I understand Volvo issued Tech Journals to dealerships but, to date, this information has not been published to the consumer that we may be made hole. This is a major design flaw that creates an expensive and extremely dangerous situation affecting numerous engine parts subject to high levels of heat during engine operation. Any of these parts are susceptible to spontaneously combusting during operation and without warning. It is an extremely dangerous situation. However, I see no evidence of a recall on my vehicle.

Filed Oct 20, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · IN

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 compression test. Results confirmed that one cylinder had lost compression due to a failed cylinder head. The mechanic attributed this to excessive oil consumption from defective piston rings, a condition documented in Volvo technical bulletins. Inspection: The vehicle was inspected by an independent service center. Photos and test results are available for inspection upon request. The manufacturer was contacted and denied assistance, citing mileage, despite known oil consumption defects in this engine family. Safety risk: The sudden loss of power at highway speed put the driver and other motorists at risk of collision. With no advance warning, the driver was left stranded on a dangerous stretch of interstate. Reproduction: The failure has been confirmed through diagnostic testing and inspection by the independent service center. Manufacturer/police/insurance inspection: The manufacturer has been notified, but no inspection by Volvo has occurred to date. No police or insurance inspection was performed. Warning messages or lamps: Prior to the breakdown, no warning lamps or messages indicated impending failure. The first and only symptom was the sudden loss of power on the highway. Incident cause assessment: Based on mechanic’s findings, the underlying cause is piston ring/oil consumption defect leading to cylinder head failure. This defect is widely reported in Volvo vehicles with this engine and represents a safety-related condition.

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 Jun 4, 2024 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

The vehicle exhibits excessive oil consumption due to defective oil control rings, as highlighted by Quality Bulletin P10186. Additionally, the sunroof leaks, as noted in Technical Journal 31272 and TJ 35503.3.0, and there are further issues with the windshield wiper/turn signal system, the parking brake system, and the steering wheel module. Yes, the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The excessive oil consumption and related engine issues can lead to engine damage and potential failure while driving, posing a serious safety risk. The sunroof leakage could impair visibility and cause electrical failures. The persistent dashboard warning messages and system malfunctions further distract and endanger the driver and others on the road. Yes, the problem has been reproduced and confirmed by various dealers and independent service centers, as indicated by numerous customer cases, court rulings, and a class-action lawsuit. Yes, the vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer and documented in various technical journals and bulletins. There is no specific mention of inspection by police or insurance representatives. Yes, there were several warning lamps and messages, including the low oil light, Check Engine light, and messages related to the parking brake and windshield wiper/turn signal system. Symptoms such as slow acceleration, loss of power, higher tailpipe emissions, and a foul odor from the exhaust were also observed. These issues appeared shortly after acquiring the vehicle and persisted despite multiple repair attempts. The incident is primarily caused by engineering flaws and faulty materials, particularly the defective oil control rings leading to excessive oil consumption. Despite engine replacements, the problem persisted, indicating a fundamental design flaw. The sunroof leakage and other system malfunctions further suggest widespread safety and durability issues in the vehicle, rendering it unsafe to operate.

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · Engine · TN

The engine is burning oil due to a factory design defect in the piston ring design, as verified by Volvo through a technical bulletin. In the bulletin, Volvo states that there is a free oil consumption test available for up to 100k miles. However, once I brought the car in for the test, they denied doing it for free and did not send any notice by mail. Burning oil can lead to a fire risk and loss of power while driving on the highway, which can cause serious accidents. Their published bulletin confirms the issue. The car has not been inspected, and there are no warning lights.

Filed May 16, 2023 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

My XC90 had the oil consumption issue that I started reporting at 50K miles and Volvo finally performed a piston ring replacement at 80K miles under a service action. Fuel injectors were also replaced by the Dealer. On our first long distance trip from Tallahassee to Atlanta, the car lost all power and stopped on I-75, almost killing us. It had to be towed and the dealer says that the engine was flooded by fuel due to fuel pump module failure causing fuel injectors to stay activated and engine needs to be replaced. I believe that the issue was caused by the repair not being done correctly or the time it took Volvo to take responsibility for the oil consumption issue and subsequent repair.

Filed Aug 3, 2022 · Driver assistance · 90,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH with his four children sitting in the rear of the vehicle, the parking brake engaged independently and the vehicle stopped abruptly. The contact stated that the seat belts engaged to the point of choking himself and the passengers. Additionally, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the vehicle resumed normal driving independently and he was able to drive to his residence. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would stall while driving. The message "Loss of Power" was displayed. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after several attempts; however, the vehicle would occasionally start only when jumpstarted. The contact stated that the vehicle would often times be restarted within an hour. The dealer was notified and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Jul 28, 2022 · Engine · VA

Driving at highway speed and a sudden loss of power. Vehicle has a history oil consumption. Seems that engine has a major defect. Waiting on a second estimate, seems a known catastrophic issue with pistons issue causing major engine work or possible replacement.

Filed May 18, 2022 · Engine · NC

Oil consumption issue every 1500 miles engine requires top off oil 1 qt other wise piston rings can ignite damage engine result in loss of power.

Filed Jul 20, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 881 miles · TX

The vehicle lost all power while I was driving on a freeway. The power came back on, (showing certain features but not all) briefly for a minute and then shut down again. In addition to this problem, a consistent issue that has happened no less than 6 times over the course of a year is the vehicle interprets there is something in its path and slams on the brakes when there is nothing in its path. There is no car, person, object, plant, etc. In the way of the vehicle at all.

Filed Jun 27, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 5,000 miles · MA

Around 10.30 am on sunday, 26th june 2016, I was driving on I-95 (near stamford ct) with my family when the car suddenly lost power, slowed down dramatically in the middle of I-95 and started to crawl at 10 miles/hour. We were in danger of being hit by a number of vehicles while I negotiated to exit the highway on exit 9 and pulled over into a side street. The instrumentation panel of the car had blanked out. The car could only crawl at about 10 miles/hour. It would not shift to higher gear even in manual mode. I called the volvo on call and they advised me to switch off the car, exit the car and then re start the car after five minutes. I did that and the problem still persisted. I some how drove the car to the nearest volvo dealership (stamford volvo) which was closed on sunday. Dropped the car off in the lot, rented a car and drove 200 miles back to boston.