2016 Volvo XC90: excessive oil consumption

Filed Jul 17, 2026 · Engine · NC

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 drains also leak. Water frequently leaks down the A-pillar directly onto the Central Electronic Module (CEM) causing unsafe electrical issues and potential engine failure. This was a known issue on other models, but it is also present in this model vehicle. When I tried to fix this under a warranty contract, I was denied by the certified repair shops.

Filed Apr 29, 2026 · Engine · NV

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 issue. I am appalled at this action and behavior by the dealership.A well documented issue with this vehicle. They told the program has expired, I’d have to pay for service . I have photos as well of the issue.

Filed Apr 21, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · NV

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 either. I mentioned to Bailey Anderson at Findlay Volvo in Las Vegas that this car consumes a lot of oil. He said no it didn’t without even checking for facts. I read that Volvo knew about this issue and we’re fixing the issue, however when I inquired they wanted me to pay for their mistake. How is that so when they knew there is and was an oil consumption matter and did not inform me of the matter. I’m furious with Volvo for hiding or concealing this issue. How can I get them to correct the matter, at this point?

Filed Apr 16, 2026 · Engine · NC

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 help me it hasn’t had anything done to it it’s all original with only 127,000 miles on it and this probably has been happening since I purchased it with only 118,000 miles.

Filed Jan 23, 2026 · Engine · NC

*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 would occur if we didn't take care of it so we did to a total of $2879.74 which would keep the engine from seizing. That means we paid to prevent exactly what happened anyway and as I found out later he did not perform an oil consumption test so he had no way of knowing the shape the engine was in but charged for this work anyway. The repair invoice says the customer stated oil leaking on timing belt but that is incorrect. I would have no way of knowing that as the only thing i know about cars is replinishg fluids. We did have to replinish oil often and advised Ray of that but he said it was normal. Thank God I was able to get into the slow lane and prevented any accident but my and my daughter's life was certainly put at risk. There is a known recall for excessive oil consumption which I fould out about later. When I questioned Volvo they said my VIN number was not included in the recall. Clearly, it should have been. 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 12, 2025 · Engine · VA

This car is consuming oil and has the potential to catastrophically fail, or catch fire.

Filed Jul 30, 2025 · Engine · MS

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.

Filed Sep 17, 2024 · Brakes, Engine · 140,000 miles · SC

The contact owns a 2016 Volvo XC90. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the oil light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V308000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that an oil change was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, who informed the contact that the vehicle was consuming oil and informed the contact about an oil consumption test. The contact was informed that a spark plug had exploded in the engine. The engine was replaced. The contact noticed that water was entering inside the vehicle. There was water dripping on the entertainment center, and the pixels were half out. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the infotainment screen needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. While driving at unknown speeds, the brakes became inoperable. While at a car wash, the fenders detached. After driving for several hours, the turn off engine message was displayed. The contact added additional coolant, but the coolant depleted quickly. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine line had split open. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and opened a case but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.

Filed Aug 11, 2024 · Engine · AZ

The exhaust manifold and supercharger on my 2016 Volvo XC90 have malfunctioned. The exhaust manifold has a visible crack, and the supercharger has seals that are leaking exhaust gases. Both components are available for inspection upon request and have been diagnosed by an independent mechanic who conducted a smoke test revealing these issues. The malfunction poses a significant safety risk as exhaust gases are leaking into the cabin, creating a dangerous environment that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. This condition represents a serious health hazard to anyone in the vehicle. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. They diagnosed the issue with the P0171 code indicating the engine is running lean due to a vacuum leak. They also conducted a smoke test that identified the cracked manifold and leaking supercharger seals. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It has been inspected by an independent mechanic. Yes, prior to the failure, the vehicle displayed a warning light for the P0171 code indicating that the engine was running lean. Other symptoms included unusual oil consumption and excessive oil in the intake system, which were previously diagnosed by a Volvo dealer as a factory defect.

Filed Jul 7, 2024 · Engine · TX

Excessive Oil consumption. Volvo knowingly allows for the sale and resale of their 2013-2016 vehicles all makes and models even though they know there is an engine issue causing excessive oil consumption due to bad pistons and o rings in the engine. They’ve tried to hide this for years and since has covered a limited number of vehicles to be repaired based on stringent requirements eliminating most of the vehicles that actually should be covered. This oil consumption issue is dangerously causing vehicle to over consumption oil possibly causing the engine to seize or costly repairs up to but not limited to $13,000. This issue has cost me excessive oil changes and oil purchases in just a matter of months since its purchase date. A warranty was issued for this issue but Grubbs Volvo of Grapevine Texas has stated that due to the requirements my vehicle does not qualify to be covered because of the time limitations Volvo put on the repairs. This is a manufacturing issue with defective engine parts which should have been a recall not a warranty allowance. Volvo is deceiving consumers. Not only is this an issue for repairs, this could potentially cause accidents should and engine seize while operating on a roadway and who knows how many lives are at stake. The years 2013-2016 should be cover 100% by recall no matter what if vehicle falls in the all models 2013-2016 manufacturer dates. This has caused me excessive oil change purchases of $189.00 and 1 liter of oil weekly after just driving 1500 miles in 3 weeks. This is a huge problem and is well documented and should be recalled and corrected.