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2016 Volvo XC90 T5 Awd
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
195 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 16, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (43% of complaints, typically reported near 2k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Volvo XC90 T5 SUV AWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 18%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Volvo XC90 T5 Awd, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (56) · Body & structure (23) · Fuel system (13) · Speed control (11)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
43%84 complaints · typically near 2k mi · 16 in the last 2 years
“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…”
Electrical system
29%56 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“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 cras…”
Body & structure
12%23 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“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 caus…”
Brakes
7%14 complaints · typically near 5k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“THE CONTROLS ON STEERING INTERMITTENTLY DISABLED. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT WAS FIXED FOR WHILE, BUT IT REAPPEARED AGAIN! MANY VOLVO OWN…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Volvo XC90 T5 AWD beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every XC90 T5 Awd model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Volvo XC90 T5 Awd against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.