YearToAvoid

2016 Volvo S80 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

17/100

#6 most-complained of 7 S80 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2016 Volvo S80 ranks as the Best model year among the 7 years with data, with a complaint index of 17 and only 6 complaints. It has 2 recalls but no crashes, fires, injuries or deaths reported.

Complaints
6
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
29
25 city / 37 hwy

Top 2016 Volvo S80 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine3 (50%)
  2. Electrical System1 (17%)
  3. Fuel System1 (17%)
  4. Other1 (17%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (17%)

What owners report

  • Aluminum wheel rims cracked repeatedly, leading to air leaking out of the tire and reduced control.
  • Owners reported the vehicle jerking and stalling around 65 MPH with the check engine light on, especially when the fuel tank dropped below half full, with failure occurring near 50,000 miles.
  • A low oil pressure warning triggered a shutdown demand, and a mechanic found the engine nearly empty of oil, traced to a failed electronic oil gauge with no dipstick backup.
  • The engine auto start/stop system sometimes delayed restarting after the brake pedal was released, with no warning light present.
2016 Volvo S80 complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2019Aug 2021Jun 2022Aug 2022Feb 2023Jul 2024
7 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2019 to Jul 2024; peak Feb 2023 (2).

2016 Volvo S80 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V378000Jun 30, 2020Seat Belts308,260 vehicles

    Seat belts:front

    Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2008-2016 V70 and XC70, 2007-2016 S80, 2011-2018 S60 and V60, 2016-2018 S60 Cross Country, 2014-2020 S60L, 2009-2015 S80L, 2009-2016 XC60 and 2015-2018 V60 Cross Country vehicles. The flexible steel cable that connects the seat belt to the front outboard seating positions may fatigue over time, causing the seat belt to not secure the occupant in the event of a crash.

    Risk: An unsecured occupant has an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt anchor cable for both front seats. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10029.

  2. NHTSA 15V555000Sep 2, 2015Electrical System7,855 vehicles

    Electrical system:wiring:fuses and circuit breakers

    Volvo Cars of North America, LLC. (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016 Volvo S60, V60, V60CC, XC60, XC70, and S80 vehicles manufactured April 8, 2015 to August 19, 2015. In certain driving conditions when using the automatic engine stop/start function, the starter motor fuse may blow, preventing the car from restarting when necessary.

    Risk: If the vehicle is unexpectedly unable to be started in the middle of traffic, such as when stopped at an intersection, there is an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing starter motor fuse with a higher amperage fuse, free of charge. The recall began on October 26, 2015. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552 or by visiting http://volvo.custhelp.com. Volvo's number for this recall is R39574.

2016 Volvo S80 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other S80 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict01122
2015Good337225.5
2016Best176229

All Volvo S80 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volvo S80 reliable?
Among the 7 S80 model years with data, 2016 has the lowest complaint index at 17 and only 6 complaints, earning a Best verdict relative to other years.
What problems does the 2016 Volvo S80 have?
NHTSA complaints point to the Engine as the top problem area, making up 50% of complaints, followed by single reports each for Electrical System, Fuel System, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires.
Does the 2016 Volvo S80 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 S80: one for seat belt anchor cables and one for a starter motor fuse in the electrical system. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
Which Volvo S80 model years should I avoid?
Based on NHTSA data, 2010 (complaint index 100) and 2013 (complaint index 83) are rated Avoid, while 2016 is the Best year with an index of 17.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.