YearToAvoid

2016 Volvo V60 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

86/100

#3 most-complained of 15 V60 years

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

The 2016 Volvo V60 has a Complaint Index of 86, the third-worst of 15 model years tracked, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 14 complaints, 4 recalls, and no reported crashes, fires, or injuries for this year.

Complaints
14
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 28 hwy

Top 2016 Volvo V60 problems

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

  1. Engine5 (36%)
  2. Electrical System4 (29%)
  3. Brakes2 (14%)
  4. Structure & Body2 (14%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers2 (14%)
  6. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (7%)
  7. Other1 (7%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (7%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (7%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain1 (7%)

What owners report

  • Engine stalled without warning at low speeds, including one case at 10 mph and another pulling out of a driveway with RPMs spiking to between 4,000 and 5,000.
  • Automatic start/stop shut the engine off mid-turn in an intersection and the car failed to restart, leaving it stranded.
  • Sunroof glass shattered or exploded while driving at highway speed, sending shards into the cabin in more than one reported instance.
  • A spare donut tire caused severe pulling to the right and loss of control, especially when braking.
  • Seat belt buckle lacked a visual reminder indicator despite an audible alert being present.
  • Infotainment screen repeatedly rebooted and never finished loading, locking out multiple vehicle control functions.
2016 Volvo V60 complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2016Sep 2016Jan 2018Mar 2019May 2024Sep 2026
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to Sep 2026; peak Sep 2016 (4).

2016 Volvo V60 recalls

4 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 19V849000Nov 26, 2019Structure & Body144,937 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch

    Volvo Car of USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain 2011-2017 S60, S60I, V60, S60CC and V60CC vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

    Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four door latches, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2020. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89978.

  3. NHTSA 16V798000Nov 2, 2016Seat Belts74,027 vehicles

    Seat belts:front:buckle assembly

    Volvo Car USA LLC (Volvo) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 XC90, S90, XC60, V60 Cross Country, V60, S60 Cross Country, S60, and S60 Inscription vehicles manufactured February 16, 2015, to August 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the front passenger seat belt buckle attaching stud may loosen, allowing the buckle to separate from the seat belt bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages" and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

    Risk: If the seat belt buckle separates from the bracket, the front seat passenger may not be adequately restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy: Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt buckle stud, replacing the seat belt buckle as needed, free of charge. The recall began January 2017. Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-800-458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R89708.

See all 4 recalls for the 2016 Volvo V60 →

2016 Volvo V60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
28 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,950
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 V60 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014No verdict2102—
2015Avoid10021223
2016Avoid8614423
2017No verdict643626
2018No verdict431226

All Volvo V60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volvo V60 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 V60 carries a Complaint Index of 86, ranking third-worst among 15 model years, so it's rated Avoid relative to other V60 years. It has 14 complaints and 4 recalls, with no crashes, fires, or injuries reported.
What is the top problem area for the 2016 Volvo V60?
Engine issues are the top problem area, making up 36% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 1,551 miles. Electrical system problems follow at 29% of complaints.
Does the 2016 Volvo V60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 V60, covering seat belts (twice), structure/body door latches, and an electrical system starter fuse issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2016 V60 compare to other model years?
The 2016 V60's Complaint Index of 86 is lower than the 2015 model's 100 but higher than 2017's 64 and 2020's 79, placing 2016 among the worse years for this model.
What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2016 V60?
Engine complaints show a median failure mileage of 1,551 miles and electrical system complaints 1,600 miles, both very early in ownership. Brake-related issues had a much higher median of 38,000 miles.

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.