YearToAvoid

2016 Volvo XC60 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2016 Volvo XC60 has a complaint index of 25, ranking 13th out of 17 model years and earning a Good verdict. Engine issues are the top concern (45% of complaints), with 3 recalls covering seat belts and electrical systems.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
25/100
#13 of 17 XC60 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
38
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2017
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 27 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2016 Volvo XC60 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine17 (45%)
  2. Other9 (24%)
  3. Seat Belts6 (16%)
  4. Electrical System5 (13%)
  5. Brakes3 (8%)
  6. Airbags2 (5%)
  7. Fuel System1 (3%)
  8. Structure & Body1 (3%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Seat belt anchor cables and buckle studs were flagged under recall, with owners reporting long waits for replacement parts.
  • Brakes have engaged unexpectedly or grabbed hard during City Safety activation, sometimes causing sudden lunges forward at low mileage.
  • Some owners reported unintended acceleration or stalling tied to what they suspected was an electronic control system fault.
  • Headlight lenses fogged up within a few years, reducing nighttime visibility, and adaptive bending lights malfunctioned intermittently.
  • Windshields leaked from the top, causing condensation that affected airbag and door control electronics.
2016 Volvo XC60 complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2016Sep 2018Jan 2021Jan 2022Sep 2023Jan 2025Sep 2025
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Mar 2023 (3).

2016 Volvo XC60 recalls

3 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 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.

  3. 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 XC60 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,250
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 XC60 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Best616220
2015Caution5647121
2016Good2538322
2017Best1316423
2018Caution5036524

All Volvo XC60 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Volvo XC60 reliable?
Compared to other XC60 model years, the 2016 model has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 13th out of 17 years, earning a Good verdict based on NHTSA complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Volvo XC60?
Engine issues account for 45% of complaints, followed by seat belts at 16% and electrical system problems at 13%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2016 Volvo XC60 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 XC60, covering seat belt anchor cables, seat belt buckle studs, and a starter motor fuse replacement for the electrical system.
What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2016 XC60?
Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 44,000 miles, though engine complaints trend higher at 66,400 miles and brake complaints lower at 10,000 miles.
How does the 2016 XC60 compare to other years?
The 2016 model ranks better than years like 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, which all carry an Avoid verdict with higher complaint indexes.

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.